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HP LP2475w vs others

J

jwt

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 28, 2007
344
0
I got this display about a week and a half ago, and I expect I will ultimately return it. The reason is that I have severe eye strain with this monitor. It's the strangest thing, but somehow I cannot focus on text. I keep examining the same text between the two monitors in my setup, and I can't really tell what's different between them, but when I am using the HP monitor, I find my eyes keep crossing, as though there is a depth perception problem. There is a customer review on Amazon reporting the same issue.

Another issue I have with this monitor is that I can't get white to look white, no matter how I calibrate it. Very frustrating.

There are so many other positives about this monitor, though, that make me think I can get used to the cons.

My biggest issue though, is that I want an IPS monitor because I'm into photography and can't tolerate inaccurate color. It seems that all the 24" IPS monitors use the same LG panel. So, if I bought a NEC LCD2490WUXi, for example, which uses the same panel (and backlight too, I believe), would I experience the same problem?

Why did Apple discontinue their 23" ACD before there was a replacement anyway?
 
I was considering the same two monitors.

The reviews indicated the HP needed a colorimeter to adjust it properly, as it was way off out of the box. I ended up buying the NEC 2490WUXi, as I got it at a really good deal.

Unfortunately, I also have had eye strain with it as well. In my case, it was partly due to the physical location (desk not deep enough for a 24" monitor), and I need new glasses.

Given your need for color accuracy, I'd go ahead and get a good colorimeter. You'll need it, no matter which monitor you end up with in the end. At least you can get the HP in the best possible settings, and then determine if it will work, before going through the hassle of returning it.

If you do return it, the colorimeter is still handy for tweaking the NEC (or anything else). :D

Good luck. :)
 
I have a Spyder 2 Pro. I used it to calibrate many different displays and never had any problems. I think it's just this monitor. I have decided to return it, but I just don't know what other options there are.
 
jwt said:
I have a Spyder 2 Pro. I used it to calibrate many different displays and never had any problems. I think it's just this monitor. I have decided to return it, but I just don't know what other options there are.
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I didn't know you had a Spyder 2 Pro. When I saw "calibrate", I thought you were trying to adjust settings by eye.

The NEC is a good monitor. At least the one I have is. ;) IIRC, I've not seen any complaints on the forum, so it may be the better way to go. Returns can be a PITA, but it seems like it would be worth it then. Especially if the HP still isn't acceptable after using your colorimeter.

Good luck, and I hope you get it sorted quickly and easily (reasonably speaking). ;) :D
 
The thing about the HP -- and this was also reported in the customer reviews -- is that there is a color shift from right to left being magenta to green. More accurately, when looked at from the left there appears to be a magenta cast, and from the right a green cast. Since we have stereoscopic vision, I think the left eye pointing slightly to the right sees a magenta cast, and the right eye pointing slightly to the left sees a green cast. Your brain subconsciously sees this difference and tries to refocus your eyes to eliminate the difference. I think the colorimeter doesn't quite see that because light coming from the left and right are averaged.
 
Have you had your eyes tested? I only ask because I have seen eye strain complaints on most of the 24" non-TN displays available yet plenty of people are using them without issue. Unfortunatly I don't keep track of such reports so can't tell you if people found solutions. The other problem of course is that all monitors can, and do, have problems, even the highest end ones so without having several to compare from different batches you won't ever be sure.
 
jwt said:
I have 20/15 vision. It's not my eyes, and there are like 20 different Dell monitors at work that I can look at all day with no problems.
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Mine is only 20/20 normally, but sitting in front of a computer, mine fatigue, and drop to 20/30(?). I ended up with a weak prescription (+.25), and anti-glare coatings. Big improvement for me.

Just a thought, if you continue to have issues. (Pain/headaches were my major clue, and it does it on any monitor if I sit there long enough).
 
Sorry to hear about the issues you have had with your LP2475w... I picked one up a couple weeks ago after much shopping, review reading etc. I will concur with the reviews that out of the box, the LP2475w is poor on the color side. After a quick calibration with an Eye 1, the colors are fantastic, great whites etc. I'm not having any issues at all with eye strain, the picture is quite fantastic and stable. I had strain with my previous 21.5" samsung TN based panel so I can understand the issue. I'm wondering if you might have gotten a bad unit? There is quite a long thread (like 100 pages) on the LP2475w over at HardForum and a number of early units having issues. It may be worth trying to exchange it first. For $550 shipped (what I gave for mine), I just cant touch anything with the IPS and all the features of this panel (dual dvi, hdmi, display port, usb 2.0) plus the build and overall look.

