Replacement Monitor

My monitor is showing its age. Its calibration is no better than adequate. Dark greys are black and light greys white. Looking around there is not much info on the monitors on sale and the sellers seem ignorant. They are really into selling basic monitors with Pcs and provided it looks good with video that's ok. I want to be able to edit my photos so they will look good wherever they are shown. Anyone bought one recently that they can recommend? My budget is up to £200

Dell 2209WA or equivalent, with IPS panel. We bought two and have been delighted.

Purchased a Samsung S22A300H about a year ago - full HD with HDMI and standard monitor input. Also very happy with it. It has now been supersceeded, but Samsung produce great value monitors.

Don't forget to check that your graphics card is up to producing the monitor's max resolution.

There are only a few panel manufacturers but plenty of monitor makers that use the panels.

Have a read of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TFT_LCD#Twisted_nematic_.28TN.29

I use an LG2250V which has full 24bit 16.7M colours rather than the 18bit capability of some lesser screens.

Make sure it's an IPS panel.
The Dell screens have a good reputation.

Another vote for the dell here. The LG IPS monitors are good value too though I think the 23" is currently £109 on hotukdeals..

Have checked with a contact and we believe that Dell use LG panels.

But the panel is only half of the monitor - there is also the controls and interface to consider.

I recently upgraded to a Dell u2412 IPS panel - very pleased with it. I got it from PCBuyit who seemed to have the best price at the time. It would just break the £200 barrier though
ANdy

I've had the LG IPS 231 for almost 2 years and am very happy with it. The £109 mentioned above is the 22" version, I think - it's probably worth spending another £10 to get the 23" version. Mine has a really solid, adjustable stand though, and it doesn't look as though the ones on Amazon do... A friend has one of the Dells mentioned previously and that looks like a very solid item, and also has a longer warranty I believe. LG panels are supposedly the same as those in the Dell, but the build quality may be slightly lower... That said, my LG is well put together and has caused me no problems thus far.

See my posts above but I doubt if the LG panels are of lower build quality as they are both made by LG on the same production lines. The build quality of the overall monitor may be inferior but not the actual screen.

Some reviewers mentioned problems with 'backlight bleed' on the LG models around the time that I bought mine, but as I say it seems well put together and I'm very happy with it. And as you say, the consesus is that the panels themselves are the same as those in the Dells.

A job I once worked at was testing certain optical lenses, those that passed the test were used in the UK, those that failed were sold abroad.

Just because they come off the same production line doesn't guarantee anything, IMHO.

I am very grateful to all those who have made comments on this subject. The LG IPS231 is now discontinued, though sold by Amazon (apparently). One of the issues with this subject is that models last so short a time on the production line. Are there any suggestions about how to check the video cards abilities and how to ensure the Monitor would pass the calibration test (which my current one does not!!!)

I had to 'google' my video card (which was an integrated onto motherboard one) for the specification. And also check the connectors used match up (eg HDMI, DVI-D etc). I suggested the dell u2412 above - a feature of it is that it is 1900x1200 pixels; ie it gives a bit more screen height than the standard full HD size (1900x1080). It relies on a DVI-D connection (or VGA which is old hat and by todays' standards somewhat inferior being analogue transfer rather than digital)
Andy

Amazon have got the Dell U2412M at a good price at the moment. It doesn't cover AdobeRGB gamut but does have a 16:10 IPS panel.

link