Dual Monitors for CS3 Web Use

[Michael73]

A bit of background...I manage and maintain all aspects of my company's digital storefront which is a lead gen website. One of the things lacking in my toolbox is fluency with CS3. A very generous boss let me run out and get a copy of CS3 Web Premium. With constraints my IT department also got me a new PC and threw a second video card in it (I have 2, ATI FireMV 2200 cards) so that I can work on dual monitors. Unfortunately, I'm stuck working on 2, 17" Dell 1707FP's that have this terrible color reproduction. I'm thinking about running out and getting a better set of monitors since I'm spending more and more time in Photoshop. The issue is that my monitor choices are really limited. Can anyone tell me if either of these 3, 22" monitors are worth considering?

Dell SP2208WFP
Samsung 2253LW
Samsung 226CW

 

[jdl8422]

Are you asking which monitor will win the duel? or are you asking which monitors will be best for a dual setup?

 

[Michael73]

Clarification

I want to replace both my 17" Dell Monitors with a pair of one of the 3 monitors mentioned in my original post.

The other option of course is that neither of the 3 are any better for web work than what you have so just stick with what you've got.

 

[LeviG]

First its duAl (sorry its a pet annoyance from dual cpu days)

second why have you got 2 mv2200 cards, they're multi monitor cards any you can actually run 4 cards from the 2 you have?

As to monitors, tn film displays (like you suggested) are poor for colour repro, you need to be looking at ips/mva/pva etc (high end philips/samsung panels) in my opinion.

Also to note is that any display will look poor until it has been calibrated so it may be worth buying a decent calibration unit first.

 

[Michael73]

How can I verify whether or not the monitors I'm looking at are using TN film displays?

You mentioned that Samsung uses betters displays in at least some of it's lines maybe they're used in the 2 in my first post?!?

 

[InLikeALion]

You mentioned that Samsung uses betters displays in at least some of it's lines maybe they're used in the 2 in my first post?!?

What he meant is that Samsung and LG are the panel manufacturors who make most ips/mva high-end PANELS, which are then used in better displays, like Apple's cinema displays, Lacie's, high-end samsungs, etc... All philips or samsung displays don't use only these good panels. Only the more "pro" minded models. I think they should list the panel type in the detailed specifications.

 

[LeviG]

As to monitors, tn film displays (like you suggested) are poor for colour repro, you need to be looking at ips/mva/pva etc (high end philips/samsung panels) in my opinion.

You mentioned that Samsung uses betters displays in at least some of it's lines maybe they're used in the 2 in my first post?!?

Like I said, the ones you suggested are tn film displays. They're consumer/gamer orientated and as such aren't ideal for colour accuracy etc.

How can I verify whether or not the monitors I'm looking at are using TN film displays?

Usually checking on manufacturers sites (or opening up the display) but for quick and dirty, anything with a response time below 5ms is 99% of the time a tn film panel. You would normally be looking at around the £300-400 mark for a non tn film panel versus the generally sub £250 mark of a tn film one.

 

[jerryrock]

How about investing in a monitor calibration device like the DataColor Spyder3 Elite?