2nd computer monitor recommendation?

No problem.

You don't need to turn the monitors. Just turn your head sideways!

Only annoying thing I'd say about this monitor is that the height isn't adjustable (fixed stand), so you may need to buy a monitor stand for it if it's not the right height for you to work at comfortably. They're only £10 or something like that so no big deal.

Oh yeah, also just remembered that ebuyer supplied it with an EU plug and the wrong adapter to plug it into UK sockets. I've got mine hooked up with travel adaptors!

My old tutor at uni used to turn the whole screen with the stand, it worked quite nicely. I think the reason for rotating screen is that when viewing portrait pics, the size of the pics can be maximized. I might get it from amazon if they supply a UK plug, I think it's the same price as ebuyer.

But can't buy it until I get paid... another couple of weeks to wait...

Have you thought about using a HDTV?

I did but I gave up the idea very quickly. Mainly because HDTV are not designed for as a 2nd monitor, while many people us it for this purpose, the resolution isn't quite the same. TVs are designed for viewing from afar whereas computer monitors are designed for viewing from a closer distance, so I am not sure if I'd like using a HDTV as my 2nd monitor. If I played games then I'd probably go for a HDTV. Thanks for pointing it out though.

Fair enough

It's definitely something to think about though - I had the same issue, I wanted a larger screen for my notebook and was looking at various options. Computer monitors are apparently crisper and designed for viewing at close range, but then I compared average prices of the two, the HDTV looked a more attractive prospect.

Televisions are more widespread than Monitors, you can pick up a 24" 720p TV for a third of the price of the equivalent monitor. Depending on the model of you Macbook Pro, you can hook it up using a DVItoVGA-VGA connector, or the MiniDisplayport which transmits Audio as well as Visual, or a DVI-HDMI (visual only)

Now my TV-cum-monitor is not as crisp as say a Cinema Display, but that's partly i'm using a VGA connector. If you get a DVI to HDMI cable, and then use a custom resolution on your Pro using an app called SwitchResX. The quality is then, in my opinion, comparable to a monitor. It also depends how new the TV is, manufacturer. TV is also more versatile, if you get built in freeview it's actually a TV too, obviously. If you like you could head in to a PC World type store and run a few tests.

You can adjust brightness/contrast settings to make it less of an eyestrain when viewing close range. One thing which IS a pain is the natural resolution using a VGA cable is 1360x768, which is too damn widescreen-like. Everything is stretched out. It can take getting used to. The natural resolution the laptop is 1440x900 which is a lot more monitor-like. This TV resolution isn't adjustable via the VGA cable, the TV automatically detects a computer and enters "TV Mode". This problem is negated by use of a DVI-HDMI cable though, as you can then set any resolution you want.

Have used various Dell models and while I cant comment on the colour profile accuracy (I only do digital) I would happily reccommend them for professional use (in fact practically every studio/agency Ive ever worked for uses them) and Ive had no issues calibrating them on any of the Macs Ive used them with.

be aware that with some Dell's the brightness cannot be turned down to 120 lumens/m2 so no good for print matching.

forget using a TV.
if you are working at a professional level you need a graphics monitor, you can't match to print if your contrast ratio is 'gaming friendly' 10000:1 and if the gamut barely covers sRGB you can't see the colours that are actually in your image. overkill if it's just for a hobbyist though.

2nd hand apple cinema screen?

no better than a dell/samsung etc, apart from looking a lot nicer.
better off with a new monitor.

this would be my choice for a lo-budget graphics/imaging monitor (plus another £150 for an eye-1/spyder3)
http://www.nativedigital.com/products/Eizo-S2243W-Black.html

^except this is completely out of the budget set in the original post!

