Photo editing laptop/monitor combo?

[Mike Halmarack]

I'm hoping to do some effective photo and video editing using my
laptop as it's all I've got for the job. The laptop is a Dell
17r-SE-7720.

The display adapters shown in the Windows 7 Hardware Manager are:

Intel (R) HD Graphics 4000

and

NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M

I've got a couple of old LCD monitors that I can connect up to the
laptop via VGA out but calibrating them and setting the brightness to
help produce good photographic prints after editing them on screen,
seems very hit and miss.

Can anyone please recommend a monitor that would improve the dispaly
situation within the limitations of the existing graphic card hardware
and software?

[Adrian Caspersz]

Post by Mike Halmarack
I'm hoping to do some effective photo and video editing using my
laptop as it's all I've got for the job. The laptop is a Dell
17r-SE-7720.
Intel (R) HD Graphics 4000
and
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
I've got a couple of old LCD monitors that I can connect up to the
laptop via VGA out but calibrating them and setting the brightness to
help produce good photographic prints after editing them on screen,
seems very hit and miss.
Can anyone please recommend a monitor that would improve the dispaly
situation within the limitations of the existing graphic card hardware
and software?

[bit dead here, i've added uk.comp.homebuilt]

Focus on IPS screens?

[Jaimie Vandenbergh]

Post by Adrian Caspersz

Post by Mike Halmarack
I'm hoping to do some effective photo and video editing using my
laptop as it's all I've got for the job. The laptop is a Dell
17r-SE-7720.
Intel (R) HD Graphics 4000
and
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
I've got a couple of old LCD monitors that I can connect up to the
laptop via VGA out but calibrating them and setting the brightness to
help produce good photographic prints after editing them on screen,
seems very hit and miss.
Can anyone please recommend a monitor that would improve the dispaly
situation within the limitations of the existing graphic card hardware
and software?

[bit dead here, i've added uk.comp.homebuilt]
Focus on IPS screens?

Either of those graphics adapters will happily drive any screen, so just
go shopping for screens that are well-recommended for photo/video
editing. And have VGA. That's a bit limiting but not too badly.

And a calibration device, of course. Best hope to borrow one from some
kind soul, good ones aren't cheap.

Cheers - Jaimie

[Mike Halmarack]

On Sun, 28 Feb 2016 16:26:11 +0000, Jaimie Vandenbergh

Post by Jaimie Vandenbergh

Post by Adrian Caspersz

Post by Mike Halmarack
I'm hoping to do some effective photo and video editing using my
laptop as it's all I've got for the job. The laptop is a Dell
17r-SE-7720.
Intel (R) HD Graphics 4000
and
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
I've got a couple of old LCD monitors that I can connect up to the
laptop via VGA out but calibrating them and setting the brightness to
help produce good photographic prints after editing them on screen,
seems very hit and miss.
Can anyone please recommend a monitor that would improve the dispaly
situation within the limitations of the existing graphic card hardware
and software?

[bit dead here, i've added uk.comp.homebuilt]
Focus on IPS screens?

Either of those graphics adapters will happily drive any screen, so just
go shopping for screens that are well-recommended for photo/video
editing. And have VGA. That's a bit limiting but not too badly.

My current monitors only take VGA and DVI. The laptop has VGA and
HDMI, so I think I'll be taking the HDMI route with the new display.

You use the term "Screen" rather than monitor. Is this because a TV
might just as easily fit the bill?

Post by Jaimie Vandenbergh
And a calibration device, of course. Best hope to borrow one from some
kind soul, good ones aren't cheap.

