12-17-2008, 05:24 PM
I dunno if you can get a 24" Dell for <= 250, but if you can, jump on the deal.
Several months ago, I bought one of those el-cheapo Soyo 24" monitors that Office Depot (I think) was selling for $299. I've seen them on sale for much, much less recently.
The Soyo is very crisp and clear, although it's got an unfortunately thick bezel with "SOYO" in unfortunately large type in front (a few moments with steel wool or flat black paint would take care of that pretty nicely).
On the other hand, it doesn't look like it has the greatest color depth or fidelity. I wouldn't want to use it for more than the most casual Photoshop work, and certainly not for anything requiring color calibration and fidelity (that's what the built-in screen on the 17" iMac which drives the Soyo is for, or would be if I ever needed it).
Also, occasionally it suffers from green sparkly horizontal lines, or the occasional instance when a few pixels seem out of whack, but, honestly, these conditions are infrequent and quickly go away. I haven't bothered to check for dead pixels because if I find any my eyes will be drawn to them every time I look at the thing.
Anyway, my .02.
Several months ago, I bought one of those el-cheapo Soyo 24" monitors that Office Depot (I think) was selling for $299. I've seen them on sale for much, much less recently.
The Soyo is very crisp and clear, although it's got an unfortunately thick bezel with "SOYO" in unfortunately large type in front (a few moments with steel wool or flat black paint would take care of that pretty nicely).
On the other hand, it doesn't look like it has the greatest color depth or fidelity. I wouldn't want to use it for more than the most casual Photoshop work, and certainly not for anything requiring color calibration and fidelity (that's what the built-in screen on the 17" iMac which drives the Soyo is for, or would be if I ever needed it).
Also, occasionally it suffers from green sparkly horizontal lines, or the occasional instance when a few pixels seem out of whack, but, honestly, these conditions are infrequent and quickly go away. I haven't bothered to check for dead pixels because if I find any my eyes will be drawn to them every time I look at the thing.
Anyway, my .02.