Help needed choosing a monitor!!!

[Alan W]

I was after a new TFT monitor, and before you all start going on about CRT's space is a premium and my wife does not want a CRT! Anyway, I decided to go for a high quality TFT and have just taken delivery of a new LaCie 119LCD (19") monitor (£315) and to be quite honest I am disappointed. The screen isn't very sharp and there is some dark patches in one area - similar to what you would get from having dust on your sensor. It isn't marks on the screen - it is on the inside. I chose LaCie having heard that a lot of photographers and graphic designers use them and some Mac users prefer them to Apple monitors. Tomorrow I am going to phone the suppliers and ask for my money back and will be looking for an alternative in the £300 - £400 price bracket. One make that I may be interested in is Acer and the new AL2051ws (20") looks pretty good value and is higher resolution that the LaCie. Has anyone had any experience with Acer or can suggest a few alternatives?

[Brad]

Hi
I cannot recomend an alternative to CRT'S as they are still definitely WYSIWYG in the RGB CMK color spaces department.
But I just got my partner a sony TFT for her office PC because of space and the first one had dull dark smudges on it like finger marks so I took straight back the next day and changed it.I think it's where presuure is applied during manufacture that spoils the screen.
The second one looks great but I've not tried anthing in PS yet.
Often when I show clients thier photos on thier own TFT screens I am apalled by the quality of "mickey mouse" colors rendered and have to reassure them that tha's not what they will come out like. Sometimes I give the proofs from my Epson 1290S to prove it.
Has anyone seen the new sony "black screens" used with PS?, I'd like to hear your opinions as these are supposed to rival CRT colors.
Cheers,
Brad

[tonymidd]

I use both, 21" CRT with the main unit and do all correction work for clients and my personal work on this, and 15.4" and 14" TFT on the laptops mainly for web surfing.
Subject to them being properly profiled using a Spyder Studio Pro 2 there is not a lot to choose between them. If and when the CRT packs up I'd happily replace it with a TFT. :clapping:

[Alan W]

I have just adjusted my new monitor using a special control panel I have just discovered on this new PC which links direct into the video card. It is 1000 times better than the Adobe Gamma system of doing things and has controls for saturation, brightness, contrast, gamma and sharpness. I have set the monitor profile to adobe RGB, adjusted the above settings and the result is an absolutely fantastic image. The 'smudges' are still there though and I have contacted both the supplier and LaCie UK and they are looking into it. This is the new 19" LaCie monitor which has a 1000:1 contrast ratio and I have got to say for £315 I am very inpressed. I'll keep you updated as to the customer service I receive.

[Stemmy]

I hav always been CRT but LTJ has an LCD at her studio which is really good.

My dad has been through 3 LCDs in the last two years. All going wrong for one thing or another. Luck all under warranty.