I honestly had no idea what I was even suppose to be looking for. I went for an upper price range but not the top. (budget to blame!) Paid $200 for this one.
I was told the higher the contrast ratio, the better. This one is 40000:1. The one I REALLY wanted was 80000000:1 but it was another $150. Now I wish I paid it to try.
This monitor has to go back. I cannot for the life of me smooth out the fonts and the screen washes out photos. I've tried and retried all the settings and cannot get it to look 'right'.
Is there a special trick to get fonts looking crisp? Is the bigger screen vs the contrast ratio the culprit here? The fonts appear to be stamped, not solid but rather choppy like, if that makes sense. Yuk.
If I can't get a good big screen, I'm all for a better smaller screen if that's what it takes. But I know many of you are happy with your own big screen choices.
I am NOT changing to mac so don't even go there. Just curious what I need to look for in today's PC monitor world.
I have tried searching this topic but couldn't find quite the right info I've requested above. If you know of an existing post that does, I'd love the url.
Thanks!
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
You can go to a Mac monitor with a PC if you insist.
Just drop on over and I'll show you what a NICE monitor looks like.
-grampa dan
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
You can mix the two? Be serious! I never know with you. Posted by Ed Gregorowicz (Member # 1842) on :
A monitor is a monitor is a monitor....
Any one will work with a Mac or a PC. It may require an adapter (IE a PC monitor on an older Mac), but it'll work.
[ May 22, 2010, 01:59 PM: Message edited by: Ed Gregorowicz ]
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
Donna, make sure your resolution is set to the highest that monitor will show.... it's probably like 1920x1080 for that model.. (didn't look it up..)
That will give you the best quality on the fonts, etc. If it still looks bad at that rez, send it back and get you a Dell Ultrasharp 24" or a Gateway 24" (this model has a gorgeous picture...)
[ May 22, 2010, 02:27 PM: Message edited by: Jon Jantz ]
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
I have a top end (expensive) Dell 24" monitor. I was delighted with it until I looked at the Mac monitor. The Dell looks blurry and dark in comparison - no matter how I adjusted it.
Compared to PC monitors the apple products are definitely pricier but there is no comparison when it comes to picture quality.
-grampa dan
[ May 22, 2010, 02:47 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by stein Saether (Member # 430) on :
200 for that, thats about 35 local bus rides, 25 years ago space scientist could just dream of such tool.
Despite what is could possibly seem, we do better.
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
Jon, how do you find the glossy screen? I felt the glare would bother me.
Dan, my people will be calling your people. (that would be you and me) If it stops raining long enough, we'll come for a walk your way. Soon. Maybe. Rain, stop!
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
I have to wonder if this is the issue. The highest resolution allowable on this computer is 1600 x 900, far from Jon's suggestion of 1920 x 1080. Is this a computer or monitor deal?
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
The Mac monitor is so clear and bright for a number of reasons. I have the resolution set at 2560 x 1440. Mac also had LED backlighting.
I've read complaints on some forums about reflection on the Mac's glass monitor but I haven't had an issue. The antiglare screen of the Dell was a lot worse as far as reflections in my case. My desk faces some very large windows. The monitor has the back facing the windows.
-dan
Posted by Ed Gregorowicz (Member # 1842) on :
Donna, you may want to look into a graphics card upgrade.....
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
For what it is worth Donna...
Check out Tiger Direct.ca...I have bought a lot of stuff from them in the past and they have some amazing deals.
Last summer I bought a 28" monitor for just under $300 from them. I love it. Had to turn the brightness down to 50% because it was too bright.
My computer will run it at it's native resolution of 1920x1200 which might be part of the problem you are running into.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
Dan was telling me that his Mac makes coffee every morning and sweeps up the shop at night.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Since I don't drink coffee I had to download an app that makes my iMac fetch an ice cold coke from the fridge instead.
-grampa dan
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
How tacky! I'd bet even my lousy PCs have the coke feature. Not that I'd need it of course.