I'll keep that in mind, thanks

Post by Jaimie Vandenbergh
Cheers - Jaimie

[Adrian Caspersz]

Post by Mike Halmarack
On Sun, 28 Feb 2016 16:26:11 +0000, Jaimie Vandenbergh

Post by Jaimie Vandenbergh

Post by Adrian Caspersz

Post by Mike Halmarack
I'm hoping to do some effective photo and video editing using my
laptop as it's all I've got for the job. The laptop is a Dell
17r-SE-7720.
Intel (R) HD Graphics 4000
and
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
I've got a couple of old LCD monitors that I can connect up to the
laptop via VGA out but calibrating them and setting the brightness to
help produce good photographic prints after editing them on screen,
seems very hit and miss.
Can anyone please recommend a monitor that would improve the dispaly
situation within the limitations of the existing graphic card hardware
and software?

[bit dead here, i've added uk.comp.homebuilt]
Focus on IPS screens?

Either of those graphics adapters will happily drive any screen, so just
go shopping for screens that are well-recommended for photo/video
editing. And have VGA. That's a bit limiting but not too badly.

My current monitors only take VGA and DVI. The laptop has VGA and
HDMI, so I think I'll be taking the HDMI route with the new display.

You can also connect PC monitors that have DVI-D to equipment HDMI
ports. The interconnect cables are widely available, direct passthrough
and cheap; though check the monitor specs for HDCP compatibility if you
want to watch movies from copy protected media.

I do this with a 24" Dell UltraSharp U2412M that's got DisplayPort, VGA
and DVI-D. That IPS monitor might actually do for you. Check reviews.

[Mike Halmarack]

On Mon, 29 Feb 2016 11:01:16 +0000, Adrian Caspersz

Post by Adrian Caspersz

Post by Mike Halmarack
On Sun, 28 Feb 2016 16:26:11 +0000, Jaimie Vandenbergh

Post by Jaimie Vandenbergh

Post by Adrian Caspersz

Post by Mike Halmarack
I'm hoping to do some effective photo and video editing using my
laptop as it's all I've got for the job. The laptop is a Dell
17r-SE-7720.
Intel (R) HD Graphics 4000
and
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
I've got a couple of old LCD monitors that I can connect up to the
laptop via VGA out but calibrating them and setting the brightness to
help produce good photographic prints after editing them on screen,
seems very hit and miss.
Can anyone please recommend a monitor that would improve the dispaly
situation within the limitations of the existing graphic card hardware
and software?

[bit dead here, i've added uk.comp.homebuilt]
Focus on IPS screens?

Either of those graphics adapters will happily drive any screen, so just
go shopping for screens that are well-recommended for photo/video
editing. And have VGA. That's a bit limiting but not too badly.

My current monitors only take VGA and DVI. The laptop has VGA and
HDMI, so I think I'll be taking the HDMI route with the new display.

You can also connect PC monitors that have DVI-D to equipment HDMI
ports. The interconnect cables are widely available, direct passthrough
and cheap; though check the monitor specs for HDCP compatibility if you
want to watch movies from copy protected media.
I do this with a 24" Dell UltraSharp U2412M that's got DisplayPort, VGA
and DVI-D. That IPS monitor might actually do for you. Check reviews.

I'm looking at this model now. It looks like a great improvement on
what I currenly use.

[Rob Morley]

On Mon, 29 Feb 2016 10:23:25 +0000

Post by Mike Halmarack
My current monitors only take VGA and DVI. The laptop has VGA and
HDMI, so I think I'll be taking the HDMI route with the new display.

DVI and HDMI are the same signal with different shaped connectors (plus
of course HDMI carries audio and DRM data, but that doesn't much matter
if you're using it for a PC display).

[Mike Halmarack]

Post by Rob Morley
On Mon, 29 Feb 2016 10:23:25 +0000

Post by Mike Halmarack
My current monitors only take VGA and DVI. The laptop has VGA and
HDMI, so I think I'll be taking the HDMI route with the new display.

DVI and HDMI are the same signal with different shaped connectors (plus
of course HDMI carries audio and DRM data, but that doesn't much matter
if you're using it for a PC display).

I'm using the HDMI output from the laptop to the TV so the audio is
needed. I'm considering getting a new TV that will double as a
monitor. Viewing distances seem to be the tricky bit.