Viewsonic FTW!

but probably worth the extra dough

^except this is completely out of the budget set in the original post!

yes it is. but then if you say:

"I am a photographer myself and fully understand the importance of a good monitor."

then you need to spend money to get a monitor that fulfills the basic needs of a graphics/photography monitor, i.e. a large colourspace, panel luminance uniformity, controllable luminace and contrast ratio to match a paper white and it's accompanying lower contrast ratio and colour accuracy. (using a hardware calibrator not 'twiddling the buttons until it looks o.k)

I'm a designer mainly but have to take product photos and colour correct for an online shop. This sometimes means sending the pics around the office to check on the shitty screens around the place to see if the blacks and whites are clear etc. We don't do as much print work these days but I understand your argument. I was giving my recommendation based on the budget set out and the experience I have of using the same monitor for my work.

It does the job, it's half the price of the budget = more money to spend on bike stuff.

who does want the best of everything there is out there? But the harsh reality is, money rules. If you haven't got the money, you haven't got the money. I would love to get a LaCie screen that worth over a grand, I have used it and it rocks, but do I have to money? No I don't. And the other thing is as I have already mentioned in one of my replies that I do not do commercial, that is not to say my work doesn't sell, but I can say and put whatever colours I want in my work and if I say it's right, then it is right. As a matter of fact, I was just on a purpose printing my work using very warm tone last week because it felt right. I think there is a big difference between what a commercial photographer wants and what a fine art photographer is after.

Neither of the Dell or VIewSonic screens are the top of the range, as a matter of fact, I am not even sure if top end professional photographers are their target customers or not. They are cheap and cheerful and like roboto says, they do the job. Finally, I have a professional lab I have a close working relationship with, so while I can spend all the money and time calibrating my monitors, I'd rather leave the job for the lab, coz they will have to do the final fine adjustment before printing anyway, so why bother?

Oh and I forgot to mention we do have top of the range and fully calibrated monitors in our studio which I have access to Mon - Fri all year round. So... I really just want a bigger screen to do work when I can't or can't be bothered to go to the studio.

2nd hand apple cinema screen?

Apple screen sounds great but in fact it's awful. We have a duo screen set up at work for our FCP station and oh my dear god, they are just shit, but then I have to say it's down to nobody bothers to calibrate them, doesn't concern me coz I never use them.

And I think they are now all glossy display which mean all you'd end up seeing is yourself.

But thanks for the suggestion.

2nd hand apple cinema screen?

Apple screen sounds great but in fact it's awful. We have a duo screen set up at work for our FCP station and oh my dear god, they are just shit, but then I have to say it's down to nobody bothers to calibrate them, doesn't concern me coz I never use them.

And I think they are now all glossy display which mean all you'd end up seeing is yourself.

But thanks for the suggestion.

Yeah the new ones aren't that great, don't agree with glossy at all. I've got the old 20" one, with alu trim, at home that I really like. Works for what I do, some photo stuff but mainly web design

FWIW I got it for 240 i think, so within your budget

I am not sure about getting a monitor that is at least a few years old. I see what you are saying and I could probably get a good deal on 2nd hand monitor, but I don't tend to buy 2nd hand computer related items because it's a bit hit and miss. Unless getting a bike frame, what you see is what you get. I don't have that kind of bad luck of getting faulty computer items, both my previous Macs were faulty pretty much out of the box. With 2nd hand items, it's hard if not impossible to return them, so unless they are dirt cheap, I don't want to risk it.

makes perfect sense especially on a budget

Thought I'd bump an old thread rather than start a new one - what are the important specs to look at for montiors for designers? The other half is a designer but has asked the "techy" half (me) to source a decent 22"+ monitor for £200 - what should I foucus on more? response time? Native res? Refresh rate?

Thanks for any pointers.

What shade of 'insert stupid colour name or pantone code here' does the case come in?
Does it match my iToyCollection?

I do all my potatochop work with my computer rigged up to a rented oak-effect Grundig from Rumbelows.*

It's sweeeeet.

Hope that helps.

*Young people and forruns won't have a fucking clue what I'm blithering on about.