More hunting resulted in much of what you've all speculated above. My graphics card is the issue. I attempted to upgrade the drivers as far as I could go online, but at this point, it's just too outdated to accept more so it seems. I can at least get one notch up from where I was.
what. EVER!!!
Also turns out if you actually load the software that comes with a monitor, you have a few more tinkering options to refine tones and such. I've got it to a place that's alot better than this AM. Only took me.. oh.. 6 hours to figure all this out so far.
I'm near guru status. Now if I can just get my new fangled 4 gig camera card to load pics on this old tower, I'll have more knowledge than I'll ever need. Anyone have experience with that one?!? On one laptop I got them to load via camera cord (card had to remain in camera) but on this tower, no go.
NOTHING is universal. Nothing. It's nonsense to sell a monitor by itself these days. They need to be bundled with the right camera, card, tower, printer, phone service, snacks and live in the right neighbourhood. And it has to stop raining.
I'm going to mow my lawn. Thank-you all for the info!
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Donna, again, for what it is worth. I feel your pain.
My desktop processor is older than my camera and laptop. I can load pictures from the camera card onto the laptop but not the desktop because the card is SD "high capacity" and my desktop was built before that particular version of SD card was made.
Yesterday I was playing around in CorelDraw and added a bevel effect to a complicated vector. I didn't like it so I tried to "separate" it and delete it and try a different look. NO WAY, the program locked up as the computer clattered away trying to do what I wanted.
I figure it is time to buy a new desktop (and it will be from Tiger Direct) BUT that presents the problem that my "OLD" CorelDraw X3 won't work with Windows 7 unless I do it in XP mode. That means I'll have to upgrade CorelDraw too.
Of course, now that I can't justify it as a "business expense" to Shirley, I'll have to grovel a bit and wait for my income tax refund.
It never ends!!!
Seems that if I'm not keeping up, I'm falling behind. There is no "standing still". Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
as mentioned above.. Its the monitor plus the graphics card.
It doesn't matter what platform you use. They all the same made by the same companies for both mac and PC. Low end is disappointing. High end is satisfying.
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Donna, This week it's been all about monitor problems and fixes.
After my Trinitron gave out last winter, I hooked up an old VGA monitor. Unfortunately, it was incompatible with my rather powerful graphics card and nowhere near as good as what I'd lost.
Thankfully, I got a little smarter this week.
Instead of going for a PC monitor, I purchased an Emerson 22" LCD TV. Like most, it has inputs for PCs, HDTV and component cables. After adding one adapter for the video card, I was able to connect the monitor with an HDMI cable and it looks great. Much higher resolution, crisp contrast and it opens the options for adding other devices or services later. (cable TV, gaming system..I've already hooked my PS3 to it...works great..., DVD player, etc).
If your system can handle it. switching to an LCD TV is an option.
Cost of a TV for my computer...$208 One DMI/HDMI adapter..$15 Switching from Coreldraw to Guitar Hero with the push of a button....priceless.
Rapid
[ May 23, 2010, 01:26 AM: Message edited by: Ray Rheaume ]
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
Hey Donna..... if making Grampa shut up for 5 minutes about Macs is worth anything to ya, get a new video card and one of these....
It has a higher rez than Dan's Mac and even though he would never admit it, the picture is just as good or better.
Ray, most of the 24" monitors are starting to have HDMI inputs, as well as a couple of other regular TV inputs, allowing you to hook them to other peripherals...
Posted by W. R. Pickett (Member # 3842) on :
...Dan knows what he is talking about. Listen to his advice, and follow his lead. You will not be disappointed.
Posted by bruce ward (Member # 1289) on :
Donna I bought 2 monitors just like yours and hated them. I played with setting sand did this and that, FINALLY! I downloaded new drivers for the graphics card and I downloaded Cleartype to smooth out the fonts
my resolution is set at 1360 x 768 I didnt have that choice until I updated graphics cards now theres no way I would go back to the older square ones
Posted by Kevin Gaffney (Member # 4240) on :
I've looked at that system Dan has too and due to budget constraints, I can't justify one at the moment but they really are a spectacular display. I would find it hard to believe there is anything much better out there
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
Thank you all for your suggestions.
