This is a collection of 27 Inch Monitor Resources, all of which I use myself.
Products
HDMI Leads
To go for gold or not? Is the dividing question when it comes to monitor leads. The honest truth is that whether the lead has gold plating or not makes no difference at all to a digital signal lead. HDMI is digital and therefore buying a lead just because it is gold-plated makes no sense. However, it is often the case that gold-plated leads are better build-quality and most are gold-plated these days anyway. Here are my top three HDMI leads:
- HDMI type A male – male: : Simple, straightforward and great value.
- Displayport to mini displayport: I use this every day to connect my Macbook Pro to my Viewsonic 27″ monitor:
Screen Calibrator
There are a lot of screen calibrators out there and the wide choice can be confusing. The screen calibrator I reccommend is the X-Rite EODIS3 i1Display Pro: Honestly, you’re unlikely to need a calibrator unless you are doing some serious photo editing or graphic design. So if you are going to take the plunge, I do recommend the i1 Display pro as it is a high-end piece of kit. There’s no point making false economies here.
Monitor accessories
Cable Tidy
Many cable tidies come in the form of trunking which looks great but is a pain to pull apart when you want to add the next lead in or remove something. I recommend using velcro ties to keep your cables in order, one of the best is the D-Line Cable Tidy Band:
Rocking Speakers
If you do any video editing or just simply enjoy listening to music while you work, the best bang for your buck by far are the Logitech Z600 Bluetooth speakers:
Privacy Filter
If you work in a busy office and handle sensitive information, then these filters are fantastic at keeping prying eyes away from your work: Not so great for photo editing though as the true color will be lost.
Screen Cleaning Wipes
I regularly use these microfiber cloths: A quality cleaning system is vital for every monitor owner – irrespective of size. It is surprisingly easy to damage your 27 inch monitor with the wrong cleaning fluid and many insurance companies will not cover you for this.
Multi-Monitor Stands
If you’re using more than 2 monitors, you’re going to need a professional stand. Mainly aimed at gamers and the security industry, the Deluxe Hex Monitor Stand is a great stand, taking up to six full-size 27 inch monitors.
Standing Desks
I am a big fan of standing at desks. For the best flexibility, you might want to look at the VertdeskTM Electric Adjustable Height Desk. The health benefits are huge.
Desk Light
Correct illumination is essential to get the best from your monitor. Personally I use the Daylight U32500 Triple Bright Lamppositioned behind my monitor to maximise the contrast levels.
Useful Websites
I started this website because the vast majority of information sites out there are riddled with adSense advertising and have a horrible user experience. However, some of them do have useful information despite the adverts. Many of which I used when first researching which 27 inch monitor to buy. Here is my pick of the bunch:
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com
There are some really useful guides on here, relevant mainly to photographers.
https://fstoppers.com
Another excellent site relevant to photographers.
http://uk.pcmag.com
Good for detail if you’re happy to wade through it all.
http://www.t3.com
Superb resource, run off the back of the successful technology magazine.
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/
The best forum, hands-down for tech advice.
Books
Photography
If you’re new to digital photography, Doug Harman’s guide is invaluable:
Software
Photoshop
The Creative Cloud range of software is a great way to get up and running with Photoshop. You’ll also need Adobe Bridge to organise your pictures.
Adobe Premiere
Hands-down, the best video editing software out there.
Blogs
Mashable is about as good as it gets when it comes to niche blog topic reviews. Their tech section is second to none. http://mashable.com/tech/
Podcasts
I know what you’re thinking – a podcast about 27 inch monitors -really? Well… not quite but the Lifehacker podcast is so awesome I just had to mention it. A broad range of tech based topics, definitely worth a listen. http://lifehacker.com/
27 Inch Monitor Resources Conclusion
So there you have it! The most useful resources listed by application. If you are aware of a resource that I haven’t listed, please contact me and am happy to consider it.
Jonathan