What's a great monitor for my desktop? I need one that has thin edges so I can have a 2-screen setup, and prefer HD/16:9. Any suggestions?
On my desk I currently have a pair of Samsung 2433BW 24-Inch LCDs available on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001GFIMDU/ref=nosim/uncrate-20) They are excellent and look good sat next to each other for a dual screen layout. They are 1900 × 1200 (higher than 1080p) and play movies just fine. I use them primarily for Photoshop etc and they are great. The only time when they aren't a good idea is if you want to sit a long way away from the monitors rather than to the desk as the viewing angles aren't fantastic when further away. At home I have the Apple 24" LED Cinema Display which is by far the best display I have EVER used, although it is very expensive.
8 Answers
At the minimum I would suggest something with a 500cd/m2 brightness, 1000:1 contrast ratio, <5ms response time and 1080p.
If budget is a concern I wouldn't go below 1080p, 300cd/m2, 800:1 and 6ms.
Don't get ripped off on DVI cables either...shouldn't be more than $10 each if you have to buy them.
On my desk I currently have a pair of Samsung 2433BW 24-Inch LCDs available on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001GFIMDU/ref=nosim/uncrate-20) They are excellent and look good sat next to each other for a dual screen layout. They are 1900 × 1200 (higher than 1080p) and play movies just fine. I use them primarily for Photoshop etc and they are great. The only time when they aren't a good idea is if you want to sit a long way away from the monitors rather than to the desk as the viewing angles aren't fantastic when further away. At home I have the Apple 24" LED Cinema Display which is by far the best display I have EVER used, although it is very expensive.
I second Jon with the apple 24 inch LED display. What many dont know is that apple uses S-IPS panels which, although rated lower, offer superior color depth and contrast, while having the best viewing angles period. Couple that with apples latest iteration featuring an LED backlight and you are looking at quite possibly the best graphic image possible next to a full OLED screen.
While the Apple is expensive, given its S-IPS panel and backlight technology, its price actually pales in comparison to other models currently being offered, as they are mostly multi-thousand dollar units specifically for medical use.
I took the plunge and purchased two 30 inch monitors for my mac-pro. It was costly but I will never go back to a standard "TN" panel monitor again.
If size and price are a factor, I would second Ernest's recommendation.
Dell has some nice displays that would suit your size needs ( Ranging from 17" to 30" with fairly small chassis ) and certainly won't break the bank. I do much of the equipment purchasing for a small-to-mid (~220 employees worldwide) game studio and we have gotten great results with these monitors for all but a few of our staff.
( http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/category.aspx?c=us&category_id=4009&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs )
Our studio artists use these Dells as secondaries in conjunction with their Cintiqs, and the vast majority of our other staff use them in both single and dual monitor setups.
With regards to the Apple displays, it might be important to note that if you're using a MacBook Pro you're going to be hard pressed to use a dual-monitor setup (Cinema or otherwise). Apple's desktop offerings are more supportive of this arrangement, but they also tend to be staggeringly expensive (in comparison to their PC counterparts.)
You should read up about LCD panels. There are a few different types. The cheapest monitors tend to be TN panels, which have the quickest refresh time but are the worst in terms of color reproduction. If you're a gamer, then TN is the way to go if you really really care about refresh rate.
The next step up are PVA panels. They have better color reproduction and a slightly lower refresh rate. There are some great PVA panels out there in the price range that you're looking for. I have a 24" BenQ FP241W (which they don't make anymore). As others have said, Dell makes some great displays at reasonable prices.
For computer supplies I always go to Newegg so make sure you check their prices at Newegg.com if you don't go the Dell route. Here's a Samsung 24-inch that looks nice.
If you're really looking for a great panel (best color reproduction) then you want an S-IPS or H-IPS. H-IPS is the newest of panels and you can find it here in an NEC 24.1" panel. They also make a 25.5".
If you'd like to know the difference between S-IPS and H-IPS you can read that here.
You did not specified the monitor size, but if you are going for something on the larger side, in this case 20". I would suggest this Widescreen Flat panel monitor from Dell. I currently have this model, and it works beautifully. And the price is not bad either $129.
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-7619
Hope it helps.