Re: good monitor for color work?
Bit late on this, but here's my recent experience. Attempted to go under $500; came badly unstuck with a samsung 226BW. Did more research and the more I found out, the more I realised I didn't know about LCD/TFT displays. Believe me, it's a minefield if you are serious about getting it right; particularly for prepress.
The market is basically, mostly, TN panels. Panel technology is critical. I would say steer clear of mass market TN panels for prepress work.
The 2 quality panels technologies are S-PVA and S-IPS, S-IPS being the better of the 2. My guess is these 2 together would comprise less than 10% of the market. S-IPS is deemed to be better. The only "affordable" S-IPS suitable for prepress work, IMO, is the NEC 2090UXi. Google it, have a squizz, do other research. In conjunction with basICColor hardware/software calibration, you have one very creditable monitor. Monitor around $1100. basICColor puck+software about $300, licensed for 3 monitors.
Once you set it up, calibration is virtually a no-brainer. If you wanted to do it weekly it's only about 10 mins while you get a coffee. Pixel pitch is important. The 2090 has a tighter PP than many other LCDs. This is important for viewing type. Not so important for pro photographers, if you catch my drift.
There's contrast ratio, luminance/brightness/colour depth. These are important. "Refresh rate" is less important for prepress work, particularly as all rates have fallen across the board.
Bear in mind the technology changes so quickly, and the price down/performance up pincer is constant. i reckon LCD will be "there" in another 12~18 months.
Random thought. Don't be fooled by Apple's marketing hype. In some areas their quality is slipping, [it's re-badge anyway], under price pressure. Some of their ADs used to have S-PVA panels. I don't know how true this still is. They are opaque about this, and in general about their monitors. Very little disclosure about what's in them. Contrast that with the info. you'll see if you look at the NEC.
Lastly, wikipedia has a great background article on LCD panel technology.
Have a look here. Sometimes you get a result from their search field, sometimes not. Still a great site.
http://www.flatpanels.dk/panels.php
Bit late on this, but here's my recent experience. Attempted to go under $500; came badly unstuck with a samsung 226BW. Did more research and the more I found out, the more I realised I didn't know about LCD/TFT displays. Believe me, it's a minefield if you are serious about getting it right; particularly for prepress.
The market is basically, mostly, TN panels. Panel technology is critical. I would say steer clear of mass market TN panels for prepress work.
The 2 quality panels technologies are S-PVA and S-IPS, S-IPS being the better of the 2. My guess is these 2 together would comprise less than 10% of the market. S-IPS is deemed to be better. The only "affordable" S-IPS suitable for prepress work, IMO, is the NEC 2090UXi. Google it, have a squizz, do other research. In conjunction with basICColor hardware/software calibration, you have one very creditable monitor. Monitor around $1100. basICColor puck+software about $300, licensed for 3 monitors.
Once you set it up, calibration is virtually a no-brainer. If you wanted to do it weekly it's only about 10 mins while you get a coffee. Pixel pitch is important. The 2090 has a tighter PP than many other LCDs. This is important for viewing type. Not so important for pro photographers, if you catch my drift.
There's contrast ratio, luminance/brightness/colour depth. These are important. "Refresh rate" is less important for prepress work, particularly as all rates have fallen across the board.
Bear in mind the technology changes so quickly, and the price down/performance up pincer is constant. i reckon LCD will be "there" in another 12~18 months.
Random thought. Don't be fooled by Apple's marketing hype. In some areas their quality is slipping, [it's re-badge anyway], under price pressure. Some of their ADs used to have S-PVA panels. I don't know how true this still is. They are opaque about this, and in general about their monitors. Very little disclosure about what's in them. Contrast that with the info. you'll see if you look at the NEC.
Lastly, wikipedia has a great background article on LCD panel technology.
Have a look here. Sometimes you get a result from their search field, sometimes not. Still a great site.
http://www.flatpanels.dk/panels.php
