Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Monitor For The Mini

dell

I have just set up my new 23" Dell UltraSharp U2312HM Widescreen IPS Monitor. I am really impressed with everything about it so far. Its connected via a mDP to DP cable and worked right out of the box.

I was going to go for the 23" AOC i2353Fh at £150 or the 23" Iiyama ProLite X2377HDS at £138.

I went to view the AOC at pc world but was put off by the silver and lack of dvi. So went to Aria in Manchester and got the dell for £160.

My Samsung 226BW was looking a bit naff at its 1680 x 1050 resolution.
 
Got my Asus PB278Q yesterday and so far I'm loving it. I like it better than the Dell U2713HM I tried (and returned) before this.
 
macman05 said:
So would you recommend this monitor to someone looking to use it with a 2012 mini?
Click to expand...

It certainly is a great option. The dell 24 inch monitors seem very popular for far less also and they have the same height adjustable stand. This monitor is as much as I'd ever spend on a monitor. i bought it because i wanted a computer exp similiar to an Imac. The screen itself is beautiful, the height adjustment is wonderful and the lack of glare is superb I don't notice any coating. On the neg. It does take 5 secs max to wake up from sleep and the menu options aren't the easiest to scroll thru. The sound although is better than nothing (certainly way better than the mini mono speaker) are underpowered for my liking and some you tube videos its just that tiny bit too quiet to a point it becomes annoying. I bought a cheap speaker system for that purpose and that works great!
 
I bought a 2012 Mac Mini just a few weeks ago and currently have it hooked up to a 40" Samsung 1080p HDTV but I ordered a 20" Cinema Display on ebay for $179 (after shipping) so I'm hoping to have everything set up by the end of next week.
 
Last edited:
I've had the Dell U2312HM for a couple of weeks now. It works straight away and the size is great. The quality is excellent, text is sharp and so bright and clear especially for video and graphics.

I was slightly put off by the 'grainy' anti-glare coating when browsing or working on documents. I don't know if this just me or if others have felt it as well but over time you certainly notice it less. And I haven't had a problem with any sort of glare on the screen as of yet.

I also calibrated the screen using the figures from TFT Central. It is such a massive improvement that I would think it's crucial to do.

I'm still within the 30 day return period, anyone have any other alternatives with a less heavy AG coating but similar sharpness. Otherwise I'm happy to stick with this for the long run.
 
Mozino said:
I've had the Dell U2312HM for a couple of weeks now. It works straight away and the size is great. The quality is excellent, text is sharp and so bright and clear especially for video and graphics.

I was slightly put off by the 'grainy' anti-glare coating when browsing or working on documents. I don't know if this just me or if others have felt it as well but over time you certainly notice it less. And I haven't had a problem with any sort of glare on the screen as of yet.

I also calibrated the screen using the figures from TFT Central. It is such a massive improvement that I would think it's crucial to do.

I'm still within the 30 day return period, anyone have any other alternatives with a less heavy AG coating but similar sharpness. Otherwise I'm happy to stick with this for the long run.
Click to expand...

I called the look from the U2713hm "cross-hatching" for lack of a better term. Some users in this forum (including myself) talk about it.

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1710005&page=35

Ultimately, it drove me nuts and I just couldn't deal with it. To me it was most noticeable with white and very light colors like in the mac rumors forum (grayish-brown color). I also noticed that this effect was not present when looking directly at parts of the screen, but if looking at even a slight angle away from directly at the screen, the effect was there. I tried raising and lowering the screen, brightness adjustments, distance changes, etc. Nothing worked for me. Clearly it bothers some people more than others. I just couldn't take it.

On Friday my Asus PB278Q arrived and I'm much happier this time. No funky effects due to AG filtering and it works great. It doesn't have all of the USB ports, etc that the Dell had, but that's fine with me. I got it for less than I spent on the Dell anyway so I think this could be another potential option for people who aren't looking to go with one of the Korean monitors or Thunderbolt display. I didn't go with the TB display because I wanted to be able to hook up my PC to an additional monitor input for my gaming needs or for whatever else I end up using the PC for.
 
What are some good NEC monitors? How much do I have to spend with them if I want something solid?
 
