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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
computer monitor
Jim Leary, Photographer
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Island | NY | USA | Posted: 11:41 AM on 01.28.07 |
->> I'm sure many of you are Mac people so I thought this would be a good place to ask my question. I have used a Mac at work in the past but have pretty much been a PC guy at home. I'm not impressed with Vista and I'm finding out that many older programs will not work with Vista since Microsoft is graduating to 64-bit.
With a Mac, my understanding is that I can get the parallel software that allows it to run PC programs when I need to and the Mac is able to run both 32 and 64 bit programs.
After pricing a new Dell with all the specs that I would want I then priced a Mac and came up with a similar price range ($2500). Here's the problem.... Dell comes with a decent flat panel monitor at no extra cost and if I want to upgrade its still a reasonable extra charge but the Mac does not include a monitor in the $2500 package. Apple monitors start at $700 and that simply isn't in the budget. At the same time I don't want to invest $2500 in a new Mac and not have a good screen.
So, I'm asking any and all Mac users in here if they can suggest a good third party flat panel monitor that can be used with a new Mac Pro computer which delivers good color and accuracy for use in photography at a reasonable price? Thanks in advance for any suggestions. |
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Ryan Gibbons, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 12:18 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> I suggest a combination of the two options you are looking at, Mac desktop and a Dell monitor. You will find many people that are very pleased with Dell monitors. I own a 24" Dell and love it. Dell just came out with some new monitors at different price points as well.
Ryan |
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Greg Ferguson, Photographer
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Scottsdale | Az | USA | Posted: 12:22 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> A lot of people buy the Dell monitors and use them with the Macs as they're the same panel.
I don't know if the Dell monitors use different gamma than the Macs - in the past Mac monitors were different, and that affects the color. Usually we can tweak a Mac monitor to match a PC, but going the other way? That I dunno. |
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Greg Ferguson, Photographer
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Scottsdale | Az | USA | Posted: 12:25 PM on 01.28.07 |
| ->> When I went with a LCD I bought a big Sony LCD. I couldn't wait for a Dell to arrive, and the Apple LCD was too much - it's that Scottish ancestry I think. :-) |
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Jason Rice, Photographer
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Fort Collins | CO | United States | Posted: 12:40 PM on 01.28.07 |
| ->> I'm not sure about the gamma within the monitor, but if it does need to be changed you should be able to set it within any color profiling software. |
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Darren Whitley, Photographer
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Maryville | MO | USA | Posted: 12:57 PM on 01.28.07 |
| ->> There will be a Vista 32-bit and Vista 64-bit. The later version is supposed to be the more secure version, but it will be incompatible with many applications as you mentioned. |
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Ben Jenkins, Photographer
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Geneva | IL | USA | Posted: 1:30 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> Jim-
Darren is right... The final version of Vista to be released to the public tomorrow 1/29 (which should be shipping on all new computers)is 32-bit and should have no issues running any modern (2000 and beyond) programs. The 64-bit version is not shipping yet and won't be (in bulk) for a long time.
I know of a few people running the final version of Vista (testers) and it runs basically every modern software out there. With any new operating system there's sure to be some glitches here and there, but I wouldn't expect any issues with mainstream software like Office, Photoshop, etc, etc.
If you're set on going with Apple, I would recommend a Dell Monitor too... Make sure it's an 8-bit color version and not a 6-bit (done to increase screen rates but worse color). |
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Kirby Yau, Photographer, Assistant
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San Diego | CA | USA | Posted: 1:34 PM on 01.28.07 |
| ->> Go with a Dell Monitor, I've had my 20" LCD for about three years now and its still ticking strong... Knock on wood. |
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David Templeton, Assistant, Photographer
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Hammonton | NJ | USA | Posted: 3:43 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> Its important to realize that the actual panels in the Dell 2007fpw and Apple 20" Cinema Display are the SAME. They both come from LG.Phillips. The only thing different is the case around them.
It's also an S-IPS type panel, which is the right kind for photo editing. Mine is calibrated and performs close to the REAL expensive photo editing screens.
I recommend it.
Also, as others have mentioned, Vista is not only available in 32-bit, but the 32-bit version will be the most popular by far.
Also also, if you build the computer yourself you'll save a lot. If you don't have the knowledge to do this, I guarantee you have a friend that does.
Also also also, and this goes for anyone looking at a Mac Pro, if you want more than the lowest amount of RAM, add it yourself. Apple charges $300 per 1GB of ram they add. You can add equal/higher quality FB-DIMMs yourself for $120-150 per 1GB. I bet Dell overcharges for this too but I haven't checked. |
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Jim Leary, Photographer
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Island | NY | USA | Posted: 6:42 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> Ryan said:
"I suggest a combination of the two options you are looking at, Mac desktop and a Dell monitor."
Thanks for all the quick responses. I'm a little surprised but very happy to see that so many recommended one brand of monitor - Dell. I thought for sure I'd have to make up a long list of all the different recommendations but it seems like Dell is the way to go. I have always been pleased with Dell as I have had two desktops and one laptop made by them. Now that I'm going with an Apple computer and refuse to pay a ridiculous $700 for a monitor, I'll be serously looking at Dell.
Dave said:
"anyone looking at a Mac Pro, if you want more than the lowest amount of RAM, add it yourself. Apple charges $300 per 1GB of ram they add."
Indeed! I've been told that by others as well and my plan is to take the 1 gig of RAM bundled into the basic Mac Pro and add more later from a third party.
Again, a big thanks to all. Apple computer and Dell monitor it is. |
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Erik Markov, Photographer
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Kokomo | IN | | Posted: 8:05 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> Jim,
I got an HP LP2065 lcd screen for xmas and have been impressed thus far. I have mine set at 1600x1200 res. The blacks have seemed pretty good so far and I seem to have a nice gradient of black to white and just the right amount of contrast. HP is prob more known for business monitors and computers than photo etc. I don't know about other monitors, but the thing I like about it is it has 2 dvi ports on it, I don't know if others do. I am a windoze person but after getting this and a new desk several months ago that has some more space to it, am considering adding a mac mini to the mix to do some of the stuff I miss with windows. It'd be nice to switch back and forth with just one monitor, not have to use a kvm switch or other apparatus to go between the os's. Just my .02 |
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Bob Ford, Photographer
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Lehighton | Pa | USA | Posted: 8:40 PM on 01.28.07 |
| ->> Jim, I also use a Dell 24" at work and love it. |
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Ryan Gibbons, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Columbia | MO | USA | Posted: 10:18 PM on 01.28.07 |
->> Jim as David said they do overcharge you quite a bit on memory and hard drives oh boy do they get you there as well. Apple sells a 500GB HDD for the Mac Pro for $400...you can get a great Seagate 500GB drive for $160-$220 (depending on features) on newegg.com. Apple makes some great products but they aren't cheap, and I will never buy a product from them that they max out on components. (I understand the warranty and service issues that some of you will bring up, but the Apple warranty still applies and your new hardware will be warrantied by the manufacturer.)
Enjoy the new machine.
-ryan |
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Sergei Belski, Photographer
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Calgary | AB | Canada | Posted: 12:04 PM on 01.29.07 |
| ->> One more with Dell 24" and Mac... loving it! |
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