Flat screen monitors
 

PC World are currently promoting a Samsung 22" flat screen monitor for £240.
Resolution 1680 x 1050. Contrast 20:000.1 Refresh rate 2m/s Brightness 300cdm2. Anybody able to give me an opinion as to its suitability for viewing and editing digital images in photoshop?

You will find it very bright and contrasty at default settings. I use an LG Flatron 22".After my Sony 20" CRT I was amazed at extra detail and ease of viewing.I think the Samsung is reckoned to be a Gamers FSM but so is my LG and I love it. Widescreen makes PS and Lightroom a delight to use.

Save you money I'd say. If you're currently using a CRT, then buying a flat panel for this kind of budget is a backward step in terms of colour accuracy. Sure, the extra size is nice, but you don't get the same tonal range from an LCD in this price bracket.

If you must spend your money, buy a calibrator widget such as a Huey Pro/Spyder. This can be transferred when you do have enough to buy a decent flat screen (eg Eizo) suitable for photo editing.

Duncan

Thanks for the advice. After further investigation, and listening to others who know better, have decided that if I am to change my monitor then it will either be a LaCie or Eizo. All I have to do now is decide which one and then (gulp) pay for it!

Barry,

If you can afford it, and I agree that's a big if at around £800, then the Eizo FlexScan SX2461W looks good:
http://www.eizo.com/products/lcd/sxsp/index.asp
The slide in this 'presentation' describing the gamma processing is a good one to show why budget LCDs such as the one you were originally enquiring about are not particularly suitable for photo editing.

Any S-IPS screen will be ideal for photo processing. At risk if sound like an Apple disciple have you considered the Apple range of Cinema screens. I use the 23" version and once calibrated the colours are fantastic.

To see if your potential screen is an S-IPS check out this resource http://www.flatpanels.dk/panels.php

Apple to a reasonably priced 20" and moderate 23" and an outrageous 30" but they are worth the money for photo processing.

Not all EISO are S-IPS, be warned!

That should be within 1000 pounds. Am I right Stephen?

About £1,100 to £1,200 seems to be the going rate.

20" Apple Cinema Display £399
23" Apple Cinema Display £599
30" Apple Cinema Display £1199

See here....

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/M9...ys&mco=MTI1NzI

The larger the monitor the more powerful graphics card needs to be to drive it, for instance the 30" ACD needs a dual DVI card.

I noticed the refresh rate is lower on my 23" ACD than my beloved 17" Sony Trinitron.

Or you can save yourself a few quid by buying from elsewhere:
http://www.dabs.com/ProductList.aspx...y=11109&fb=336

For non-apple stuff, Colour Confidence have some excellent background information on monitors, colour management, etc. as well as some good deals on the items themselves.
http://shop.colourconfidence.com/

Also be aware of dead pixels. I purchased mine from the Apple store with the agreement that if there were any dead pixels it would be exchanged. Thankfully there were none after running a test pattern that exposes them.

If considering an Apple then do take out an extended warranty from Apple which should give you piece of mind for three years.

I once rang them with an issue with Leopard not syncing with my not covered Macbook (laptop) and they solved the issue even though the product was not covered. When my battery died on our cordless telephone, they rang my mobile totally unsolicited - Brilliant service.