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Which monitor to buy? (Dell)

K

karatekidk

macrumors regular
Original poster
Nov 30, 2008
249
69
Pacific Northwest, USA
I have been looking for an external monitor to go with my PB 12" 1.5ghz. If I got one, I'd watch movies, possibly watch tv, edit photos. I am a newsletter editor for a local community, so a big monitor would be great for productivity, too.

I have read many posts on here and have been looking at Dell 2209WA (somewhere around $250, I believe). I also found an ad for a Dell 2407wfp (Rev04) on local craigslist. I have been in touch with the owner via e-mail. According to the original owner, it's been lightly used and is in A+ condition. He wants $300 for it.

I know 2407wfp is a bit bigger (24" vs 22") and has better resolution (1920X1200 vs. 1680X1050), but that's about it. Now, which is a better choice? Would appreciate your input.
 
karatekidk said:
I know 2407wfp is a bit bigger (24" vs 22") and has better resolution (1920X1200 vs. 1680X1050), but that's about it. Now, which is a better choice? Would appreciate your input.
Click to expand...

Depends on your age. At some point in your life you will want a monitor with bigger pixels (typically the 19", 22", 26" models) because it is easier to read. I wouldn't concentrate on Dell only. Check out Samsung, Viewsonic etc. Most important, if this is a PB 12" then check very carefully what resolution it supports before you buy.
 
gnasher729 said:
Depends on your age. At some point in your life you will want a monitor with bigger pixels (typically the 19", 22", 26" models) because it is easier to read. I wouldn't concentrate on Dell only. Check out Samsung, Viewsonic etc. Most important, if this is a PB 12" then check very carefully what resolution it supports before you buy.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comment. I'm pushing 40 and find myself constantly bending over to read things on the 12" screen, and newsletter editing has been a pain on the tiny screen.

According to Everymac.com, "The maximum resolution supported on an external display is 2048x1536 at millions of colors."

I have been checking Samsung a little, but somehow their model #s are confusing to me.

Meanwhile, below is the spec of the monitors I am looking at.

Dell 2209WA
Connectivity
Video input typeVGA, DVI
Display
Brightness300 cd/m2
Claimed viewing angle (horizontal)178 degrees
Claimed viewing angle (vertical)178 degrees
Contrast ratio1000 :1
Dot pitch0.282 mm
Max resolution (pixels)1680 x 1050 pixels
Monitor size (diagonal)22 inch
Pixel response time6 ms
General
Dimensions (H x W x D)461.91 x 511.77 x 184.12 mm
Weight7.93 kg


Dell 2407wfp
Connectivity
Video input typeVGA, DVI, S-Video, Composite, Component
Display
Brightness450 cd/m2
Claimed viewing angle (horizontal)178 degrees
Claimed viewing angle (vertical)178 degrees
Contrast ratio1000 :1
Dot pitch0.270 mm
Max resolution (pixels)1920 x 1200 pixels
Monitor size (diagonal)24 inch
Pixel response time16 ms
General
Dimensions (H x W x D)560 x 195 x 584 mm
Weight8.4 kg
 
karatekidk said:
Thanks for the comment. I'm pushing 40 and find myself constantly bending over to read things on the 12" screen, and newsletter editing has been a pain on the tiny screen.

According to Everymac.com, "The maximum resolution supported on an external display is 2048x1536 at millions of colors."

I have been checking Samsung a little, but somehow their model #s are confusing to me.

Meanwhile, below is the spec of the monitors I am looking at.

Dell 2209WA
Connectivity
Video input typeVGA, DVI
Display
Brightness300 cd/m2
Claimed viewing angle (horizontal)178 degrees
Claimed viewing angle (vertical)178 degrees
Contrast ratio1000 :1
Dot pitch0.282 mm
Max resolution (pixels)1680 x 1050 pixels
Monitor size (diagonal)22 inch
Pixel response time6 ms
General
Dimensions (H x W x D)461.91 x 511.77 x 184.12 mm
Weight7.93 kg


Dell 2407wfp
Connectivity
Video input typeVGA, DVI, S-Video, Composite, Component
Display
Brightness450 cd/m2
Claimed viewing angle (horizontal)178 degrees
Claimed viewing angle (vertical)178 degrees
Contrast ratio1000 :1
Dot pitch0.270 mm
Max resolution (pixels)1920 x 1200 pixels
Monitor size (diagonal)24 inch
Pixel response time16 ms
General
Dimensions (H x W x D)560 x 195 x 584 mm
Weight8.4 kg
Click to expand...

Why the 2407wfp and not the 2408wfp. The 2408wfp has displayport which means that at some point a native mini displayport to displayport could exist. Also the the 2408 got rid of the banding problems that the 2407 suffered from.
 
RE: Which monitor to buy?

Gnasher wrote:
"Depends on your age. At some point in your life you will want a monitor with bigger pixels (typically the 19", 22", 26" models) because it is easier to read"

And karatekidk replied:
"Thanks for the comment. I'm pushing 40 and find myself constantly bending over to read things on the 12" screen, and newsletter editing has been a pain on the tiny screen"

I'm 59 (probably on the older side for this forum) and, like you, viewing tiny images and letters on small screens can be problematical.

The thing you should be concerned about is _pixel size_ or "dot pitch".