I use this $670 Sony LCD
40" is the new 27", baby:)

194776.jpeg


http://www.sony-asia.com/product/kdl-40ex650
 
Ice Dragon said:
What are some good NEC monitors? How much do I have to spend with them if I want something solid?
Click to expand...

NEC currently has 44 LCD models to choose from with the MSRP starting at $79. The model you select depends on your needs and budget. I'm not a fan of LED backlit displays and NEC still offers some high-quality CCFL backlit monitors.

The best deals are when a display is going to be or already has been discontinued. Newegg and B&H Photo routinely have discounts on select displays. A year ago I purchased an NEC2490WUXi2 from B&H Photo for $550 vs. the $899 MSRP. It is a fine monitor and I cannot see any significant improvements offered by the model that replaced it.

Use the display selection tool at the following link to quickly find the monitors that meet your needs and budget:

http://www.necdisplay.com/category/desktop-monitors
 
hleewell said:
I use this $670 Sony LCD
40" is the new 27", baby:)

Image

http://www.sony-asia.com/product/kdl-40ex650
Click to expand...


I'm sure that's fine playing back media, but please don't tell me you're sat a couple of feet away from that and using it as a monitor! 1080p, 2 feet away, text must look terrible, not to mention the amount of head turning you have to do! Plus, I notice in your sig you have a rMBP, in comparison text would look ghastly on a large 42" screen.

27"-30" at 2560x1440 and beyond is definitely the sweet spot currently.
 
Mojo1 said:
NEC currently has 44 LCD models to choose from with the MSRP starting at $79. The model you select depends on your needs and budget. I'm not a fan of LED backlit displays and NEC still offers some high-quality CCFL backlit monitors.

The best deals are when a display is going to be or already has been discontinued. Newegg and B&H Photo routinely have discounts on select displays. A year ago I purchased an NEC2490WUXi2 from B&H Photo for $550 vs. the $899 MSRP. It is a fine monitor and I cannot see any significant improvements offered by the model that replaced it.

Use the display selection tool at the following link to quickly find the monitors that meet your needs and budget:

http://www.necdisplay.com/category/desktop-monitors
Click to expand...

I have gone through their website and didn't want anything too cheap though didn't want anything too expensive. $300 is probably about my limit. The 23" recommendation is good. The 24" is a bit above my budget.

Curious why you don't like LED vs. CCFL?
 
If I have to spend more than $300, I will. Currently I am using a Vizio VO320 HDTV at 1366x768.
 
I know this is late in the game but I spent a long time looking at the 27" class and after much debate and some nice black friday deals I ended up getting this Dell 21.5 IPS x2 and they are beautiful and very sharp. Just wanted to add my 2 cents!
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Ice Dragon said:
Curious why you don't like LED vs. CCFL?
Click to expand...

When I used an 11" MacBook Air I discovered that I am sensitive to LED backlight. Apparently I am not alone: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1677617?start=0&tstart=0. The symptoms that I experienced were so extreme and long-lasting that there is no way I can use an MBA. My early 2011 13" MBP also gave me some problems but I was able to mitigate them using tips from the linked discussion on the Apple forum.

CCFL backlighting is also prevalent when it comes to LCD monitors that are used for color-critical applications. Since I am a pro photographer I use higher-quality displays that emphasize color accuracy and backlight consistency. Some people think that a wide-gamut display is important but the benefits are rather limited at this time while adding to the cost of such displays. There are also some drawbacks to using wide-gamut displays for common things such as webpage viewing.

I think that display quality is more important than size. Many people want as large a display as possible so they are willing to compromise when it comes to the LCD panel and build quality. Dell displays are popular for this reason. Many people also want an inexpensive display, so Asus and BenQ are the go-to brands for those folks. But you get what you pay for: one fellow on this forum is on his fourth display in a relatively short period of time. When you figure out the initial cost of the displays as well as the time and cost required to return them, he would have spent less money buying a good-quality monitor. He also would have had a much better user experience...

If you live in the U.S. NEC displays are the best bang for the buck when it comes to the middle and higher-end monitors. Eizo displays are generally considered to be the top of the heap. But in the U.S. you must pay significantly more compared to comparable NEC monitors. If you live in the E.U. Eizo displays are about the same price as NEC so it's a No Brainer to go with Eizo if you require that level of color accuracy and other high-end features.

