Monitor suggestions

[Carnildo]

My monitor's starting to get fuzzy around the edges. Since they don't make high-quality CRTs anymore, it looks like I'll need to get an LCD. I'll be using it for computer graphics, image editing, and playing old video games, so my requirements are a bit different from the typical gamer's:

* Good handling of non-native resolutions. At a minimum, it needs to be able to correctly display 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, and either 320x200 or an integer multiple of it (640x400, 960x600, etc).
* Good color when viewing off-axis. Color shifts make it hard to tell what an image really looks like.
* 16:10 or 4:3 aspect ratio. 16:9 won't let me display an IRC client above a widescreen movie.
* Diagonal size of 22 inches or larger: I want something bigger than my current monitor.

Suggestions?

[distractedSofty]

Dell U2412M (I was going to recommend the U2410, but this one is newer, cheaper, and looks like it should be similar quality)

It's 16:10 and 24 inches. It's IPS, so it's off angle viewing is good.

It's vertical resolution is 1200 pixels, so if you use the "scale, but keep original aspect ratio" option in video card drivers, it should give you good results for at least 800x600 and 320x200. (Although I have no idea how good its built in scaling is).

I don't have one myself, but a few people at work use the older model, so I can attest to the off angle viewing. I personally use a Dell 2007FP at work, and the panel quality is awesome.

I've been meaning to buy one for myself at home, but the older model was $600, and I kept missing the good sales.

[GeorgeH]

I believe the U2412M doesn't replace the U2410 so much as provide an alternative - shamelessly copied from another forum:

U2412M pros:

• Still a 1920x1200, 16:10 screen
• Stand still pans, tilts, telescopes, and rotates
• LED-backlit
• Lower power consumption (due to LED backlight); 38W typical vs. 75W typical of U2410
• Stand has smaller footprint
• Much lighter (8.7lbs panel-only vs. 14.3lbs panel-only for U2410, again due to LED backlight)
• Arsenic- and mercury-free materials, and as such should be safe to eat
• Apparently less-annoying anti-glare coating (per single user review on Dell.com)

U2412M cons:

• Vastly reduced video input selections: 1 each DVI, VGA, DP
• No media card reader
• Almost certainly an eIPS screen
• No more PIP or PBP options
• Touch-sensitive buttons are out, cheap plastic buttons are in
• Slower response time (8ms g2g vs. 6ms g2g, per specs)
• Dimmer (300 brightness vs. 400)
• Lower color depth (16.7M colors, vs. 1.07B)
• Smaller color gamut (82% vs 110%)
• AdobeRGB calibration dropped, leaving only sRGB

link

The Dell U2410 and the HP ZR24W were also the first things that popped into my mind - there are lots of excellent reviews and comparisons out there to help you decide if either one will work for you.