NEC monitors

[Kwak12r]

I am looking for a high quality monitor to use for processing my photos.
I am using a MacBook Pro before the miniport option came available.
I was looking at the NEC website and found 2 monitors that interested me: the 2490WUXi and the 2690WUXi. The main difference is the size but also the 2690 shows more rendition of aRGB.
Any recommendations or comments on monitors?

[sti jaguar]

Dont know about those monitors. I have an NEC 2470 from 2 years ago. And you cant go wrong with NEC. They are the best.

[suyenfung]

I have an NEC 2690 and calibrate with an i1 Display 2 puck and NEC's Spectraview software. If I am not mistaken this is the most cost effective solution for true hardware calibration. I couldn't be happier with it, the monitor is fantastic and the calibration is totally automated, unlike i1 Match software, which was a total pain to use.

[Kwak12r]

i have a Spyder 3 Pro. Will this work as well as the NEC hardware/software for calibration?

[suyenfung]

Yes and no.

The NEC is sold display only, or as a kit with a puck and the Spectraview software.

There is no point in buying NEC if you do not use Spectraview. This is NEC's software that calibrates the display on the hardware level. I am sure you could use the Spyder's included software to create a profile, but you would be ignoring the best feature of the display.

So you need the monitor and the software, but the software is compatible with several pucks.

If you already have the Spyder 3, which is compatible with Spectraview, you probably want to get the display alone and buy the Spectraview software from NEC (http://www.necdisplay.com/supportcenter/monitors/spectraview2/). You don't need to buy the kit with the puck as you already have one. This is what I did, as I already had the i1.

It works great and again I couldn't be happier with it. It is a great investment in your art.

[Kwak12r]

I just read on the NEC website that the newest update to the Apple OS is not working with Sptectraview! They discourage the use of the newest OS update until Apple works out the issue.....
Makes me wonder if using Apple and this NEC monitor is worth the money.
Everything I have read about this monitor really make me want to get it. But, if the software is really what makes it a special monitor and Apple is having issues, perhaps I need to reconsider?????
I hate not being a super techno junkie in time like this..... I would rather be out taking pictures and enjoying the outdoors!

[suyenfung]

For what it's worth I am using a Mac Pro with the latest OS, and everything is fine. No problems whatsoever.

[PM01]

Both the 24 and 26 NEC are great monitors. Hard to go wrong with either. It's going to be a huge step up from your Mac monitor!