I did some research on pixel sizes for several Dell monitors, and here's what I found:
SIZE - DOT PITCH (mm) - MODEL (if known)
24" - .270 - Dell 24"
22" - .282 - Dell 2209wa
19" - .294 - Dell 1905fp
27" - .303 - Dell 2709w

I currently have a Dell 1905fp with my g4, and a 24" white iMac. The smaller dot pitch of the 24" is acceptable, but I find the 19" Dell considerably easier on my eyes.

The new Dell 2209wa looks to be "halfway between" the 19" and 24", size-wise insofar as dot pitch goes. It also is one of very few 22" displays to use a higher-quality e-IPV type panel instead of the cheaper "TN" panels. And the price is right - down to around $240 or so (what I paid for this 1905fp about 3 years ago).

If readability at native resolution is important to you, you might even consider the Dell 2709w. It uses a high-quality panel and I believe it has the same 1680x1050 native resolution as does the Dell 24" display. BUT - because of the higher dot pitch, you won't be squinting. And the price, while higher, is still within reach, about $630 or so.

- John
 
Hey, this has turned into the geriatric thread! :eek::D:D

I'm surprised your eyeballs (and sanity!) are holding up to the 12" pb, especially doing dtp. I went to a spare monitor when I had my 12" pb and never looked back (interestingly, about the time my odometer rolled past 40). My one regret was getting the 20" display, rather than a 24". The extra real estate really makes a difference, especially with toolbars to stuff everywhere (ala adobe products).

When you do decide on the model, look around for coupon codes to save some extra bucks - lots of retailers are really offering up the extra savings to get money in the door.
 
Fishrrman said:
Gnasher wrote:
The thing you should be concerned about is _pixel size_ or "dot pitch".

I did some research on pixel sizes for several Dell monitors, and here's what I found:
SIZE - DOT PITCH (mm) - MODEL (if known)
24" - .270 - Dell 24"
22" - .282 - Dell 2209wa
19" - .294 - Dell 1905fp
27" - .303 - Dell 2709w

I currently have a Dell 1905fp with my g4, and a 24" white iMac. The smaller dot pitch of the 24" is acceptable, but I find the 19" Dell considerably easier on my eyes.

The new Dell 2209wa looks to be "halfway between" the 19" and 24", size-wise insofar as dot pitch goes. It also is one of very few 22" displays to use a higher-quality e-IPV type panel instead of the cheaper "TN" panels. And the price is right - down to around $240 or so (what I paid for this 1905fp about 3 years ago).

If readability at native resolution is important to you, you might even consider the Dell 2709w. It uses a high-quality panel and I believe it has the same 1680x1050 native resolution as does the Dell 24" display. BUT - because of the higher dot pitch, you won't be squinting. And the price, while higher, is still within reach, about $630 or so.

- John
Click to expand...

Thank you, John. Very interesting point you mentioned. I've never thought about it. By the way, 2709w looks great, but even at $579 (current deal on Dell website), it's a bit out of my budget range...
 
techound1 said:
Hey, this has turned into the geriatric thread! :eek::D:D
My one regret was getting the 20" display, rather than a 24". The extra real estate really makes a difference, especially with toolbars to stuff everywhere (ala adobe products).

When you do decide on the model, look around for coupon codes to save some extra bucks - lots of retailers are really offering up the extra savings to get money in the door.
Click to expand...

Yeah, after reading a lot of posts on here, I am convinced that the screen size should be at least 22" for me. Thanks for mentioning about coupons. I will do some search.
 
Fishrrman said:
Gnasher wrote:
"Depends on your age. At some point in your life you will want a monitor with bigger pixels (typically the 19", 22", 26" models) because it is easier to read"

And karatekidk replied:
"Thanks for the comment. I'm pushing 40 and find myself constantly bending over to read things on the 12" screen, and newsletter editing has been a pain on the tiny screen"

I'm 59 (probably on the older side for this forum) and, like you, viewing tiny images and letters on small screens can be problematical.

The thing you should be concerned about is _pixel size_ or "dot pitch".

I did some research on pixel sizes for several Dell monitors, and here's what I found:
SIZE - DOT PITCH (mm) - MODEL (if known)
24" - .270 - Dell 24"
22" - .282 - Dell 2209wa
19" - .294 - Dell 1905fp
27" - .303 - Dell 2709w

I currently have a Dell 1905fp with my g4, and a 24" white iMac. The smaller dot pitch of the 24" is acceptable, but I find the 19" Dell considerably easier on my eyes.

The new Dell 2209wa looks to be "halfway between" the 19" and 24", size-wise insofar as dot pitch goes. It also is one of very few 22" displays to use a higher-quality e-IPV type panel instead of the cheaper "TN" panels. And the price is right - down to around $240 or so (what I paid for this 1905fp about 3 years ago).

If readability at native resolution is important to you, you might even consider the Dell 2709w. It uses a high-quality panel and I believe it has the same 1680x1050 native resolution as does the Dell 24" display. BUT - because of the higher dot pitch, you won't be squinting. And the price, while higher, is still within reach, about $630 or so.

- John
Click to expand...

2709 is 1920x1200 with a PVA panel and 2209 is 1680x1050 with e-IPS.
 
Having owned the 2407WFP-HC for about a year, I'll tell you it suits my needs just fine - resolution is great, no color banding issues, and HDCP support on the DVI input.

I've sent you a PM as well on differences between 2407WFP, 2407WFP-HC and the 2408.
 
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