To make this current new lovely monitor to work, I have to upgrade a bunch of stuff. On an old computer. Again. How many $ and time will this cost me? Sky's the limit.
Dan is a bad man. He reamed into me about the fact that I'm using helter skelter components to 'attempt' to make things work. Right now I'm scrambling between 2 old laptops PLUS an older computer on making my blogging needs a breeze. Which it is not. It's mayhem to the highest degree.
I'll hack away at a stupid issue for days on end rather than buying new, as a default. This new monitor was like 5 Christmases socked all in one day for us. And a big revelation that I need at least one current complete computer in this house so I can DO stuff without hacking constantly.
Am I apprehensive about buying PC again? YES. How about Mac? BIG TIME.
But one thing appears to surface for me. The PC world is so stinkin' broad that it's over the top for me to figure out what works with what. The Mac world is so tight that it feels like it would limit me. But maybe that's what I need. More limitations so I don't HAVE to figure it all out time and time again.
Dan signed a copy of Signcraft for me on his article about going from PC to Mac as, "Welcome to the dark side." I nearly burnt it! But I didn't. Yet. Will I have the nerve?!? Time to overthink that one too I guess!
I can't even believe I'm considering this! How weak I am.
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
Technology is wonderful, bringing us new devices, screaming computers, flat panels getting bigger and cheaper. The problem is they keep improving things almost too fast so keeping up also means making a monetary commitment more often than we should have to in my opinion. They are becoming 3 to 4 year throw away tools.
Example, you can buy a good quality table saw that will last a lifetime for about the same price as a high end computer that is good for just a few years. This sucks!
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
I agree Dave. I so agree. You have to make good coin to compensate for the expenditure too. I have other things I need more so that has become a priority of late. That's what got me into this bind to begin with.
4 year computer plan = $50/mo. That's what one has to sock away to stay current. How many of us actually do that?
Posted by Kevin Gaffney (Member # 4240) on :
I agree Donna. A couple of years back, during the busy times, a "big" job would always come to our rescue when new investment in the business was required. Unfortunately those jobs are far less frequent and each piece of expenditure here gets analyzed time and time again. There seems to be more holes and less cheques to fill them with.
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
quote: 4 year computer plan = $50/mo. That's what one has to sock away to stay current. How many of us actually do that?
I just obtained a rally nicr quad core machine with all the standard goodies for $300 bux.
I built quad core machines a while ago and sold two for them for $375 bux with all the goodies. And kept one for myself.
So getting an updated machine with the goodies needed is possible.
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
quote: CorelDraw X3 won't work with Windows 7 unless
Dotn know why not?
I run x3 in win 7 64 bit all the time.
Posted by Bill Modzel (Member # 22) on :
Donna, I'm a Mac guy and have a LG 22" monitor on y MacPro quad. One thing discovered is that most monitors do not come with a digital connection but with an old analog connection. I had the same issue when I plugged it in for the first time. After talking to a buddy who manages about 24 networked Macs in an agency, he told me what to do. Back to Best Buy and dropped another $45 for the cable and bingo. Like night and day.
By the way, I know nothing about the video cards in pc's. I have a NVDIA GeoForce 7300 GT in my Mac.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Thanks for that info Curtis...I was just going by what Corel had posted on their website.
Knowing that will make it easier to upgrade to a new desktop.
Some excellent deals on TigerDirect these days. Posted by Dale Manor (Member # 4858) on :
I know you are a running a PC there Donna.....but like Grampa Dan...I just bought a 27" iMac and the monitor is the best I've seen. The LED type monitor is very bright and white not grey like an LCD... and the contrast and color are excellent.
to top it all off I can actually get all my tools out in Illustrator and Photoshop and have room to spare.
Now I need to go and do my Danville mural design and put this shiny new toy to work!
Posted by Darcy Baker (Member # 8262) on :
One of my old Dell monitors is going green so I called a tech buddy of mine and he is bringing me the largest CRT he has in his stash for $15. No shipping ... a good deal. Now, I did have 3 hard drive failures recently and will go for a blue label WD next time as I can't afford the forensics.
