Monitor size - 24" or 30"?

[Vincent Vega]

I currently use a 21" monitor (an Eizo S2110W) with my Mac Pro. I'm toying with the idea of upgrading to a larger screen. One reason for this is Aperture 2, which is rather cramped at 1680x1050.

Standard monitor sizes seem to be 24" (1920x1200) and 30" (2560x1600). The obvious thing to do would be to go up one size, to 24". However, is it worth skipping that and getting a 30" one instead?

An obvious choice for a 30" display would be Apple's cinema display. The 24" LED variant is not an option, thanks to Apple's decision to use mini DisplayPort on it. Are there any owners of the 30" on these forums who can give me their views on it?

Another option would be to stick with Eizo, in either 24" (http://www.eizo.com/products/lcd/sx2461w/index.asp) or (somewhat more expensive) 30" (http://www.eizo.com/products/lcd/sx3031w/). Part of me can't help but think that having used an Eizo for three years, anything else would be a step down, including the Apple 30" model.

[wlescall]

I'm lovin' my 30" ACD. That being said ... you might consider 2 - 24" monitors. I did until I realized that I didn't have enough desk space.

If you are set on the 24" LED display - Apple has the ATI Radeon HD 4870 that has one mini display port and one dual link port. However it is listed as shipping in 5-7 weeks.

[René Damkot]

IMO dual screen is very useful for Photoshop, and far less so in LR2...

No idea on the mentioned Eizo's, but I'd also look into a LaCIe 526. (http://www.lacie.com/uk/products/product.htm?pid=10896) Nice screen.

[tim]

With a 30" screen you might get a sore neck looking from left to right all the time, if you sit close to it. I found that even when I went from 15" to 19" years ago, and i'm still on 19". 30" would be way too big for me, 24 would probably be ok.

[Bill Roberts]

I went from a 19" Eizo to a 24" HP and it seems fine. But I too wonder if 30" would be just that step too far?

[Bobster]

With a 30" screen you might get a sore neck looking from left to right all the time, if you sit close to it. I found that even when I went from 15" to 19" years ago, and i'm still on 19". 30" would be way too big for me, 24 would probably be ok.

if you sat a little further away tim, you could just scan with your eyes ;)

[PM01]

I currently use a 21" monitor (an Eizo S2110W) with my Mac Pro. I'm toying with the idea of upgrading to a larger screen. One reason for this is Aperture 2, which is rather cramped at 1680x1050.

Standard monitor sizes seem to be 24" (1920x1200) and 30" (2560x1600). The obvious thing to do would be to go up one size, to 24". However, is it worth skipping that and getting a 30" one instead?

An obvious choice for a 30" display would be Apple's cinema display. The 24" LED variant is not an option, thanks to Apple's decision to use mini DisplayPort on it. Are there any owners of the 30" on these forums who can give me their views on it?

Another option would be to stick with Eizo, in either 24" (http://www.eizo.com/products/lcd/sx2461w/index.asp) or (somewhat more expensive) 30" (http://www.eizo.com/products/lcd/sx3031w/). Part of me can't help but think that having used an Eizo for three years, anything else would be a step down, including the Apple 30" model.

NEC 30 inch. Unlike apple, NEC chooses to list all of their specs. Amount of Adobe RGB space covered (nearly 98 percent!), 12 bit LUT, DDC compatible, g-g and b-b response times in ms, etc. And they have a 4 year warranty. Apple only has a 1 year. If Apple had the specs and the performance, they would list it. But, they are an 8 bit panel with a no LUT. NO external color controls and a highly limited gamut when referenced to the Adobe RGB space.

You can buy the NEC through provantage.com for a bit less.

http://necdisplay.com/Products/Product/?product=4af7b335-9302-4429-8d73-74c35a363b57