buying a LCD monitor. what should i look 4 in the specs?

[pedro nicoli]

I was wondering to buy a LCD monitor to my upcomming Macbook.
it will probably be a 17" (maybe 19")
what should i look for? contrast values, brightess, view angle etc?
also, i will use it to edit photos, so i need accurate colors.

which brands should i look for?

PS:I'm from Brazil, i cant afford expensive stuff like Apple's cinema display

 

[JAT]

Higher contrast ratio is better.

Larger viewing angle is better, but many only list horizontal, vertical is also important. (probably more important for a PC monitor) Since vertical is seldom listed, you may have to see them in person to judge this.

The faster the refresh rate, the better. Many are now below 8ms, which is excellent.

For best quality, I always check out photography websites instead of computer websites. Try dpreview.com forums and search for monitor advice. Be warned, they will recommend Apple, or other high priced stuff. You do get what you pay for most of the time.

 

[NJuul]

This thread is really informative and tells you what the difference between LCDs really are. Bottom line is, there are two different types of panels, which one is better depends on your needs. Contrast ratio and refresh rates are secondary specifications that are usually inflated by vendors.

 

[Passante]

Another thread with some good off site links