Good External Monitor? (Need advice)

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smileyranger's picture
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Good External Monitor? (Need advice)

So, recently I was editing a short film that was screaming "EDIT ME ON A BIGGER SCREEN". Because, as we all know, running large apps on a 13" MacBook display can be quite annoying. Because of this I've been on the hunt for a 15-20" monitor (20" or bigger seems almost too big, as if I have to torque my head around like a contortionist just to see it all) Here's what I found on eBay. I'd love your opinions on it!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-Studio-Display-17-CRT-monitor-display-/150642685951?pt=Computer_Monitors&hash=item231300f7ff#ht_4373wt_1137

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Re: Good External Monitor? (Need advice)

I think you may be disappointed with that monitor. While it is a 17" CRT, it's viewing area is only 16". That means in a monitor with a 4/3 aspect ratio, it's only going to be about 1" wider than your macbook screen.
This one is almost $100 shipped. You should be able get a 17 or 19" wide screen LCD brand new for the same or less at any computer store. If you don't want wide screen then they still make monitors with 4/3 aspect ratio.

smileyranger's picture
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Re: Good External Monitor? (Need advice)

Thanks for the info!

I'd get an LCD, but I've had bad luck with a lot of them, and still prefer CRTs because of the truer colors, nice refresh rates and less chance of ghosting :3
Do you know of any good 17"-21" CRT monitors that you'd recommend?

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Re: Good External Monitor? (Need advice)

I picked up a USED Samsung SyncMaster 940mw.

It is a TV/LCD that also has a scart plug so it can be used with the IIgs RGB thur the a cable.

http://vintageware.orconhosting.net.nz/apple2/scart.html

http://vintageware.orconhosting.net.nz/scart.html

I bought the TV/LCD for the IIgs, but have been using it on my G4 QuickSilver all the time. The older you get the bigger the screen you are going to want.

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Re: Good External Monitor? (Need advice)

I bought a 27" LCD last week, and love it. Yes, it is almost too big.

I wouldn't buy a monitor off ebay. You just don't know what problems you're getting. Once you add in shipping it's not really worth it to take a chance.

LaCie and Mitsubishi CRTs are good, and they do show up on Craigslist/Kijiji - whatever the more popular local selling site is in your area. Take your 'Book along and make sure you can see it working.

I suspect you're looking more for a "good enough" solution, in which case I'd just go with whatever you can find at a decent price, including LCDs, and play around with calibration until you're satisfied. A good guide on monitor calibration is here.

@ Twilight_Rodent; I wish scart connectors were used in North America, for that very reason of connecting vintage equipment. There's nothing recent over here that will take a 15KHz RGB signal. For older computers and game systems, composite and increasingly rare s-video is the best we've got.

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Re: Good External Monitor? (Need advice)

I bought a 27" LCD last week, and love it. Yes, it is almost too big.

Heh, it's kinda sad...when I got my 27" iMac, I was immediately in awe of its screen size (especially compared to my previous 20" iMac), but after just an hour of use I started thinking "You know, it's not really all that big..." Maybe when we start seeing QFHD (3840x2160) displays will I finally be impressed -- until then, I'll just have to make do with 2560x1440 :mac:

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