Tell me about monitors

[Baldrake]

I use my computer both for gaming and programming. I'm being seduced by the idea of a really large monitor, to be honest, more for the programming side than the gaming side. There are loads of 27" monitors out there, but as far as I see, they're all 1080p. If I'm not getting higher resolution, I'm not sure I see the point. Is anyone up on the latest in large monitors?

[Trippy]

Apple, Dell and others make 27" with a 2560 x 1400 resolution. They are IPS panels, though, so you pay a big premium.

[Baldrake]

Holy crap, you weren't kidding about the premium. Thanks for the pointer!

[MuffinMan]

I just picked this 27" up a couple of weeks ago from Fry's. I'm not unhappy with the 1080 res but it could use a bump considering the 22" that I upgraded from was basically the same resolution but 16:10.

[eldaec]

Unless you a competitive fps guy, just buy the largest dell ultrasharp you can afford. This is literally everything you need to know about monitors.

I'm working abroad most of this year and while away the only object I miss is my 30" monitor.

[taolurker]

Pricewatch.com is your friend.

[Sky]

I just ordered a couple monitors from newegg, 3x23" and a 24". I love newegg, ordered them after lunch yesterday and they're on the truck and should be here any minute now.

I go for cheap, 1080p at 23/4" seems to be very popular here and they're only around $150-160. I did get one LED-lit model just to check it out. Actually bought 3 different models total and I'll either take the nicest of the bunch or continue with my 20" Dell 1050, but it feels so smaaaaall. The newer, cheaper models also lack the swivel and height adjustments, they're tilt-only. So that's another thing to keep in mind.

[Shrike]

Unless you a competitive fps guy, just buy the largest dell ultrasharp you can afford. This is literally everything you need to know about monitors.

I'm working abroad most of this year and while away the only object I miss is my 30" monitor.

Not bad advice, but usually worth looking a little closer. I still maintain that springing for IPS displays is rarely a bad move. You have to stare at this thing all day, so it makes sense to get the best image quality possible. The U2711 is usually around $1k, but I've seen it on special more than a few times around $800-$850. More than worth it, though It still galls me it's a 16x9 display. It still has more screen real estate than a 1920x1200 and that's a good thing, regardless of screen ratio.

On the 30" front, the HP is arguably superior to the 3011, but it lacks an OCD (good point, in my opinion, but I don't hook consoles to my monitors) and it's a wide gamut display, which seems to upset oversensitive retinas. NEC brought out their 30" (finally), but it's stunningly expensive. Might even be worth it, but it's so far out there even I can't justify that amount of money on a monitor.

[Baldrake]

So just how good is IPS? Am I going to have that wow experience of moving from CRT to LCD?

[Engels]

Once you go IPS you never go back to TN, but in the end its all about your budget and what you hold important to your experience. If you are not a visual person, and were content for years of staring at green-on-black text while people were getting all fancy with Windows 3.1, then ya know what, go budget and don't sweat it too much. If you are someone that notices the gradation between black levels in video, likes to see the fine distinct shadings of various colors in your Dragon Age 2, then you gonna pay. Probably more of a mark up than in any other aspect of computer purchases. Is it worth it to you? Just remember, these monitors last and last.

GF is still using a 4:3 19" NEC I purchased in 2005 for $800 because its very clear that they just don't make them like that anymore. Her Dragon Age 2 looks twice as good as my $2000.00 16:10 24" IPS NEC I purchased a year ago.

So just how good is IPS? Am I going to have that wow experience of moving from CRT to LCD?

Have you looked at a Apple monitor at a store? That's an IPS panel that you can compare to something else there. There are very few other places that have IPS panels on display, I'm afraid.

[Sky]

Dunno, maybe it's me but both of these monitors are aliased to hell. High probability of returning them or going back to my Dell or both.

[Bunk]

So just how good is IPS? Am I going to have that wow experience of moving from CRT to LCD?

I did.

[Amaron]

IPS has much much better color vibrancy and better viewing angles.   When you consider the viewing angle remember this screen is going to be much bigger and thus your viewing angle at the edges will be different than the center by a larger amount.   The only drawbacks to IPS are it's got slower refresh and it costs a lot more. 

Also remember to pay attention to whether the screen is gloss or matte.  The matte is actually anti-glare coating which unfortunately reduces the color vibrancy of your screen.   If you get glossy though you better have a setup where the lighting won't hit and you can move any semi-bright objects behind you.

[Engels]

Amaron is right about matte vs gloss. Gloss works well for video (Hulu, Netflix, etc) and some video games. Matte is easier on the eyes, I have found.

With regards to slower refresh rate, this is true of many IPS panels, but there are IPS panels that have 'gaming accelerators' that reduce the refresh rate so that there is no perceptible 'ghosting' effects. There is, however, a little bit of input lag. Its very slight, and has never really stopped me from playing FPS games to my heart's content, but someone used to the snappiness of TN may balk.

[Azazel]

My wife and I got these last year. They are awesome.
http://www.samsung.com/au/consumer/pc-peripherals/monitor/lcd-monitor/LS27EFHKUV/XY/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail&returnurl=

[Draegan]

I've got a $250 gift card for Best Buy and I want a new monitor.  Who wants to help me pick out a new one?  Also, I'm not restricted to $250 or less, but I do want one 27" or larger.

[Deadguy2322]

I've got a $250 gift card for Best Buy and I want a new monitor.  Who wants to help me pick out a new one?  Also, I'm not restricted to $250 or less, but I do want one 27" or larger.

Three words. Apple Cinema Display.

[Trippy]

Four -- you left out "LED"

[Shrike]

The ACD is a good choice, provided you can deal with its goofy stand and the fact it's display port only.

The Dell 2711 is a very good choice. About $1k, generally, though often heavily discounted via specials.

The Dell 3011 is a decent choice, especially if you want an OCD. Usually $1.5kish, but also frequently seen for a few hundred less via more specials.

The HP z30rw (or something like that) is a very good choice. Usually, around $1.2K. No OCD and it's wide gamut only.

The NEC PA271 is an excellent choice, but pricey (it's NEC after all). Usually around $1.4k.

The big dog is the NEC 3090. This is the holy grail of monitors right now and priced accordingly. It lists at about $2.3k, but if you can live without the calibration stuff you can score one around $1.9k.
 
Those are the panels I'd be looking at if I were buying right now.

[Stewie]

I got the dell u2711 ($780 cdn)
It is absolutely gorgeous. My comp and my girlfriend's are right beside each others. I replaced the girlfriends monitor with my old one and when I look at the dell u2711 beside it, it is night and day the difference.
I literally could not believe I had never realized how dull and unsharp my old monitor is.

i  my new monitor

[Baldrake]

How on earth did you get it at that price, Stewie? I'm seeing it at $1,249.

And now come Dell is charging more in CAD than USD? 

[Stewie]

They had it on sale for 890 (i think, somewhere around there)  and then my company is part of the dell purchase plan. 
They didn't even ask for the name of the company or the purchase plan id just gave me the extra discount and got it down to $780

[Baldrake]

Dang, you got a good deal.