[Mike Tomlinson]

Post by Mike Halmarack
I'm using the HDMI output from the laptop to the TV so the audio is
needed. I'm considering getting a new TV that will double as a
monitor. Viewing distances seem to be the tricky bit.

Just bought (in the Jan sales) a new LG 50" tv with IPS panel, running
it off a media PC over HDMI which does the sound as well. Lovely.

It was advertised as having 1xHDMI and 1xSCART only which suited me - I
basically just wanted a big monitor for a media PC - but when I opened
the box it actually has 2xHDMI, 1xSCART, component in, composite in,
USB, PC card, optical audio out, Freeview HD (DVB-T2) tuner, satellite
(DVB-S), cable and ethernet. Crazy spec for the price. You can attach
a hard disk to the USB and it'll pause live TV and do scheduled
recordings like a PVR.

All I use it for though is as a monitor.

[Mike Halmarack]

Post by Mike Tomlinson

Post by Mike Halmarack
I'm using the HDMI output from the laptop to the TV so the audio is
needed. I'm considering getting a new TV that will double as a
monitor. Viewing distances seem to be the tricky bit.

Just bought (in the Jan sales) a new LG 50" tv with IPS panel, running
it off a media PC over HDMI which does the sound as well. Lovely.
It was advertised as having 1xHDMI and 1xSCART only which suited me - I
basically just wanted a big monitor for a media PC - but when I opened
the box it actually has 2xHDMI, 1xSCART, component in, composite in,
USB, PC card, optical audio out, Freeview HD (DVB-T2) tuner, satellite
(DVB-S), cable and ethernet. Crazy spec for the price. You can attach
a hard disk to the USB and it'll pause live TV and do scheduled
recordings like a PVR.
All I use it for though is as a monitor.

That's a very attractive idea.
What's the optimum viewing distance for document text?
I live in a small cottage and the furthest possible viewing distance
is 2.7Metres, so maybe I'd need to get a TV smaller than 50".

[Mike Tomlinson]

Post by Mike Halmarack
That's a very attractive idea.
What's the optimum viewing distance for document text?

Depends on the font size. (I'm not being flippant here.) In Win7 I set
Control-Panel/Display to "Medium" which suits me, but it's a very
subjective thing.

Post by Mike Halmarack
I live in a small cottage and the furthest possible viewing distance
is 2.7Metres

*runs upstairs with tape measure*

Funnily enough, I sit with my face approximately that distance from the
screen and everything is perfectly legible. Running the tv at its
native resolution helps, so you don't lose sharpness from aliasing (aka
fuzzy-wuzzies).

A 50" screen will seem massive at first, but you very quickly get used
to it. It's fantastic for watching movies, etc. but normal PC use is
also perfectly possible. I use a wireless keyboard and mouse.

Don't forget in the vast majority of Windows-compliant apps you can
change the displayed font size with ctrl-alt-<Numeric+> and ctrl-alt-
<Numeric->.

Post by Mike Halmarack
, so maybe I'd need to get a TV smaller than 50".

I was going to get a 46" but am very glad I got this one. 300 quid in
the Jan sales, IPS panel, it's a cracker. Back up to 379 most places
now.

[Mike Halmarack]

Post by Mike Tomlinson

Post by Mike Halmarack
That's a very attractive idea.
What's the optimum viewing distance for document text?

Depends on the font size. (I'm not being flippant here.) In Win7 I set
Control-Panel/Display to "Medium" which suits me, but it's a very
subjective thing.

Post by Mike Halmarack
I live in a small cottage and the furthest possible viewing distance
is 2.7Metres

*runs upstairs with tape measure*
Funnily enough, I sit with my face approximately that distance from the
screen and everything is perfectly legible. Running the tv at its
native resolution helps, so you don't lose sharpness from aliasing (aka
fuzzy-wuzzies).
A 50" screen will seem massive at first, but you very quickly get used
to it. It's fantastic for watching movies, etc. but normal PC use is
also perfectly possible. I use a wireless keyboard and mouse.
Don't forget in the vast majority of Windows-compliant apps you can
change the displayed font size with ctrl-alt-<Numeric+> and ctrl-alt-
<Numeric->.

