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Ask HN: What sub-$400 2nd monitor should I get for coding?

12 points by dsifry ↗ HN
I'm looking to get a large monitor to use as a second monitor for coding projects. After doing some research, I've been blown away by how 23"+ monitors have come down in price. Ideally, the monitor should be large, responsive, and sharp, and something that doesn't need a dual-head video card to drive it. It should be reliable and have a decent warranty, so I'm leaning towards name brands, but I'm willing to get something else if it is really great or promised a significantly improved value. I'll be plugging in laptops and/or a 24" iMac into it.

What is your recommendation for an excellent sub-$400 monitor primarily used for coding?

17 comments

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lanstein
Dell's 24" 2408WFP can usually be found either new on eBay or refurbished through the Dell outlet for < $400. It's got a great VA panel, I have two at work and bought my own for home. It also has a million different inputs (HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.) and support for SDHC, which the predecessor (2407WFP) did not.
lanstein
Let me also just advise you to stay far, far away from any TN panel at any cost. I figured I'd just get the 22" UltraSharp at first, had to send it back because it's just not good enough for writing code.
noonespecial
Second on the TN type panels. Buy a panel type, not a manufacturer. Some shoddy ones like "AOC" or even Visio may use different (whatevers cheaper) panels over time and sell them as the same model number. I've got 2 AOC's I bought about 6 months apart. Both exactly the same model, one is great, one terrible.

Here's some good info: http://www.pchardwarehelp.com/guides/lcd-panel-types.php

chow
+1 for the 2408WFP. Excellent S-PVA display, except that it's a bitch to calibrate accurately, so beware if you need calibrated color.

The Dell U2410, which replaced the 2408WFP, has an IPS panel and can be found on sale from time to time for $400-500.

joshu
I like using a 30" plus a rotated 22" screen.

http://blog.domaintools.com/2007/12/quad-monitors-117-millio...

lanstein
All those pixels and all you have is that craptacular keyboard? ;)
joshu
That's not actually me.
msb
Great idea on the rotation. I just flipped my 22in. I have an Asus VH242H 24" as my main display and like it quite a bit. Just under $200.

I also use a rig of 3/4 in. natural gas pipes and some cheap VESA wall mounts that let me position my monitors however I like.

ismarc
I hate rotated monitors. I love the dimensions, but the way the LCDs are designed, I just can't get a good crisp picture for the full length of the monitor. Now, if a company with design a 9:16 or 10:16 monitor instead of 16:9/16:10, I'd buy one up in a heartbeat.
joshu
I have this problem with the 24" monitor I have at home, but the 21" i have at work next to my 30" is just fine. I think it varies a lot by screen.
chow
I bought my 2408WFP specifically because it can be rotated, but I never actually ended up using it in portrait mode. I figured a portrait display would be better for viewing code, but in practice I couldn't get used to such a tall display; it was too much strain on my neck.
joshu
I have an ancientish 2405WFP. 24" monitors are too tall when rotated, but 21" ones aren't.
amandle
I recommend the Asus VW266H 25.5" 1920x1200 and about 300 dollars. Plenty of space for code.
dnsworks
I'm pretty in love with my Gateway FHD2401 24" laptop. It's 1920x1200, and so bright I don't bother with the screen on my MBP anymore. It's specs came in comparable with >$500 monitors, and it had quite a number of good marks in the various sites that reviewed it. I think I paid $360 with shipping.
jff
For $400 you could get about 8 of these 19-inch Sun CRTs I'm using. I know LCD is all the rage but if you have the desk space, these Trinitron screens are really sharp and have excellent picture quality. Max resolution is 1600x1200, so it's not a 200:5 aspect ratio or whatever the kewl kidz are using these days. I wish I had a second one instead of the crappy Viewsonic LCD I have as my secondary monitor.