New Display / Dell Ultrasharp U2311

[Smithcraft]

Maybe, maybe not.

All of the sudden, I don't have a display on the desktop mini. I'm not sure if it's the display or the mini, but hopefully a trip to the local Apple store will straighten that out.

So, if it's the display that's died, what all do you guys currently recommend? If no positive recommendation, then who should I avoid?

I would like dual DVI, or at least a DVI and a VGA. I would also like to rotate to display, but that's not a necessary feature.

So many choices, and couch surfing sucks.

SC
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Grumpy old man of computing.

[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8

[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)

Make sure it has pins!

[Colstan]

Hi Smithcraft,

This really depends on what you want from your monitor.

1. What sort of price are you willing to spend?

2. What size monitor are you looking for?

3. How important is the display panel quality to you? Would you want an IPS panel, or would TN be good enough for you? IPS is high-end but most costly, while TN is the cheap panel that most everyone buys.

4. Do you want the newest LED backlighting or are you satisfied with the current backlighting used with older monitors? The current backlit monitors fade over time and require you to increase the brightness over the years. LED is instant-on and uses less energy.

5. Do you want a matte display (non-reflective) or a glossy monitor, or do you not have a preference?

Without knowing those particular details, I personally would only buy a monitor with an IPS panel. They cost more but look much better. I don't care too much about LED technology.

Taking my personal preferences into consideration, I can recommend three vendors: Apple, HP and Dell. If you don't mind the glass cover and the higher price, then an Apple monitor is the highest quality. The selection is, of course, very limited, given that the new 27-inch model is soon to be the only new model that Apple sells, as well as the refurbs of older models. HP has some particularly nice monitors, that offer a decent variety, some of which are particularly suited for photography. Dell has an excellent selection of IPS monitors and regularly has sales that beat just about everyone else on the market.

If I were going to buy a monitor today, then I'd be looking at one of the sales of the Dell UltraSharp IPS monitors. The U2211H and U2311H can be had for great prices, if you catch one of Dell's sales, which happen from time to time. The main differences between the two are that one is a 21.5-inch screen, while the other is a 23-inch. This is the most current sale, as of this post:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2236715

(Note: using the link above, SlickDeals gets a cut of what Dell gets from your purchase. I just search on Dell's site and use the coupon directly. I don't like having a third-party involved when making a purchase.)

You can see the specs of both monitors in the second post.

I'm not much help if you're just looking for a basic monitor, using a TN panel. I think people often think of output and input devices as an afterthought. The monitor is probably the piece of equipment that people use more than any other. A lot of folks look at the size of the monitor, without knowing much about the details. That's how we end up with these great "deals" on large-ish monitors. An IPS monitor costs more than a cheap TN, but your eyes will thank you. Apple only uses IPS monitors, because of the quality of those panels.

I've been using a Dell 2005FPW for about five years now, with my Mac mini. I think it's the best monitor ever made and have never regretted the purchase.

Colstan
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Mac mini (2011), 2.7Ghz i7, 8GB mem, 256GB Apple SSD

[philiparcario]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824116409


This viewsonic has good dot pitch. I owned a 19 inch it was good. looks like it the same mounting as my 19 inch.
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2010 Mm 2.4 C2D oem 320gb hdd 8gb ram
2012Mm base 2.5 with 16gb ram diy fusion drive
2012Mm quad with 8gb ram oem 1tb hdd

promise pegasus r6 3x 3tb + 3x 4tb =21tb hdds
lacie little big disk 2x 512gb ssds
synology 2tb disk station

[Smithcraft]

I'll give those a look see.

Colstan, I've usually been lucky with getting great displays. I have friends that work in graphics and they always liked my old Seiko. The only problem with the Xerox, other than I think it might be dead, is that it was slightly pink. However, Colorsync took care of that.

It's true that most people don't think about the quality of what they look at all day. If I get a Dell, I'll have to use some electrical tape to cover up the Dell logo!

SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.

[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8

[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)

Make sure it has pins!

[billb]

[Bandit Bill]

[Smithcraft]

Well, I did the obvious and hooked up the G4 to the teevee, and it's putting out a video signal, so at least I don't have to get a new mini!

However, the display now won't even power up, so it's deffo gone belly up.

Looks like I'm headed to Costco and Frys in the morning, then back home to look up the specs and then back out to buy. Plus all the other stuff, I get to do just because tomorrow is a special day.

I think I'm gonna end up with a Samsung. Which certainly isn't bad, but with out retail competition, well, we'll see what happens.

SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.

[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8

[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)

Make sure it has pins!

[Bandit Bill]

[TonyMontana]

I have a Samsung currently, Viewsonic before that. Both purchased at Costco. Extra year extended warranty via Costco, bought with Amex which expanded it another year to three total. I like some of the high-end Dells, Eizo's are great as well WAYYYY out of my budget though.
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MacMini 2.0GHz C2D (2009)
MacMini 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
Dell Mini 10v *OSX 10.6.4*

[Bandit Bill]

It will be nice when Macs become popular enough for Costco to start carrying them. Hopefully Apple displays some day as well. Likely they would just carry iMacs and perhaps Mac minis.

[Smithcraft]

Ugh...

I didn't really care for any of the displays that I looked at today.

SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.

[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8

[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)

Make sure it has pins!

[Smithcraft]

[TonyMontana]

Do you have a Staples (office store) ? Every now and then they have some random deals. Might be worth a check.
_________________
MacMini 2.0GHz C2D (2009)
MacMini 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
Dell Mini 10v *OSX 10.6.4*

[Smithcraft]

There is one near by.

I was looking at the Dell Ultrasharps, and I see that the 2211 isn't too expensive, and there is a 25% coupon available, so I think I might go with that one, or the 2311 which also has the coupon.

SC
_________________
Grumpy old man of computing.

[Desktop] G4 mini - 1.5Ghz 1GB 80GB HDD - Newer miniStack v2 500GB - 10.5.8

[Media System] Intel i5 mini - 2.33Ghz 8GB 500GB HDD - 4 x Hitachi 2TB HDD in a qBOX-SF - 10.7.5 (Thanks Phil!)

Make sure it has pins!

[TonyMontana]

The Dell U2311H looks like a nice monitor with good reviews. Probably one of the cheaper and decent IPS panels you can buy.

I hate monitor shopping. You always want to second guess if you made the right choice.
_________________
MacMini 2.0GHz C2D (2009)
MacMini 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo
Dell Mini 10v *OSX 10.6.4*