Post by Mike Halmarack
, so maybe I'd need to get a TV smaller than 50".

I was going to get a 46" but am very glad I got this one. 300 quid in
the Jan sales, IPS panel, it's a cracker. Back up to 379 most places
now.

Quite an exciting idea altogether.

I wonder what the photo and video editing balance would be regarding
colour and brightness in comparison to a monitor claiming to
specialize in such features?

[Mike Tomlinson]

Post by Mike Halmarack
I wonder what the photo and video editing balance would be regarding
colour and brightness in comparison to a monitor claiming to
specialize in such features?

I suspect not at all comparable. You'd be comparing a TV with a
monitor. I should think colour gamut and colour accuracy aren't high
priorities for a TV.

FWIW, the monitor I use on this PC (Dell U2711, 27" with the same IPS
panel as used in the 27" iMac) is lovely. It comes calibrated with
AdobeRGB and sRGB colour gamuts.

If your interest is in photography or another application where colour
accuracy is important, a TV is not going to do the job. Get a proper
monitor designed for the task.

[Mike Halmarack]

Post by Mike Tomlinson

Post by Mike Halmarack
I wonder what the photo and video editing balance would be regarding
colour and brightness in comparison to a monitor claiming to
specialize in such features?

I suspect not at all comparable. You'd be comparing a TV with a
monitor. I should think colour gamut and colour accuracy aren't high
priorities for a TV.
FWIW, the monitor I use on this PC (Dell U2711, 27" with the same IPS
panel as used in the 27" iMac) is lovely. It comes calibrated with
AdobeRGB and sRGB colour gamuts.
If your interest is in photography or another application where colour
accuracy is important, a TV is not going to do the job. Get a proper
monitor designed for the task.

I spent some time checking that out as best I could and as far as I
can see you're absolutely right.

[Mike Halmarack]

On Sun, 28 Feb 2016 15:12:48 +0000, Adrian Caspersz

Post by Adrian Caspersz

Post by Mike Halmarack
I'm hoping to do some effective photo and video editing using my
laptop as it's all I've got for the job. The laptop is a Dell
17r-SE-7720.
Intel (R) HD Graphics 4000
and
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
I've got a couple of old LCD monitors that I can connect up to the
laptop via VGA out but calibrating them and setting the brightness to
help produce good photographic prints after editing them on screen,
seems very hit and miss.
Can anyone please recommend a monitor that would improve the dispaly
situation within the limitations of the existing graphic card hardware
and software?

[bit dead here, i've added uk.comp.homebuilt]
Focus on IPS screens?

Thanks, I'll look into that.

[Mike Halmarack]

Post by Mike Halmarack
On Sun, 28 Feb 2016 15:12:48 +0000, Adrian Caspersz

Post by Adrian Caspersz

Post by Mike Halmarack
I'm hoping to do some effective photo and video editing using my
laptop as it's all I've got for the job. The laptop is a Dell
17r-SE-7720.
Intel (R) HD Graphics 4000
and
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
I've got a couple of old LCD monitors that I can connect up to the
laptop via VGA out but calibrating them and setting the brightness to
help produce good photographic prints after editing them on screen,
seems very hit and miss.
Can anyone please recommend a monitor that would improve the dispaly
situation within the limitations of the existing graphic card hardware
and software?

[bit dead here, i've added uk.comp.homebuilt]
Focus on IPS screens?

Thanks, I'll look into that.

This one seems quite good in terms of price and quality.
It has HDMI which seems rare in the reviews I've read lately.

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/monitors-and-projectors/monitors/benq-bl2710pt-1263917/review