Ready to pull trigger on monitor - need MR members expert advice

[chaosbunny]

Yelling: Don't get the Apple 24in LED Cinema Display!

Honestly, I have been using a glossy Alu iMac (sig) for the past 2 years for graphic design & illustration. If it wasn't for my Eizo display next to it I couldn't live with it. I'll most certainly never buy a glossy screened Apple product again.

 

[jonnysods]

Yelling: Don't get the Apple 24in LED Cinema Display!

Honestly, I have been using a glossy Alu iMac (sig) for the past 2 years for graphic design & illustration. If it wasn't for my Eizo display next to it I couldn't live with it. I'll most certainly never buy a glossy screened Apple product again.

I use the alu 24" iMac now at my office - if the screen quality of the LED is anything like this one I'm sold - it is phenomenal.

I won't have the glare issue because I work in my office in my basement - no reflections at all.

I think, I think - I'm going to go with the LED. It's just the backlighting that scares me as it's so well lit I wonder what the graphics will look like elsewhere.

It's funny - you know you are making an impulse decision when it takes you <5 minutes to decide on a purchase. I've been going over this one for a couple of weeks, so I don't want to get burnt.

 

[Fishrrman]

You might spend a little time over at anandtech.com reading the reviews on the 24" displays.

The Dell Ultrasharp is a fine display, you might also check the HP 2475.

- John

 

[nutritious]

This list may help you.

Apple's LED ACD is terrible for color accuracy. Web design work is one thing, but as soon as you go into print it isn't a good monitor.

Dell's Ultrasharps are great monitors for color accuracy, though some are PVA (which isn't as good as IPS, but still better than TN).

Not true man. The APPLE LED will give better color accuracy than every dell ultrasharp. Some of the ultrasharps use PVA panels...so they will suffer from black crush. I own the 24" ACD LED display, and it is by far the most uniform monitor I've had. Backlighting is VERY even and black levels are as good as on my old 305T (pva panel, pvas known for better blacks). Also, the glossy screen is just stunning. Everything looks so clean. In fact, it's so clean, it looks like whatever is on the screen will pop out. I love it.

 

[jonnysods]

Not true man. The APPLE LED will give better color accuracy than every dell ultrasharp. Some of the ultrasharps use PVA panels...so they will suffer from black crush. I own the 24" ACD LED display, and it is by far the most uniform monitor I've had. Backlighting is VERY even and black levels are as good as on my old 305T (pva panel, pvas known for better blacks). Also, the glossy screen is just stunning. Everything looks so clean. In fact, it's so clean, it looks like whatever is on the screen will pop out. I love it.

What main line of work/activities do you use the LED for? Any print work? Just curious!

 

[Cave Man]

Not true man. The APPLE LED will give better color accuracy than every dell ultrasharp.

It doesn't matter what the panel is; if it's calibrated, then it's calibrated. What the LED does is give you even and durable backlighting.

 

[jonnysods]

Looks like I'm putting the order in then...!

 

[nutritious]

It doesn't matter what the panel is; if it's calibrated, then it's calibrated. What the LED does is give you even and durable backlighting.

Not true. For instance, if you have a PVA panel, certain grays will look black, so it really wouldn't be the best for color reproduction or print work.

 

[Cave Man]

Not true. For instance, if you have a PVA panel, certain grays will look black, so it really wouldn't be the best for color reproduction or print work.

That's nonsense. If it's not giving the right color or grays, then it's not calibrated. That's the whole point of display calibration. It doesn't matter if the panel is TN, PVA or IPS. Even Eizo uses PVA panels in some of their displays, including the $1600 CE240W. Are you trying to tell us that Eizo's are a waste of money?

 

[nutritious]

That's nonsense. If it's not giving the right color or grays, then it's not calibrated. That's the whole point of display calibration. It doesn't matter if the panel is TN, PVA or IPS. Even Eizo uses PVA panels in some of their displays, including the $1600 CE240W. Are you trying to tell us that Eizo's are a waste of money?

Most Eizos ARE a waste of money. The same panels can be found in comparable Samsung monitors for much cheaper. Eizo is overpriced.

And no, it's not NONSENSE. PVA panels suffer from black crash/gamma shift. Certain details are lost even with straight on viewing. For instance, if you look at an image with very dark grays and blacks, straight on, you would not be able to tell the difference between the gray and the blacks because of the black crush. But if you were to look at it from the top, the grays would then show. It has nothing to do with calibration. It is a technical limitation of PVA panels. Remember, viewing angles also affect straight on viewing. Even if a PVA panel is calibrated, it will have TECHNICAL limitations.