Posted by Michael Clanton (Member # 2419) on :
Your frustration with finding the right cables, video cards, adapters, drivers, specific software to play nice with other specific hardware, pieces that aren't compatible without the latest update, etc... are the EXACT reasons I don't mess with that stuff anymore (and the same reason Dan and Dale are smiling)
I have no intention or desire to be a computer tech (that's what my dad did for a living)-- I just want the silly things to work and do what they were designed to do without ANY fuss!
Some people actually enjoy tinkering with and building/fixing/modifying various things on computers- I applaud them, but that is not for me... I have neither the time nor patience. Just last weekend, I moved one step closer to being entirely "fruit-based"- I now have 3, with the latest replacing an aging Dell- once the Dell goes down for good, I won't ever go back to messing with that type of stuff!!!!
BTW- Our church offices bought several of those exact same monitors, Donna-- I think they all look awful! None of them have a decent picture... so it's not just you. Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
That is the real problem is buying cheaper consumer grade stuff and expecting it to act like the professonal stuff. IT ain't goona happen.
As for tinkering and having to know a ton about the systems. Nope.
No need to tinker with anything. No need to be a tech. Just buy a good non consumer grade system and run it. You can choose consumer components or you can choose non consumer components. The cost is a little more but you get so much more.
Consumer components are usually just good enuf for the average guy or girl and is usually inexpensive.
Get into the non consumer grade stuff and it will cost a just a little more but you will see the very best of it all. PC or Fruit it makes no matter. The non consumer grade stuff is light years ahead of the dells, or the cow boxed stuff or any other semi name brand box.
For example, I have a Sony non consumer grade LCD monitor that is over 6 years old. You should see it how good it is. When new it was the state of the art. IT still is way ahead of the average new consumer grade monitor. But I paid a couple of hundred more for it.
You see, you get what you pay for. Cheap equals disappointment a little more gets happiness.
Yes, both the PC's and fruits have good and they have better and they both have the best in cutting edge. Neither one is better over the other.
Buy a PC in the bargain basement and be conent. Buy a PC in the upscale areana and be delighted. But soem fruit in the bargain bin and be happy or buy int the upscale and be just as delighted.
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
Thanks so much all! The info is totally invaluable to me!
For what it's worth, I blogged about this today and set up a poll to see what 'all the bloggers' were using. 60 comments to date. Check out the poll. Interesting.
I read through your blog and enjoyed the comments left by most of your visitors. I find it kind of funny that a few people are still under the impression they they would have to buy all new software if they switched to a Mac. You can run any XP software apps on a Mac using Boot Camp or Parallels. But there are a lot of positive comments left by people now using Macs.
Recently I made a decision to buy a new computer. I have been using laptops for about 6 years or so along with an external monitor and keyboard. I waffled for a while but decided to go with an all-in-one. I compared the PC options to the iMac and decided the iMac was the way to go for me. Mostly because I would have to buy all new software to run on a PC!
Quite frankly I was sick of trying to design large artwork on a dimly lit small monitor. I went with the 27" iMac mostly because of the LED monitor. I know there are people out there who keep saying the hardware is all the same....yeah whatever. For $1600 sony makes an all-in-one with a 24" LCD monitor and a 320 gig hard drive. LCD's now look grey and dim to me and 24" is not big enough!
I paid around $1600 for my iMac and it has a 27" LED monitor that comes on to full brightness instantly and is bright white. And the color and contrast are amazing.
I'm not sure what would work best for you? But if you want to see your photos in living color...get an LED monitor. It'll look better on the screen than you can ever get it to print...not to mention, you can see every detail in your photos!
night.... time to put the silver toy to sleep...after Lady Antebellum finishes singing a song for me.
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
Well, Dale.... I saw Lady Antebellum live a while back. Was about 10' from the stage and it was LOUD. The crowd stood on the bleacher seats for the entire concert.
I bet THAT was better than your LED screen.
[ May 25, 2010, 02:19 AM: Message edited by: Jon Jantz ]
Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
Nice setup Dale!
LOL Jon. You be bad!
