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quattrokid73 · May 27, 2007, 10:15 PM

planning on getting a new 2.16 blackbook with 2 gigs.

i have a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, and am looking to get a good external monitor.

the monitor will be used for basic computing, some design work, and with my xbox 360.

i was looking at this 22" Samsung at 1680x1050...

it got great reviews and ive been happy with my past samsung LCDs, but will the blackbook be able to run the monitor at full res or should i just get the 20" ? also, feel free to recommend other monitors if you please.

thanks, adam

mduell · May 28, 2007, 01:11 AM

Yes, the MacBook can run any LCD up to 1920x1200 at full res, regardless of inches.

The Dell 20/22/24" are also worth looking at.

quattrokid73 · May 28, 2007, 01:41 AM

thanks mduell.

also, has anyone had any luck calibrating their macbook's screens when they get them?

butterfly0fdoom · May 28, 2007, 03:17 AM

I've got no need to calibrate my screen.

I don't really suggest spanning, though. I've got that set up right now between my low-res 19" monitor and my BlackBook and it's driving me insane (in an OCD way). Of course, some people don't really care, so it's all personal preference.

quattrokid73 · May 28, 2007, 01:05 PM

what do you mean spanning? and why is it a pain?

i ran my 19" LCD off of my macbook pro for a while with my mouse and keyboard and it was great. i kept iTunes on the MBP display, and did my work on the larger LCD: which is exactly what i plan on doing with the blackbook and new LCD.

Andhee · 11:02 AM

Hey, just to let you know, I plugged an xbox 360 into my 20" dell monitor (1680x1050) and on the xbox settings, it doesnt have that resolution as an option, the closest to it is 1600x1020 or something.

I've had the dell 2007 WFP for a while now, I find it a great monitor and I would recommend getting one of them.

Hope this has helped.

quattrokid73 · May 29, 2007, 11:32 AM

anyone have experience with the samsung im looking at?

ill check the dell out.

Andhee · May 29, 2007, 11:40 AM

Oh yeh, another reason why I got the dell is because of the mass amount of inputs, which is very handy. I use the VGA atm for the computer, DVI isnt being used (atm, but will be soon), s-video is being occupied by the ps2 (surprisingly good quality) and the composite just isnt being used because its crap for whatever you plug into it, hence why I got an s-video adaptor for the PS2. Also theres something like 4 usb ports that are on it, havnt used them, but i can do you if you want any questions to be asked about them, such as having an external drive plugged directly into monitor instead of computer.

xsphat · May 30, 2007, 05:32 AM

I have a Samsung 19" widescreen that I love. It is clear and works well with the design work I do. I do a little freelance ad work with the Adobe Creative Suite, by the way. I also watch a lot of movies, and the quality of the picture is really good.

Andhee · May 30, 2007, 08:35 AM

Originally Posted by xsphat

I have a Samsung 19" widescreen that I love. It is clear and works well with the design work I do. I do a little freelance ad work with the Adobe Creative Suite, by the way. I also watch a lot of movies, and the quality of the picture is really good.

whats the resolution may I ask?

quattrokid73 · May 30, 2007, 11:47 AM

how much did you get your dell for? im trying to spend ~$350.

also, am i right in assuming:

if you have a 20" and 22" display with the same resolution (equal in all other parameters), the smaller one has better image quality.

???

this might be how it is with the Samsung 20/22...

Andhee · May 30, 2007, 12:54 PM

How convenient:
Home & Home Office: 2007WFP Wide-Screen Black Flat Panel Monitor, LCD with Height Adjustable Stand

Its at $339. As I live in the UK I bought mine for £250 or something, but the US seem to have everything cheaper

Anyway, you do get better picture on a smaller screen with same resolution as that of a larger screen. I could have gone for the cheaper 22" version, but the 20" took my liking a bit more. In the end it's your choice.

quattrokid73 · May 30, 2007, 01:14 PM

16ms response? isnt that very slow?

ill look into this.

dn15 · Jun 1, 2007, 04:53 PM

I use a Dell 2405FPW (24", 1920x1200) with my original 2GHz white MacBook and I really couldn't be happier. On a smaller budget I'd definitely be looking at a Dell 20", too.

iREZ · Jun 1, 2007, 06:46 PM

i think dell also has a version of their fp2007 that doesnt have all the inputs of the reg one (it only has vga and dvi) and costs about $230 on the regular from dell.

mduell · Jun 1, 2007, 09:44 PM

E207WFP is the cheaper (VGA and DVI only) 20" from Dell.

post_break · Jun 1, 2007, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by quattrokid73

16ms response? isnt that very slow?

ill look into this.

Probably a lot faster than the display attatched to your macbook pro.

I have gamed on my 17 samsung with 16ms response time and its fine.

quattrokid73 · Jun 2, 2007, 01:00 AM

my current LCD is 8ms. 19" 4:3. Samsung 930B.

im wondering when to buy. i guess i should wait till before school starts for leapord and any other possible updates.

post_break · Jun 2, 2007, 09:35 AM

I meant the display ON the macbook pro.

quattrokid73 · Jun 2, 2007, 12:22 PM

oh cool. they are really that slow?

damn

jamil5454 · Jun 2, 2007, 12:28 PM

If you save a little bit more and go with the Dell 24" at 1920x1200 you'll be able to run your xbox306 in 1080p resolution, and watch full 1080p movies/videos. Otherwise, you're going to have to do 720p, which may or may not stretch across the monitor very well.

quattrokid73 · Jun 2, 2007, 02:48 PM

thanks jamil, that was a very useful tidbit. idk if i can afford the dell 24". how much do they normally run? i dont need the extra inputs.

dn15 · Jun 2, 2007, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by quattrokid73

thanks jamil, that was a very useful tidbit. idk if i can afford the dell 24". how much do they normally run? i dont need the extra inputs.

Right now they're going for $669, which I think is a steal since it's barely more than Apple's smaller 20", comes with tons of inputs, is of comparable quality (to the best of my understanding) and comes with a three-year warranty standard.
Home & Home Office: UltraSharp 2407WFP Wide-Screen Black Flat Panel Monitor, LCD with Height Adjustable Stand

Several months ago, when they cost more, I paid about $600 for my Dell 24" on Craigslist -- it was under a year old so it still had more than two years of warranty remaining. Maybe you can find a used one too, but at today's prices for under $500?

xsphat · Jun 2, 2007, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by Andhee

whats the resolution may I ask?

Sorry, I've been busy. The resolution of the Samsung is 1440 x 900.

Andhee · Jun 2, 2007, 04:46 PM

I play my ps2 through the 16ms dell 20" and its perfectly fine. Only reason I didn't go for 24" was because of the massive price difference and I didn't really need the 4"s anyway.