topic Re: Flat panels: recommended models? in Installation & update

Flat panels: recommended models?

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 16:31:43 GMT

looking at dual 19-20ish size LCD panels. Better to have 4x3 or 16x9 widescreen? Any brand or model better than others? have been crusing the Dell web site. Using Nvidia quadro 3400 graphics card in P4 3.4gig machine

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 18:09:30 GMT

Have been using a Samsung 213T 21.3" for over a year, and altho it was a little expensive at $1100 open box at Best Buy, It is doing well. Picture is clear and response seems quick. I am unable to use the digital input as the laptop that it is connected to is only analog. The digital interface should be even better than the analog.

Lew Bishop
P4 2.8/768/ nVidia to go 5600 64MB
AC9US

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Aaron Bourgoin — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 18:25:08 GMT

My vote is for wide screen format and whatever make fits the budget.

I love my Sony 23" and if it isn't clear to anyone by now, Dwight likes his Apple 30".

One feature I wish I had was the ability to turn my monitor by 90 degrees. I am currently working on a building that is 100' wide and 1000' long. North is on the long axis. The Apple monitors have this capability and others do I'm sure.

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

JCovarrubias — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 20:15:59 GMT

Aaron wrote:
My vote is for wide screen format and whatever make fits the budget.

I love my Sony 23" and if it isn't clear to anyone by now, Dwight likes his Apple 30".

One feature I wish I had was the ability to turn my monitor by 90 degrees. I am currently working on a building that is 100' wide and 1000' long. North is on the long axis. The Apple monitors have this capability and others do I'm sure.

Dell LCD's rotate:
http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000347031610/

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:58:19 GMT

My Samsung also comes with rotating software.

Lew Bishop

P42.8/768/nVidea to go 5600
AC9US

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Dwight — Sun, 10 Apr 2005 16:52:54 GMT

Certainly, it was scary to commit so much coin to a 30" display, and throw away the year-old extra juice card I put in the G5 from the start with a special card for the 30".

And while at the beginning, it was GREAT! I am having second thoughts. Here they are:

Since I'm in the middle of producing this book project, I have three page layouts in InDesign, Word documents, Adobe Photoshop CS2 and the new Adobe Bridge [an improved File Browser] open with two working and rendering copies of ArchiCAD open - one for book exercises and one for my REAL WORK. Not to mention email and web browser. Got to stay in touch. Lot of overlap since you want everything BIG. Management crisis. Thank you for EXPOSE - Apple feature to see all windows at once instantly.

Having a single display again is an organizational challenge - While it is horrifying to think that I'll need TWO of these monsters [and how will I look at them both at the same time without messing up my body considering the month of physiotherapy because of bad posture [keep your chin IN!!!] and eye correction issues requiring a special low position mount for the display - and why is the Aeron chair taking so long to arrive?] the truth is that, regretfully, I am thinking that two 23" Sony or Apple or even the questionable bottomofthebarrel Ben-Q displays is a better overall choice.

There. I admitted it. Ergonomics wins.

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Dwight — Sun, 10 Apr 2005 21:58:38 GMT

I am not joking about misgivings about big display for work. For DVD, however - can't be beat. And new Ambrosia "GooBall" Game is fantastic on 30".

rare to get dual DVI out on anything - think you need a special card.....
but I think it is okay with mac ..... they market 30-incher to PC.....

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 10:47:37 GMT

the 6800 ultra i am using has two dvi out. when i bought my pc had a choice of a 19inch tft or 2X17inch tft for an additional £50.
Using 2x17inch works well. (they are "Sharp")

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Chazz — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 12:31:56 GMT

The Dell's go on sale from time to time and when they do they are the best deal out there. 20" for US$485 free shipping to the US. Don't mess with the 19"s they only go 1280x1024. Also, the dell 2005fp is much worse than the 2001FP. Fewer pixels and to my mind an inferior aspect ratio for anything save movie watching. My .02.

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 21:38:20 GMT

Dwight wrote:
I am not joking about misgivings about big display for work.

Dwight, I was getting ready to think about getting a 30" apple till I read your comments. All day I am on ArchiCad and do not switch much between different programs, could you give me a hint if the 30" apple would do better or 2-21" apples?
Thanks,
Joseph

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Dwight — Mon, 11 Apr 2005 22:15:13 GMT

I had been using 2, 21" Sony CRT side by each. The divider between the two displays made it easy to split - plan and toolkits on one, 3D and other applications on the other. ArchiCAD was a natural for two displays. With the one big display, I am having trouble deciding exactly how to spread things out, managing all of the views. ArchiCAD 9 has a problem with Mac where it won't come to the front when you click a window (unlike many other applications). This is only about me and my buzzillion things at once. It just seemed easier before......

I have spoken enough about what I feel are the absolute limits of what my middle aged eyes can see at once, and addressed certain posture issues that I developed in matching my progressive bifocals with the low angle I need to manage my shoulder rotator cuff - so a second display is not an option. Even a small offtothesider would mean developing bouncingdoggieheadinthebackwindo syndrome.

