Recommend a 22"+ LCD panel for text

[MrDisco]

Hello all,

I am looking for an LCD panel that is 22-24" in size (preferably 24"). My primary concern is the quality of text onscreen.

I purchased the 24" 2408 Dell panel, hooked it up this morning through DVI (system is running Vista, 8800GTS, latest drivers) and am not happy with the quality of the font rendering. Out of the box I find the weighting of the fonts to be 'light' (the best way I can describe this: in MS Paint when you draw a line you choose the thickness of line. I find this panel renders fonts using the thinnest 'line' possible). This makes it very difficult for me to read text (particularly on a site like this which is mostly white space) as there isn't enough contrast between the fonts and the background.

I've played around with the panel's sharpness setting and Vista's smoothing options (ClearType, standard, and off) but the best I can do is making the display a little less sharp. This helps but i'm not happy with it. I've also went down from the native resolution to ~1600 but this just makes the picture quality less sharp.

My previous panel was the Dell 2005fpw 20" which to me was excellent. As strange as this may sound, I even find the text display better on my work's Dell 178EP (which is a smaller, cheaper model in the Dell lineup). My guess is due to the difference in the LCD panel technology used (PVA vs SIPS?).

So the questions I put forth: a) does anyone know what the heck I'm talking about :P and b) can recommend a nice LCD panel

Thank you

(edit: I've noticed the same issue when I compared my 2005fpw with the 2007fpw. the difference in the panel technology used is readily noticeable)

[TruE SkiLLS]

widescreen, resolution, native reso all make fonts look different.

[MrDisco]

widescreen, resolution, native reso all make fonts look different.

I'm not sure what you're saying.

[shawn99]

enable clearType on windows xp

[MrDisco]

enable clearType on windows xp

Yes did that. The fonts become thicker, but less crisp.

[IronMac]

I guess what he means and what I would ask is are you using the monitor at its own native setting?

[MrDisco]

I guess what he means and what I would ask is are you using the monitor at its own native setting?

yes absolutely; 1920x1200

[GVRtrader]

No clue what you're talking about... so my only recommendation is goto a local bestbuy/fs/etc and play around with the screens there to find one you like. Then either buy it on the spot or look for a better price online.

With all the screens i own, i really haven't notice any difference between the quality of text so i really can't help you.

All the following screens seem to display text the same (at least to me) so you can probably cross them off your list.

Out of the ones you might still find:
LG 246 (non TN-panel, forgot which is which, should be discountined)
Samsung 225UV (same as Dell 2208, TN panel)
Viewsonic 27.7" (TN panel)
Dell 2408 (non-TN)
Samsung 245T (same as Dell 2407)
Dell 3007 (non-TN)

Ones that are way out of date
Dell 225 (think it was 5)
Viewsonic 19", 20" (too lazy to go upstairs to check model #)
Samsung 19" (same)
Acer 22" (same, TN panel)
NEC 15" (like first generation LCD lmao).

[hightech]

I have a Samsung 225BW, and find the text to be excellent. Here is a review that discussed text quality:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2037051,00.asp
I disable Cleartype since I just find it makes thing bold and blurry.

The Dell 2208WFP got a good review for text on PC Mag:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2280409,00.asp

This is currently selling for $319.99 at Dell:
http://accessories.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=ca&l=en&s=dhs&cs=cadhs1&sku=320-6252

For a 24" Monitor, consider the Samsung models that don't have crazy contrast ratios. I have a 225BW and 932e side by side, and find the 225BW gives better text.

[Silver Bullet]

The Dell 2408 is pretty much the best 24" LCD there is. I doubt you'll find better .. maybe time for glasses ? Also possible you got a bad 2408 but I guess it would be hard to compare without a 2nd one.

[MrDisco]

No clue what you're talking about...

This perhaps explains it better:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&thread.id=88423
http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&thread.id=88607&view=by_date_ascending&page=1

I doubt you'll find better .. maybe time for glasses ?

A little uncalled for. My eyesight is not the problem here.

After reading the hardocp thread I also don't agree that the 2408 is the best there is.

[pitz]

Those HardOCP people mostly have their panties in a knot because it has 20msec frame delay instead of the 6msec that they're expecting.

Not really a big deal, IMHO. And Dell has committed to resolving the problem in firm revision A01.

[Oversized Rooster]

Trading in to a different monitor will mean you will lose money in the swap. I suggest simply increasing the global Windows font size, and all the default font/size of your browser.

[soupnazi]

Yeah, it sounds like the pixel size or resolution is too small for your liking. You can globally change windows fonts to be larger. (in XP right click desktop, properties, settings, advanced, dpi, set to large) Or in IE, click view, text size, largest) This may not change all fonts. On the bottom right of IE7 is a 100% which you can click to zoom.

[GVRtrader]

This perhaps explains it better:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&thread.id=88423
http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&thread.id=88607&view=by_date_ascending&page=1



A little uncalled for. My eyesight is not the problem here.

After reading the hardocp thread I also don't agree that the 2408 is the best there is.

In that case, the LG L246 (both TN and non-TN panel which is discountinued) don't have that issue. I never found it an issue but maybe its just me.