Thus far, knock on wood, this has been an absolutely fantastic display for me. It might be worth reading through the thread and see if any of your issues might be associated with earlier revision/build and firmware. FWIW, mine is GIG 045 firmware wise and the build is the latest (and GIG122 on hardware revision) and the thread seems to concur that that revision combo addresses the issues.

Best of luck!
 
jwt said:
Thanks for your comment regarding the thread at hardforum. This guy is having the same issues as me (which I reported in another thread).

http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1033515821&postcount=1463
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Wow... looks pretty bad. It has to be something with the sample you got, perhaps an earlier build... mine is truly excellent and honestly I'm pretty particular with things like build quality and defects (especially in a relatively high $ tech item). The only complaint I could say about mine is that in the very bottom left corner, there seems to be 1 dead pixel. This would usually bother me but it's so close to the corner that you have to really look for it to find it. Did you find what build revision and firmware you have?

Personally, I would think it might be worth swapping it out and I would guess they could cross ship one etc but I also can understand being 'done with it' and going for something else.

Best of luck regardless of which direction you end up going with to replace it!

Quick edit: The new Dell 30" 3008WFP looks fan-freakin-tastic! I contemplated it when shopping but decided that a 24" would be plenty. An the extra $1K would be nice to keep around too... :D
 
I ended up picking up a LP2475w a couple weeks ago. As many have stated, it's god awful right out of the box (way too bright and too much contrast). But after calibrating it with my Spyder3 Pro, I couldn't be happier with this display.

In fact, I'm thinking of picking up a second one eventually, especially considering that I can't find a 24" IPS panel with this level of control for anything close to $600.
 
For people that own the LP2475, do you get overly saturated colors in a lot of applications or just navigating OS X?? I am new to this stuff, but reading a lot of reviews, and it seems to be a pretty big deal to some people that Mac OS uses 1.8 gamma. There is a conflict with this wide-gamut displays.

Is this a minor problem or a real annoyance?
 
looking4anotebo said:
For people that own the LP2475, do you get overly saturated colors in a lot of applications or just navigating OS X?? I am new to this stuff, but reading a lot of reviews, and it seems to be a pretty big deal to some people that Mac OS uses 1.8 gamma. There is a conflict with this wide-gamut displays.

Is this a minor problem or a real annoyance?
Click to expand...

I haven't used that particular display but I did use a different wide color gamut display and wasn't pleased with this. Any time you manipulate content that isn't tagged it will be an issue even in color managed apps.
 
Hi jwt I'm also considering buying a new monitor because of eyestrain. I have tried a lot of monitors from 17" to 28" without any success. I hope the next one will be my final one because I dont want to spend all my money on newer monitors at all time.

I have read a lot of panel types, backlight types, anti-glare type etc. So finally three monitor was selected:
NEC 2490WUXI (not WUXI2) (Best reputation found for this one (also from eyestrain point of view)
HP LP2480ZX
LG W2420R

Of course none of them can be tried. So I would like to ask you do you have any success with monitor selection since this thread written?
 
I went through 5 LP2475w's and they were all AWFUL. Ended up getting a refund finally and picked up an NEC LCD2490WUXi and couldn't be happier. I too am a photographer so I understand your troubles. Trust me, believe everyone about the magenta/green color cast.
 
istvan647 said:
I have read a lot of panel types, backlight types, anti-glare type etc. So finally three monitor was selected:
NEC 2490WUXI (not WUXI2) (Best reputation found for this one (also from eyestrain point of view)
Click to expand...
I own this model, and it was purchased for the same reason; eye strain. It works beautifully, as I don't get the headaches I used to (very rare these days, and it's because I pushed it in terms of time in front of it). :D

You've picked the right model number between the two varaniants (WUXi vs ...i2), as it's the model with the polarizer. ;)
 
Thank guys, your answers are very important for my decision. I'm going to buy a 2490WUXi, but I'm afraid this time it won't be so simple, as it is obsoleted now. But somewhere there is one that waits for me...
 
istvan647 said:
Thank guys, your answers are very important for my decision. I'm going to buy a 2490WUXi, but I'm afraid this time it won't be so simple, as it is obsoleted now. But somewhere there is one that waits for me...
Click to expand...
Amazon has 2 sources (one new, one open box).

Hope it helps. :)

BTW, I got mine as a refurbished unit, and added an extended warranty. So far, so good.
 
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The printer driver rhetoric of commodified objects is symptomatic of the totalization of USB mouse panopticism.
 
jessica. said:
The printer driver rhetoric of commodified objects is symptomatic of the totalization of USB mouse panopticism.
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Well, if Jonathan Ive practiced sublimation of corporeality, it would carry with it the integration of the rainbow Apple logo.
 
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