In a post a couple of weeks ago I wrote that, unfortunately, my Dell 2005FPW 20″ monitor had finally passed on. It has been a gruelling couple of weeks working on my 13″ notebook screen, but it has given me the opportunity to do far too much research into which monitor to purchase as a replacement. While I have yet to make my final decision, I want to share my thoughts and get any insight from readers.
Before I get to the list, I would like to note that I am reasonably well-versed in display lingo (IPS, VA, LED, TN, etc.) and have just a few requirements in what I will be purchasing. The monitor will be used for pretty much everything (reading/writing, photo editing, gaming, video) and I would ideally like to keep the cost under, or around, $250 CAD. My desk is quite sturdy with room for multiple monitors, so it is likely that I will be adding at least one more screen when I build a new system later this year – for this reason, I would ideally choose a monitor that has come out within the last year so that it won’t be an issue to add an identical monitor at a later date.
Here are the monitors on my short-list:
Dell U2311H
Pros: IPS panel, 23″ is fairly good at 1080pP, 4 USB 2.0 ports, DisplayPort, Dell’s pixel policy, 33W power consumption isn’t terrible, Good stand
Cons: No HDMI, Not 16:10, $339 (but goes on sale for $239 sometimes)
Notes: 21.5″ little brother (U2211H) has virtually the same stats and would be nearly as good. Waiting for sale is brutal and Dell CSRs give me no love
Dell P2311H
Pros: 23″ is fairly good at 1080pP, 2 USB 2.0 ports, LED backlit, 27W power consumption is solid, Good stand
Cons: TN panel, No DisplayPort, No HDMI, Not 16:10, $299 (but goes on sale for $199 sometimes)
Notes: 21.5″ little brother (P2211H) has virtually the same stats and would be nearly as good. Waiting for sale is brutal
Samsung BX2431
Pros: 24″ screen, 2x HDMI (DVI-D through one), 2MS response, LED backlit, 27W power consumption is solid, Very thin, Good price (generally found under $190 CAD from major retailers)
Cons: TN panel, No USB ports, Awful looking back (cables are not hidden at all), Poor stand/tilt/swivel
Notes: The back is just awful looking.
BenQ BL2400PU
Pros: 24″ screen, VA LED panel, DisplayPort, Solid stand, Built-in speakers and headphone jack
Cons: No USB ports, 42W power consumption isn’t great, $400 but can be had for $279 at times,
Notes: This is a really great looking monitor.
BenQ EW2420
Pros: 24″ screen, VA LED panel, 2x HDMI, Built-in speakers and headphone jack, $219 when on sale
Cons: No USB ports, 53W power consumption is awful, Poor stand
Notes: Feature rich, but lots of power draw.
What I will probably do. One of the biggest advantages of purchasing a monitor from Dell, particularly premium IPS monitors, is the no bright pixel guarantee and free shipping. I have never heard of any buyers having difficulty returning an IPS display to Dell and getting a replacement quickly. As someone that spends nearly all day and much of the evening in front of a computer screen, it probably makes the most sense to go with the best quality monitor I can. Additionally, my previous monitor had a four-port USB hub built in and I used that hub religiously. Taking all of this into consideration it makes the most sense that I pursue the Dell U2311H and if I find that the Dell U2211H goes on sale first, around the $200 mark, I will jump on it!
I encourage you all to share your thoughts on this post and monitors in general in the comments below!
Loading ...
{ 1 trackback }