This article here: http://monitortest.blogspot.com/ describes what I am talking about. Please read that.

Here is also a pic that also shows the issue (on a calibrated PVA panel in comparison to IPS):

 

[Cave Man]

Most Eizos ARE a waste of money.

Oh, well I guess that settles it.

The same panels can be found in comparable Samsung monitors for much cheaper.

There's more to a monitor than its panel. (And the Eizo has a Samsung panel in it.)

Eizo is overpriced.

Yeah, like Macs are overpriced?

And no, it's not NONSENSE. PVA panels suffer from black crash/gamma shift. Certain details are lost even with straight on viewing. For instance, if you look at an image with very dark grays and blacks, straight on, you would not be able to tell the difference between the gray and the blacks because of the black crush. But if you were to look at it from the top, the grays would then show. It has nothing to do with calibration. It is a technical limitation of PVA panels. Remember, viewing angles also affect straight on viewing. Even if a PVA panel is calibrated, it will have TECHNICAL limitations.

Now you're switching to a different issue - viewing angle. That's not the same as calibration and color rendition. Apples and oranges.

I like how your pictures are at different sizes. Nothing misleading there, eh? Besides, how is anyone to know which display reflects reality with greater fidelity?

You can hammer PVA panels all you want, but they can be as good, better or worse than IPS panels depending on their implementations.

 

[nutritious]

Oh, well I guess that settles it.

You asked me if I thought it was overpriced, and I simply gave you my answer. It's as if you are surprised I gave you an answer.

Yeah, like Macs are overpriced?

I fail to see what Macs have to do with this whole discussion. Why even bring macs up? Seriously?

Now you're switching to a different issue - viewing angle. That's not the same as calibration and color rendition. Apples and oranges.

I like how your pictures are at different sizes. Nothing misleading there, eh? Besides, how is anyone to know which display reflects reality with greater fidelity?

Um, no it's still addressing the issue as to which monitor is better for print. It's pretty common sense. When viewing a PVA panel straight on, (which is what most people do) dark shades of gray will look black, and your print will not reflect what is shown on the monitor. What's so hard to grasp about that? You'd have to move your head like 10 inches to the right of the monitor in order to see the grays the would otherwise look black (but luckily PVA panels do colorshift correctly so you will see accurate grays), but that is a rather big inconvenience since we all like to view our monitors head on.
And the pictures are suppose to show what details are lost viewing a monitor head on. The last photo is of a PVA panel off angle, so it's pretty common sense things to the left of the monitor would need to be cropped out (desk space and all etc) so of course sizes would be different.

Once again, here is an example of the Ezio HD2441W:

As you can see, you don't even need to be at an angle to see the apparent colorshift. Just based on that colorshift alone, you know what you see on your monitor won't be the same as what you print.

Here it is compared to the 26" NEC (IPS)
Eizo on the left, NEC on the right:

As you can see, the IPS panel will give you more accurate colors once calibrated just based on the colorshift viewing angles of the PVA panel.


In conclusion, OP, get an IPS panel for your work. The monitor considered the best for print/graphic work would be the 2490WUXi

 

[jonnysods]

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback and involvement guys!

I love the MR community!

 

[aaquib]

Which display did you end up going with?

 

[jonnysods]

Which display did you end up going with?

The Apple LED. Not based on a fan boy decision either, here my reasoning:

- the LED in my opinion is going to give me a more consistently lit display
- the glossy panel will not affect me as my office is in my basement and there are no windows in the room
- it comes with a camera built in - I have a Mac Pro, and right now I'm using an PS3 Eye Toy POS
- it's an H-IPS panel - the best for me doing graphic/print work
- I know how good Apple's return policy can be if it's a dud
- I've seen the LED display many times since it has been released so I can get my head around how good the screen is

The reason to not go with the HP LP2475w:

- there are a lot of complaints about viewing angle, uneven lighting and a green to grey gradient across the screen
- I'm not familiar with HP's return policy - or quality control (I know that Apple's is getting more suspect by the day) - a 3 year warranty is good though
- the HP purchase would be purely online as there are no sellers of the unit in my area - I'd really like to be able to see it up close before I could purchase it.

I do like the 90 degree tilt on the HP

The HP is $739 new, the ACD is $799 refurb'd.

Go ACD go! I need to order it now because I have some big projects coming up.

 

[codenamecueball]

Well the LED backlight will give out some nice gamut...
and if your serious about print work, use the eye one or ColorVision Spyder.
Both are very good colorimeters.

 

[jonnysods]

I have a Huey Pro, which probably stinks compared to those.

Perhaps I can find a nice colour profile out there that someone has saved for the ACD?