So think carefully about this in assessing your own vision capabilities, not only your budget.

One one hand, you want the delight of the big thing, as did I, but the currency in this situation is pixels and ArchiCAD users should go for the most pixels for the buck. That extra video card is a problem - two 23" seems smarter if just in ArchiCAD - and 128mg card drives both just fine.

But I do watch a DVD on it full screen - we don't have a television, so this is our media station on Saturday night, clustered as we are around the work station, as ironic as that is. We try to pick movies about computers. Especially movies where the good guys use Apple and the bad guys use PC.

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Dwight — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 17:34:17 GMT

AND THIS: JUST IN:

http://www.wacom.com/lcdtablets/index_21UX.cfm

CINTIQ DRAW-ON-IT Tablet display

Reviewed their 18" model for Canadian Architect Magazine and loved it.

21" is $2500. Check it out!!

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Stephen Dolbee — Fri, 15 Apr 2005 14:51:54 GMT

Dwight wrote:
[keep your chin IN!!!] and eye correction issues requiring a special low position mount for the display - and why is the Aeron chair taking so long to arrive?]
There. I admitted it. Ergonomics wins.

Dwight,
Chin IN!!! is important. After a couple of years of looking UP! through my bi-focals, my neck/back is messed up. I now have "computer glasses" for work. Please let us know how your Aeron chair works for you. I bought a Freedom chair a couple of months ago. Cool chair, but didn't help my back much (was hoping for a quick cure).

Steve

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Dwight — Fri, 15 Apr 2005 14:58:09 GMT

As long as it, looking as much like a giant inverted insect, doesn't eat me.

Main problem already solved by lowering display - when office renovated will use wall mount for display.

I am a long time user of Aeron at my professional association board meetings. Almost have the levers figured out but don't know where to put the batteries.

New problem incorporating Cintiq 21 drawonit display - some kind of rolling stand....

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Ignacio Azpiazu — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 17:50:33 GMT

To those who are feeling the effects of postural misbehavior (including tension in the neck, for example) I enthusiastically recommend looking around for an Alexander Technique teacher.

Expensive chairs, chiropractics and pushing the chin in are attempts at dealing with the effects, while the underlying causes (overall bad poise, misuse of the body, unnecessary imbalances and tensions etc.) remain. The money saved on chairs and chiropractics can then go to two 30" I guess.

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Dwight — Wed, 27 Apr 2005 17:58:32 GMT

Right.
The experience of youth.
I don't see you wearing bifocals, buster.
[This is a term usually applied to suggest failure of a mechanical contraceptive device, but used here merely as a tease]

And to anyone contemplating 2, 30" displays - no magical alexander technique [and it is splendid] will help you lash back and forth across 54" wide all day long. It is out of range. You'd need to gimbal like a teetering bowling pin to make that work.

BTW: custom Aeron chair arrived yesterday. wonderful. Got the adjustable arms and the posture assist. Still looks like insect parts. Don't forget to ask for the architect's discount.

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Ignacio Azpiazu — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 02:18:21 GMT

Dwight wrote:
I don't see you wearing bifocals, buster.

You mean you do contortions with your neck and spine because you need to look at the screen with the lower part of your bifocals which are meant for reading paper below and not looking at a screen in front?

You might be interested in checking this (maybe you already did, but just in case):
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/ergonomics/office/computer_glasses.html
http://www.workcover.vic.gov.au/vwa/home.nsf/pages/so_vdu_common

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Dwight — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 02:28:52 GMT

Thanks. But changing glasses is a problem becuase of accommodating different prescriptions.

By placing the display lower, as I said before, the issue is solved - I actually use a continuously variable correction that lets me easily adjust to a variety of situations. But still, 54" is a lot of head movement for anyone.

But, please remember, I am OLD - fifty, and this problem only happened because I had the display way too high. And I did have a lousy chair - first clue : don't sit on a tree stump.

I take back the buster tease.

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Rick Thompson — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 14:25:19 GMT

I have an old 22" and a 15" cinema which I have been more than happy with... except the 22" one has a much warmer color to it (I got it when they first came out.. so it's old). I just saw that the new ones are reduced in price so I got out my tape and the new 23" and a 20" displays are very close to the same footprint because they have smaller edging. Those two seem perfect to me... not too big.. not too small... just right. I find AC works very well on the 22" one with email etc on the 15" one. I also leave another copy of AC on the 15" for copy/pasting. My 55 yr old eyes w/trifocal progressive lenses are a challenge, but having my chair up high (with a good chair), and a foot rest, has helped my neck issues a lot. (It helps keep the old head balanced on top of the spine (as in Alex technique).

Re: Flat panels: recommended models?

Dwight — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 14:31:36 GMT

That seems like a really good play - sometimes lots of little things work better than one big thing. Like bees: If bees were bigger they would be easier to shoot when they swarmed.

I wish Mac could address three displays at once, then you could have two tiny displays sort of suspended around the main one. Sort of like science fiction: BattleStar GallactiCAD.

Back to work on "Thinking Like Photographer" segment.