Come ON payday! Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
I run 2 Gateway 24" LCD monitors on the Mac G5 desktop in my art room and this has been like this since my Anthony put it together for his music and design skills. The Gateway FPD2485W has unreal color and definition, right Jon?
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
THE VIDEO CARD IS KEY DONNA, AS YOU SAID --- I have two computers hooked to one monitor, and when I toggle back and forth between the two, the new computer with the cheapo card is not nearly as crisp and clean as the old windows 2000 computer with a nice, not all that expensive video card. It's all a mess trying to figure out what you need, and sometimes it can be the monitors fault, sometimes the cards fault. My monitor is about 3 years old, a 17" HP anti-glare. HP hasn't made anything as sweet since. The glossy screens don't work for me. Causes eyestrain.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Micheal ... update that crummy video card ... theyare cheap now days!
yeah, a good one will kick @$$ for around 40 bucks, give or take, that's all it cost me to upgrade that y2k clunker ... you'd think a new computer of about any price would already have decent cards!!!
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
I'm with ya there Mike. It amazes me how in the PC world, the corners they will cut to lower their prices. I bought a Dell laptop which I found after it was too late that the video card is part of the motherboard and cannot be upgraded, and what they put in was minimal and thus will not run Artcam 2010 worth a crap when doing 3D stuff. Money wasted.
Posted by Michael Gene Adkins (Member # 882) on :
Dave,
I priced building a computer from scratch with all the "good" components and open architecture (so you don't end up in the mess you're in).
The price was the same for an already built computer of about any brand--only you get a monitor on the deal if you buy it ready to go and you will have to pay the extra money getting a copy of Windows 7.
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Here's my current situation...
The 6 year old Compaq (finally getting tired) 320GB Drive Windows Vista Home Edition 32 Bit 3.2 GHZ Intel Celeron processor 1.5 GB RAM 54X CD/DVD Burner NVidia Geforce 8400 graphics card w/HDMI adapter Realtek Audio Lynksys Wireless G network adapter Emerson HDTV Monitor w/Dual HDMI inputs Kodak AIO 3 Printer/Scanner/Fax Creative Labs speakers Camm-1 plotter
...and a Playstation 3 (better'n watchin' paint dry... )
Making it's way to the big desk soon...
New HP Pavillion Twin 320GB Drives 2.2GHZ AMD Sempron Processor 3.0 GB RAM Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE 1TB Seagate external Drive 18.5 inch HP monitor (will be replaced by the 22" Emerson) HP Deskjet f4440 w/copier, scanner & fax Netgear USB wireless adapter (faster connection)
(soon to be added) LPT PCI Card to connect the plotter (shipped Monday) Daewood Suuround Sound system (already have)
...and the REAL point of all this...
The Compaq paid for itself a long time ago. It's still a viable shop system, but time marches on. Over 6 years, I've probably put somewhere around $700-$1000 into hardware and software upgrades, but the processor has been struggling to keep up with the OS. As Corel, Adobe and others are upgrading to work with newer operating systems, keeping up to date with the FUNCTIONALITY is worth investing into.
The HP with the add ons...$740 as you see it in the picture. Not a lot when you consider the returns. A $17 LPT card to bring the plotter on to it.
Still think getting a newer system is expensive? Look closer at the big desk. I installed a 250GB SATA drive into it last summer. Throw in the money for the games you see next to it, a whole lot of downloads for Rockband and Guitar Hero, various controllers and a steering wheel....yup, I have as much into the PS3 as the new computer.
How did that happen?
A $10 Mack striping brush pay for itself in minutes.
An Iwata airbrush pays for itself in a day.
A new computer pays for itself in a month or two if it keeps your shop open and effective. It's not something that COSTS you, it's something you INVEST in.
It also helps you get the fun stuff in life...like PS3s.
Rapid
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Putting a Celeron in a shop computer is like putting a Pinto engine in a Mack Dump Truck ... it may get the job done ... but you will spend all your time in Low Gear!
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Just curious what I need to look for in today's PC monitor world.![[Frown]](frown.gif)
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