23"-24" are the sweet-spot when it comes to quality and price. If you must have a larger display you have to be willing to pay a premium if you want a better quality monitor.
 
Last edited:
If only apple made 23/24 incher... or 27incher with two inputs... i really dislike non apple displays design, all of them look like 90s:(
 
majkom said:
If only apple made 23/24 incher... or 27incher with two inputs... i really dislike non apple displays design, all of them look like 90s:(
Click to expand...

While Apple displays sure are pretty, they don't measure up in other critical areas... such as having basic ergonomic adjustments that are available on downright cheap displays from other companies. Or an anti-glare matte panel option. Or wide-gamut panels.

Apple displays are a terrific example of Form Over Function, a design ethos that Apple is using in more and more of its products. The most recent example: the new thinner iMacs.

I do actual work on my Macs all day long and the piece of hardware that I depend on more than any other is the display. Unfortunately, Apple displays are simply not up to the task. I'll stick with displays that are designed by engineers who are focussed on the hardware fundamentals instead of nonessential things such as ultra-thin desktop computers and aluminum stands that lack basic adjustments.
 
yegon said:
I'm sure that's fine playing back media, but please don't tell me you're sat a couple of feet away from that and using it as a monitor! 1080p, 2 feet away, text must look terrible, not to mention the amount of head turning you have to do! Plus, I notice in your sig you have a rMBP, in comparison text would look ghastly on a large 42" screen.

27"-30" at 2560x1440 and beyond is definitely the sweet spot currently.
Click to expand...

I am having a lot of fun with my 40". Before that I was using a 46" Samsung LED. The damn thing is too bright and yes, that IS freakin' huge for a PC display. So I settle for a Sony. Movies actually look smoother, no audio lag. Samsung LCD has syncing problem with Mac, I think, I gotta adjust audio delay etc. The Sony is still huge but it is fun, especially with the graphic intensive sites like Verge. Viewing Google Map is no longer a claustrophobic experience. I could never go back to 27". A 32" maybe.

As far as the pixel problems, the 27" is not Retina smooth anyway. The iMac display has better contrast and color saturation but the Sony is easier on the eyes. I had a 20" iMac G5 and the text on the 40" Sony looks like the texts on iMac G5. You have to play around with the setting: dial down sharpness, turn off edge sharpening etc. It actually looks pretty good. Bigger is better. I just hope I don't burn my own retina..
 
The cheapest Eizo monitor is $400 at B&H Photo which isn't too bad. I would never buy an Apple display as they are way overpriced and poor quality unlike the ones made a few years ago.

NEC all the way.
 
OK, FedEx just delivered my new Dell U2713HM monitor. I'm using a mini DP to DP cable I got from Monoprice for about $12 shipped (shipping was half the cost).

Works great and this monitor is NIIIIICE. Calibration out of the box is pretty much perfect.

It's got a USB 3.0 hub, which my 2011 server can't use just yet, but it's ready for my next mini later this year. :D
 
I have an Apple (ADC connection, it is fine but now worthless)cinema display 2004 that is advertised as 23". It is 23" viewable, I just measured it! I was on the phone earlier with BH photo and he recommended a Samsung 27" monitor SAS27B750V. WHEN LOOKING AT THE SPECS IT SHOWS DISPLAY AREA AS 23.5 X 13.2. Is this samsung a 27" monitor?
 
jwjsr said:
I have an Apple (ADC connection, it is fine but now worthless)cinema display 2004 that is advertised as 23". It is 23" viewable, I just measured it! I was on the phone earlier with BH photo and he recommended a Samsung 27" monitor SAS27B750V. WHEN LOOKING AT THE SPECS IT SHOWS DISPLAY AREA AS 23.5 X 13.2. Is this samsung a 27" monitor?
Click to expand...
Everyone measures monitors diagonally now, so it is indeed a 27" monitor. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, 23.5 wide x 13.2 tall = 27.0 diagonally.

Edit: I looked up that particular Apple Cinema Display and it was described as having a "23 inch wide format" so it would indeed be marketed as a much larger, probably 27" display today.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back