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Hello.

My budget is about 600 usd for buying a monitor.

Im quite lost with contrast, brigthness, response time, resolution... issues.
Which features are most important to choose a good monitor?

Im thinking in 22 or 24"

Brand and model allowed without property release 

I have a [wiki]Lacie photon20visionII[/wiki] which i have been happy with. I bought it used so I got a good deal on it.  I wouldn't be afraid of buying used again - the advantage being you can aford quite a bit better monitor for the money spent.

I have had more suggestions about this monitor.

Anyone knows about monitors features like contrast, brigthness, resolution, response time...
How to read this values?

I bought a Samsung 244T based on this and several other articles:
http://www.shutterbug.net/equipmentreviews/software_computers/0506samsung/index.html

I have been using it for about a year now and it is really outstanding. 

The T series is great, second that. I own a 215TW and even if at that time was priced above average, it was definitely the only option for graphic design and photography.

I'm sure the 244 and 245T are great as well. But boy oh boy is it pricy, * it;)

p.s.: I own a smaller Philips too (and had several others, but their picture quality is NOT what you want, believe me) and a 2232BW Samsung. Good monitor, but the color reproduction goes nowhere near the T series.

I have a brand new 22 inch Samsung (3000:1- 2ms- 300cd/m2) I will suggest to look over the Samsung or Acer products. Mine was 325can$. Since I can see what the IS reviewers was calling overfiltred and artifacts, mostly because of the higher contrast it gave me. I was having 1000:1 before and now I can see a difference whit the new one.

What's give a ispi monitor more?

I recently picked up a Samsung 2253LW (I believe - I'm not at home right now).  It's 22", and 1000:1 constrast.  Looks great after calibration (some complain uncalibrated, it's a little too "vivid").  Res is decent at 1680x1050.

For $600, you can get a pair at CostCo and go dual monitor.  I highly recommend a dual monitor setup.


Response time isn't an issue, unless you're a serious gamer.

and if you don´t have it allready I wouldl buy a $100 or $200 cheaper monitor and buy a monitor calibrator.  They are very much worth it and will save you lots of rejections for images being too dark / light or wrong color.

I havent buy the computer yet as I have to buy the furniture of my new home first 

Yes, a calibrator is in my wish list too and I know it is important but... escuse my ignorance... (I have never calibrate my monitor...)

Can I ask you what do you get by calibrating the monitor and why is it so important?

Will you reccomend any calibrator that will have a good relation price-quality?

I  have a 22" Samsung 226BW. Got a new IMac and it sits next to it, the standard default result is shameful for ze Koreans. The Samsung can be tuned, but out of the box the white (for example) looks like a dull grey next to IMac's default.

On Vista go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Color Management, then "ICC Rendering Intent to WCS Gamut Mapping":

Default Rendering Intent: Business Graphics
Perceptual (Photo Images): Photography
Relative Colometric (Line art): Proofing and Line Art
Absolute Colometric (simulate paper): Proofing - Simulate media/paper color
Business Graphics (charts and graphs):  Proofing and line art

..is the sweet spot for me.    Imac still kicks its ass anyhow.

.... or an Apple Cinema Display but... (perhaps a silly question) can you use it on a PC??
Any opinion of this monitor?

Anyone know about a good affordable monitor which I can use with an macbook (first gen)? I´m not even sure if using external monitors with macbook is a good idea even. Thinking about maybe just buying a new computer.