Advice about buying a Dell LCD Monitor

[Harkonnen]

I'm planning on getting a Mac Mini when Leopard rolls out sometime this summer/fall, so I'm also keeping my eye on good deals on LCD monitors. Please keep in mind i'm a first time Mac user, so I don't know how OS X handles different resolutions.

For the most part, I'm planning on buying a Dell monitor, just because I know if I have any problems with it, I'll be able to get a replacement easily from them.

That said, the ones that I have my eye(s) on are the 2407FPW (24" WS - $650-$750 + tax, etc), the 2007FP or 2007WFP (20.1" 4:3 or 20.1" WS - $350-$400 + tax, etc) or the E228 (22" WS - $300-$350 + tax etc).

I currently have a 15" CRT at home, so anything is a step up as far as I'm concerned - but what would you guys recommend? Price is an issue, but I buy new gadgets so rarely that I'm willing to bite the bullet and pay a little more just so that I'm not waiting around for a deal.

I have 2 questions for you guys, is it better to get a widescreen monitor or a 4:3 standard display size monitor? I rarely watch DVD's on my PC, so that's not a big issue. I have a 2407FP at work, so I know what the resolution vs. screen size (picture clarity) looks like, but I don't have access to any of the other LCD monitors.

And if the difference between the 24" and 22" monitor isn't that much, am I better off getting the 22" monitor and saving the $300+ bucks? This will strictly be used as a monitor for the Mac Mini. I don't plan on using it for anything else.

I like my 2007FP, but I'm not sure if WS is the way to go. I want a crisp looking display, I hate pixelation and jaggies - but since I'm going Mac I have no idea what it'll look like, or how well/poorly Macs deal with lower resolutions.

Thanks guys!

[Gab_T]

....I know what the resolution vs. screen size (picture clarity) looks like, but I don't have access to any of the other LCD monitors.....

What do you mean? Access to?

There are non-WS LCDs that offer better quality Than the WS LCDs.

[Wiseman]

I have the 2407FPW at home and the 2007FPW at work. I prefer widescreen format as it allows easier multitasking, for example, surfing two sites side by side. And I rarely watch movies on it, so that's not the reason I purchased widescreen.

[TenzoR]

using this pixel calculator http://www.thirdculture.com/joel/shumi/computer/hardware/ppicalc.html

PPI = Pixel Per Inch

20" @ 1680x1050 -> 99.06 PPI & 0.2564 mm Dot Pitch
24" @ 1920x1200 -> 94.34 PPI & 0.2692 mm Dot Pitch
30" @ 2560x1600 -> 100.63 PPI & 0.2524 mm Dot Pitch

So as you can see, the 24" will technically give you the worst pixelation since it's got less pixel per inch due to its slighly bigger dot pitch. The 3007FPW will give you the least pixelation and the 20" is in between.

[Harkonnen]

What do you mean? Access to?

There are non-WS LCDs that offer better quality Than the WS LCDs.

By "access to" I meant that I can personally check out and see with my own eyes. I'd prefer to see an LCD monitor in person rather than pictures of it - just so I can see what it looks like, if I like to bezels, etc.

For example, I used to have a 2001FP, but then it was replaced with a 2007FP because the backlight tube went - I prefer the 2007FP because the bezel and stand is so much nicer than the 2001FP.

[Harkonnen]

using this pixel calculator http://www.thirdculture.com/joel/shumi/computer/hardware/ppicalc.html

PPI = Pixel Per Inch

20" @ 1680x1050 -> 99.06 PPI & 0.2564 mm Dot Pitch
24" @ 1920x1200 -> 94.34 PPI & 0.2692 mm Dot Pitch
30" @ 2560x1600 -> 100.63 PPI & 0.2524 mm Dot Pitch

So as you can see, the 24" will technically give you the worst pixelation since it's got less pixel per inch due to its slighly bigger dot pitch. The 3007FPW will give you the least pixelation and the 20" is in between.

Thanks for the link, I never new that you could calculate the PPI!

The 30" LCD monitor is nice, but out of my budget...I hate pixelation, but I love saving money.

for those of you who have either the 2407 and the 2007, which one would you guys recommend?

[ShadowVlican]

using this pixel calculator http://www.thirdculture.com/joel/shumi/computer/hardware/ppicalc.html

PPI = Pixel Per Inch

20" @ 1680x1050 -> 99.06 PPI & 0.2564 mm Dot Pitch
24" @ 1920x1200 -> 94.34 PPI & 0.2692 mm Dot Pitch
30" @ 2560x1600 -> 100.63 PPI & 0.2524 mm Dot Pitch

So as you can see, the 24" will technically give you the worst pixelation since it's got less pixel per inch due to its slighly bigger dot pitch. The 3007FPW will give you the least pixelation and the 20" is in between.
wow excellent link! i've always calculated these things by hand but this will save me time..... glad to see others favour high DPI/PPI!

it's time for software to catch up and work with Resolution independence
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resolution_independence

Harkonnen, i have the 2405 and i don't feel any problems with its PPI performance... maybe because the screen is so huge and the fact that i sit 2-3feet away from it

19" LCDs on the other hand... :o

[TenzoR]

wow excellent link! i've always calculated these things by hand but this will save me time..... glad to see others favour high DPI/PPI!

it's time for software to catch up and work with Resolution independence
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resolution_independence

Harkonnen, i have the 2405 and i don't feel any problems with its PPI performance... maybe because the screen is so huge and the fact that i sit 2-3feet away from it

19" LCDs on the other hand... :o

I have the 2405FPW as well. I love mine, the only thing that would tear me away from it, is the 3007FPW, but I want to wait a bit and see if they'll include another input other than DVI-D (such as the new displayport 1.1 or even HDMI).

[crimsona]

If you're looking strictly from a size point of view, could you not just hit the local FS/BBY to compare?

Different models, but 20 inch is 20 inch no matter the brand