Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

What are some 20-24" external monitors that you guys/gals have had success with?

E

EricVT

macrumors member
Original poster
Feb 19, 2008
64
0
I'm looking to purchase one for my desk here to use with my MBP while at home. I currently have a gateway FPD2185w and while the screen certainly looks nice, the MBP seems to have trouble outputting to it properly.

It's native resolution is 1680x1050, yet the MBP thinks it is 1600x900 for some reason, and I get these black bars all over each side which I don't care for. If I force the resolution to 1680x1050 using nvidia control panel I end up with a screen that is stretched in all directions off the monitor, which shouldn't happen since the computer is supposedly outputting in my monitor's native resolution (and this is a monitor, not a television).

Ideal native resolution would be something like what this is, or a little lower (1600x900 would be fine, as I use it as an extended desktop usually unless I am playing a game).

Any monitors you guys have had success stories with? Really would like something which the MBP will output to at native resolution and fill the screen and look great. Thanks!
 
I've never had a problem with Dell's displays. Their 2008 (20", 1680 x 1050) and 2408 (24", 1920 x 1200) displays are well thought of. I have the 2407 (previous model).
 
I used a Samsung 20" display for 4 months (SyncMaster 2032bw) andit's be perfectly fine as far as resolution goes.
 
Are you mirroring your display? That sounds like that would cause that problem.
 
I've never had a problem with any displays, other than the occasional defective display followed by a prompt rma.

Most of the clients my office support end up getting Dell UltraSharp displays, just because they are ordering Dell workstations -- one stop shopping. Those buying monitors for Macs usually go with Dell UltraSharp monitors also, because they are reasonably priced. The Samsung 245BW is also pretty popular -- 1920x1200 on 24" is a pretty popular screen size, and the 245BW can be had for under $500.
 
Are you connecting with DVI? I had this same problem when i was having issues with my DVI cable so i used VGA in the mean time, i couldn't get it to run at the native resolution for the life of me until i got DVI working again.
 
i ABSOLUTELY love my HP w2207. It was around 300$ from CC about a year ago this past february.

amazingly clear, 1680x1050, and best of all, HAS WORKED FLAWLESSLY with any mac that has been connected to it.

the LCD is really indistinguishable from the dells, but the stand is just TONS better. Best stand ive ever owned. And it goes for a 90deg rotation.

http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/...c4D4YlFbh7FfHgLjPv8GGkgs611HyN0Djd!1126597789
 
These work on Bootcamp as well? Because that is where I'm having the troubles getting the screen filled properly (why I mentioned the Nvidia Control Panel). And yet I'm connecting with DVI.
 
After researching a bit, it seems that many people are having this same problem with a variety of displays and drivers (that is, they can't get their MBP to output proper resolutions under Bootcamp). Everything is peachy under OSX, though.

Sigh.

I wish Windows things would just work sometimes.
 
I've the 2007FPW with S-IPS.

Is awesome. If I had the desk space, I would get the 3009W, but sadly I don't, so 20 will do, plus it's also the same res as my computer.
 
I've had this ViewSonic 20" widescreen monitor for about 2 years without any issues (knock on wood!). Mac OS says the model is VX2025wm. Probably a newer model out though.

I have an even older Samsung 19" 4x3 monitor on another computer that seems pretty good. Fry's Electronics quite often has one of these brands on sale. I think i saw a 24" for about $350 or $300 once.

Oh, the rez on this one is 1680x1050x60Hz. And since someone will surely try to tell you wrong, that IS HD. 720p HDTVs are about 13xx by 768. I think "Full HD" (Sony's term for 1080p) monitors would be 1920x1200 in the computer world. I think some 24" montors do that, but they might be pricey.
 
Samsung 245t

I have a 245T at work. It's a 24-inch, S-PVA, 1920x1200 panel, while the rest of the office has Apple S-IPS panels. I actually prefer the Samsung to the Apple ACDs, but then I'm not a photographer or designer (so don't flame me). I love all the connectors it has, the picture-in-picture, the ability to pivot from landscape to portrait, and the vivid colors and contrast. It also supports HDCP. While I think HDCP is idiotic, in the US, it's must-have idiocy and the ACD's support it yet. My only complaints are:
  • In Windows a utility automagically changes the orientation when you pivot into portrait, whereas in OS X you have to set it to rotate to 90% manually; if you pivot before changing orientation, you must perform great feats of mental gymnastics to wield the mouse.
  • The MPA setting is really annoying if you're doing anything other than gaming or watching a movie (both of which it improves, but neither happen while I'm working). There's a button on the front to turn it on or off, so it doesn't matter. (The 244T doesn't do MPA and is otherwise identical to the 245T, so if you find the older model on sale, there's really no reason not to get it.)
  • If you're picky about your colors, you'll want to calibrate it rather than use the profile it comes with. The reds especially are too vibrant at the default settings. We calibrate all of our monitors anyway, so it wasn't an issue.
  • While it's cheaper than the 23-inch ACD, it's too expensive for me to get one for home :mad:.

Speaking of at home, I have a NEC 20WMGX2-BK (20-inch S-IPS 1680x1050) that I got refurbished from Amazon.com for just under $200 (less than a third of the cost of a new one). You might be able to find one on sale or refurbished if you look around. It has all the advantages of an S-IPS display, a relatively quick (6 ms) response rate, and it's also got a TV tuner, Picture-in-Picture, and more inputs than you can shake a stick at, including cable for the TV. My only real complaint with it is that it gets the flickering gold effect on black like all S-IPS do, but it's not noticable unless you're looking at it really closely.

Unless you plan on using the monitor primarily for gaming or movies (which will be stretched anyway), I don't recommend getting a 22-inch monitor. They have the same resolution as the 20-inch screens, just stretched. Call me old fashioned, but I think greater diagonal size should be accompanied by increased resolution. Also, if you plan to deal with a lot of high definition content, whether just watching HD movies or video editing, the 24-inch monitor is a must since it can handle 1080p.
 
I'm glad you all are happy with your purchases, but can anyone please vouch that your monitor works properly under XP Bootcamp (MBP outputs proper resolution and monitor looks like it should)? It's Bootcamp that I am concerned about, not OSX.
 
EricVT said:
I'm glad you all are happy with your purchases, but can anyone please vouch that your monitor works properly under XP Bootcamp (MBP outputs proper resolution and monitor looks like it should)? It's Bootcamp that I am concerned about, not OSX.
Click to expand...

Are you using DVI? If so it should work fine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back