Help with Monitor choice

I need to replace my aging ultrasharp and have been looking at 24" monitors. I do not have a huge budget, so no high-end NECs are in my future. I also am not interested in 16:9 monitors as there just isn't enough vertical real estate. So, basically a 1920X1200 IPS display that is as low priced as possible.

Given my requirements, the only 2 I have found that fit the price range and specs are the HP ZR24W and the Dell U2410.

The Dell is more expensive and is wide gamut. I am hesitant to go wide gamut because the way I understand it, I would need an expensive colorimeter to calibrate it. This adds significant expense to an already more expensive monitor.

The HP is less expensive and normal gamut. I already have a Spyder 2 express that can calibrate it so that makes it an even better deal.

If I buy the HP, will I end up regretting the decision and wishing I had bought the Dell? Is the HP good enough for editing?

I am obviously leaning towards the HP, but if someone has a compelling argument for buying something else I am all ears.

Thanks!

OK, a wrench has been thrown into the mix. I found a coupon for 25% off the dell U2211H. That makes it $209 which is about half the price of the HP. I realize it is 16:9, but that is a pretty sick deal. Should this change my opinion?

james_in_baltimore wrote in post #11294616
. Should this change my opinion?

Why are you ignoring the Dell U2311h and the few other 23" monitors using the same e-IPS display panel?

My opinions:
If I was a pro photographer, the U221 would be slightly too small.
If I was considering a 23" model, I'd get two, about the same price as one U2410.
I would get the absolute best monitor I can afford, same as lenses.
I would not cheap out on the calibration device and invest in a ColorMunki.

I was in the same situation a few months ago. I eventually went with the HP as I found a great deal on it. I also considered the smaller Dell, but ruled it out because I would lose size in height and width.

Last week I ordered the U2410 from Dell. It was on sale for $499. When it was confirmed, the delivery expected was December 8. I wasn't going to wait that long. I tried to cancel the order, and after spending over 90 minutes on the phone with various customer service folks from India - I was finally able to cancel the darn thing. The last person I spoke to, a young lady who was the most knowledge of all the folks I spoke to, said they were out of stock and the wait was from 3 to 5 weeks. Why they didn't have the out of stock condition on the description page I don't know. But the hassle of cancelling this thing means I will never buy from Dell again.

But, I did get an HP ZR24W from a vendor on eBay (Microman) for $388. It's on the fedex truck as I write this. I'm currently using a dell TN 24" display that I've had for about a year, and it just aint cuttin' it. The added quality and flexibility of the IPS display, and the added desktop space will be features I know I'll enjoy. I'm patiently waiting for the fed ex truck.

Lou

ChasP505 wrote in post #11294834
Why are you ignoring the Dell U2311h and the few other 23" monitors using the same e-IPS display panel?

My opinions:
If I was a pro photographer, the U221 would be slightly too small.
If I was considering a 23" model, I'd get two, about the same price as one U2410.
I would get the absolute best monitor I can afford, same as lenses.
I would not cheap out on the calibration device and invest in a ColorMunki.

The U2311 is the same resolution as the U2211, but more expensive and not on sale. I understand a lot of people seem to like that monitor. Either way, I would prefer a 16:10 to a 16:9. As for a calibration device, I realize the high end ones give slightly better results (I say slightly because I doubt most people could see the difference in the results between a relatively low end calibration device and a high-end one).

I am looking a little bit harder at the U2410 now. I will probably just use the factory calibrated settings until I am able to get a high end calibration device. Has anyone tried to get dell to pricematch off of ebay for the U2410?

james_in_baltimore wrote in post #11295077
I am looking a little bit harder at the U2410 now.

You do realize that the U2410 is not on sale now, and that there is a 3 to 5 week wait for Dell to replenish it's stock. And, as I said above - I'll never be a Dell customer again.

Lou

james_in_baltimore wrote in post #11295077
As for a calibration device, I realize the high end ones give slightly better results (I say slightly because I doubt most people could see the difference in the results between a relatively low end calibration device and a high-end one).

The ColorMunki is NOT high end... It's at the upper end of consumer monitor calibration devices, but it's at the low end (price-wise) of total monitor/printer calibration kits.

A few of the advantages for monitors include working with wide gamut monitors and LED type backlighting, and communicating with the monitor via DDC.

My HP came, and IMHO it's amazing. I calibrated it with the Apple Displays Control Panel, and so far to my eyes it looks great. No dead pixels that I can see.

Lou

ChasP505 wrote in post #11295652
The ColorMunki is NOT high end... It's at the upper end of consumer monitor calibration devices, but it's at the low end (price-wise) of total monitor/printer calibration kits.

A few of the advantages for monitors include working with wide gamut monitors and LED type backlighting, and communicating with the monitor via DDC.

All the same, if I was going to spend that much on the colormunki, then I might as well just get a NEC monitor with a spectraview II calibration system. unfortunately, I do not have an unlimited budget, so there are always going to be trade offs.

I decided to go in the mid range and bought a refurb U2410 that had a sept 2010 manufacture date off ebay and a spyder3. I had a 10% ebay coupon, so that pushed the total price of the monitor down to $323 including shipping. If I have trouble getting good results with the spyder 3 I'll just get the ColorEyes Display Pro software. I do not print at home, so being able to do printer profiling is not important to me.

Hopefully I'll have good results. The ebay seller has 100% feedback and has sold a lot of U2410s and has a good return policy. Thanks you everyone for the advice. I will be sure to update the thread once I've received the monitor and had a chance to calibrate.

OK. SO I received the refurbished U2410 last and ran it through calibration with the Spyder 3 pro. First of all, getting this monitor for 323 on ebay was an absolute steal, it is beautiful. I set it up on custom color and adjusted the RGB gain and brightness. The RGB gain only needed a couple tiny adjustments, I think it ended up being 99, 97, 100 or something. The brightness obviously needed to be turned way down - it ended up being around 17 or so from what I remember. Once I made those adjustments, the calibration went very smooth and the colors look great from comparing images on screen to prints I have ordered. I didn't really think I would notice the difference of a wide gamut screen, but I definitely do.

So, if anyone is willing to take the risk and buy one of these off ebay I feel it is one of the better bargains out there.

Good news James! Thanks for the followup.

Looking for a monitor as well and came across this Dell ST-2420L for $220.
I looked at some specs and the ST-2410L for $220 has my vote.

Let me know what you guys think.

http://www.all-monitors.com …ll_st2420l_vs_d​ell_u2211h

http://accessories.us.​dell.com …hsena_112510_B3​&lid=dhs_h

Dell ST-2420L is a TN. (check response time & viewing angles, and the specs even mention it). Suitable for gaming, not editing.
Get the other one.

Aerton wrote in post #11370108
Let me know what you guys think.

If you must get a Dell, get either the U2311h or the 2209WA. Both can be had for less than $250 USD and both have IPS display panels.