yeah I need a new monitor, have a minor preference for LCD atm looking at something preferably between $600 and ... well not too sure about upper limit, depends on the feedback...
at the moment, im leaning towards the benq fp767, mainly cos p-air suggested it. I've also drooled over the hercules 920 one, but flinched at the price for a 17".
So yeah, anyone with a monitor, tell me something, theres even a remote possibility of getting a monster like OD's, but my desk is bending slightly under the weight at the moment, so definite preference for lcd :P.
Buy Dan's monitor and a new desk, still cheaper than a good 19" LCD :)
A few rules... Make sure you're purchasing an LCD with 12ms to 16ms response times (fall and rise combined), any higher makes gaming painful.
Make sure your luminance and contrast ratio are nice and high, the last thing you want is to need completely dark surroundings to see the screen clearly.
Make sure it's a decent brand, warranty on these things is damn important. :)
Oh and on a side note, Hercules LCD's are over-rated and over-priced. Very average response times, and that's the most important thing when making a gaming LCD purchase.
I'd also stay away from Sony LCD's, which boast some of the most horrid response times on the market (ranging from 30ms to 50ms on their 17-19 inch ranges).
Btw, that Mac "cinema display" boasts a relatively average luminance and contrast ratio and they neglect to mention the response times (which is a dead give-away that it's shit, as it's the most important feature and anyone with a clue looks for that first). The only thing going for it would be the resolution and the wide screen, but there are far better wide screen slim displays availible.
rec: Apple don't post response times for the cinema screen because most of their purchasers are the graphics design gods who look down on lowly web design monkeys like you.
Nevertheless it's based on a Sony design, and in fact Sony produce their own variant from the same screen.
Anecdotally both have been described as game- and DVD-friendly, but who knows?
FWIW, I investigated 17" LCDs a while back and the best pick I could find was the Mitsubishi DV172: 12ms response, 500:1 contrast, $700 if you shop around.
Tip..When you get the monitor..make sure that it is set up and turned on AT THE STORE !!!! Check for dead pixels and definately check the manufactures dead pixel policy...I was burned slightly on this subject last year...
Quote from El Presidente: rec: Apple don't post response times for the cinema screen because most of their purchasers are the graphics design gods who look down on lowly web design monkeys like you.
Nevertheless it's based on a Sony design, and in fact Sony produce their own variant from the same screen.
Anecdotally both have been described as game- and DVD-friendly, but who knows?
I suppose my graphics work for Electronic Arts and Microsoft is a laughable effort to these Mac users, eh. :) No *real* designer use LCD screens anyway, that itself is laughable.
On that note, I see what you mean though, because cinema wide-screen displays are the perfect option for any graphics designer! *cough*.
Oh and coincidentally, Sony make some of the worst LCD screens on the market, some of their screens sporting a 50ms response time (20 up 30 down).
Well your minor pref seems to be getting pushed hard.
IMHO Buy a Nice Flat CRT
I looked at a LCD before I purchased a phillips 109P.
19" with a Max res of 1900 * 1440 and runs great at 1792 * 1344 @ 85 Hrz.
Sure it weights a damn sight more than a LCD but most of them are luckly to get up over the 1280 * 1024 Mark and if you have a good graphics card games look real sweet well over that mark.
LCD's also tie you down with the whole native resolution issue.
Dot pitch is better in a CRT and IMHO in the end its the Quality of the picture that you will be staring at that really matters.
I got mine from a Local Store (no advertising as er forum rules) for a sweet price and I am very happy with it.