I recently received my Nec 26" Spectra View Monitor. It is everything I hoped for in a monitor, and then some!! After programming certain settings: D65, 2.2, 120cd/m2, I placed the calibration puck ( that is supplied ) on my monitor. I hit "calibrate". I walked away for about 10 minutes. I returned for a perfect calibration. But the final proof was yet to come. I profiled my Epson 4000 printer, with my Eye 1 Photo, went to photoshop CS2, and printed a picture. For the FIRST TIME, my print matched my monitor 100%, and that was under demanding scrutiny. In all, I am so taken with the excellence of this monitor, I had to pass my joyful exuberance of finally getting my prints to match my monitor.
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I too have orded a NEC 2690 SV version. I am purchasing the monitor sight unseen based in the specs and anecdotal information I have read on this site, Photo.net, DPReview, etc. I had narrowed it down to the NEC 2690 or the Eizo CE240W and have chosen the NEC.
I have been using a Dell FP2007 which was my first foray into the LCD world from the CRT world. I have to honestly say that it took me a while to get used to an LCD from using a Mitsubishi Diamond Scan 90E. With the CRT, pretty much what I saw on the monitor was what I got on my Epson 2200. With the Dell, it is too bright and the pixel pitch _appears_ to be larger despite both the Mitsubishi and the Dell have .25 mm.
I have one question from the good folks out there: Would I be insane to consider an Apple 30 inch? I recently upgraded my Mac to a MacBook Pro 17 with a glossy 1920 x 1200 high contrast display. Damn it looks good! Even my photos look good. Maybe I should boost the contrast and saturation on my images more often <grin>
* The number one thing I _need_ out of a monitor is color accuracy and WISIWIG from display to printer.
* The number two thing _want_ is a good pixel pitch so I am not staring at big fat pixels.
I am a little concerned about the NEC's .287 pixel pitch and I am flat spoiled with the MacBook's ultra fine, creamy smooth display. Hence my question about the Apple 30 (2560 x 1600 / .25 pitch) display.
I know all of the reasons I should go with the NEC. I have heard nothing but good things about it and the Eizo. I have read a lot about the ACD's spotty quality issues, and some about the color accuracy.
My choices are: 1) NEC 2) Eizo 3) Apple 30. All of these monitors are in the 2000 USD range so I want to make sure I make the right decision...especially about buying a monitor unseen.
Thanks in advance.