Convince me to upgrade my Dell 3008WFP UltraSharp 30” Monitor

johnwinds on 13/02/2022 - 18:28

I bought my R113008W - Dell 3008WFP UltraSharp 30” Widescreen Flat Panel Monitor in May 2008 for $2,098 and it's been going great ever since. I use it for general computing and some software development & WFH (I occasionally watch a movie on it).

It seems to do all the resolution I need right now and I don't really game so refresh rate etc don't seem to be as much of an issue. The picture quality seems to be great and I don't feel like I'm missing out.

Some ideas on ways to convince me:
1. The power saving on a new monitor would be $x per year which would pretty much pay for itself vs. the existing monitor
2. I would be so much more productive with a 4k/6k/8k <x>inch/curved/wider/OLED/IPC/<x>technology monitor
3. Just the joy of using a brighter/more vivid/sharper screen would be totally worth it and would be so much better than the current screen
4. Watching the occasional movie or YouTube video would look so much better with HDR/whatever the new tech is/refresh rate etc
5. The eye strain would be so much lower with a new screen (for someone who spends so much of their time in front of it)

As you can see, I'm already mostly convinced so it won't take much to push me over the edge…

If I were to buy a new screen it would probably be a flagship for multiple $k which I would probably not upgrade for a decade+ once again (the Dell was the bee's knees back in 2008).

On the cons side of the list, I could instead use the money for some other more responsible financial goals (no, not more Knipex and Leathermans).

Computing

Comments

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 13/02/2022 - 18:36
    +3

    Well how about ‘you deserve it, kid’ ?

    • johnwinds on 14/02/2022 - 12:11
      +1

      Love it!

  • Heaps for Cheaps on 13/02/2022 - 18:39
    +3

    Monitors get dimmer and less accurate over time… and over 14 years the brightness and accuracy would have really degraded. You wouldn't have noticed it day by day, however…

    If you are happy with it, and otherwise it's a great monitor, you could save that cash and a few clever/lucky investments could buy you 5 new monitors in 5 years…

    • johnwinds on 14/02/2022 - 12:15
      +1

      The funny thing is, they give us dual brand new 24" screens at the office and I dread going back to those after spending some time at home with my 30" screen. They come as a package deal with the laptop lease so they swap them out every couple of years.

      Probably not a fair comparison as they would cheap out on those monitor laptop bundles.

      Working on my new work laptop next to my Dell doesn't seem to make a huge difference in screen quality. Again, might not be a fair comparison if I bought the latest OLED/IPS/whatever best tech.

  • dcep on 13/02/2022 - 18:45
    +1

    If I were to buy a new screen it would probably be a flagship for multiple $k which I would probably not upgrade for a decade+ once again

    nowadays things don't lasts as they used to

  • life is suffering on 13/02/2022 - 18:55
    +1

    JUST DO IT !!

  • garetz on 13/02/2022 - 19:04
    +2

    I used my u2711 for over 10 years

    I came to the conclusion that if i bought a new screen about a year ago the electrical usage savings of the new screen alone over 3 years will pay for itself.

    So i bought it.

    • skid on 13/02/2022 - 23:32
      +1

      I'm still using the U2711. I think the power consumption is 65W measured at the wall? That's comparable to todays screens.

      • garetz on 14/02/2022 - 00:17
        +1

        u2711 typical power consumption is 113w, and max usage is about 140w

        i replaced it with a 27GL850 with typical at 39w and max at 65w

        my annual power bill has gone down about $340

    • johnwinds on 14/02/2022 - 12:18

      This is one of the more compelling arguments. I wonder how long it will take to pay for itself if I bought a $3k or a $4k 40 inch plus latest tech screen.

  • AustriaBargain on 13/02/2022 - 22:00
    +1

    You could use your old Ulrasharp as a little TV for the kitchen or whatever.

  • skid on 13/02/2022 - 23:35
    +1

    The 3008WFP is like the last V8. Keep using it and don't throw it away. They don't make 16:10 screens anymore. 1600 lines vertical is still decent. The DPI is decent too.

    • johnwinds on 14/02/2022 - 12:19

      I'm pretty surprised it lasted this well for so long since 2008. I've gone through a CPU/motherboard etc upgrade since then and am just about ready for another one.

  • ddhar on 14/02/2022 - 00:14
    +1

    I upgraded from a U3011 (30in 2560x1600) to the U3818DW (38in 3840x1600). PQ-wise, I am honestly happy with both. It's the features in the newer Dell that makes the difference:

    1) USB-C connectivity for video, data and charging.
    I connect my work laptop to monitor. With the old Dell, this involved: a) DP cable (plus a DP switch; the U3011 only has one usable DP port), b) USB cables each for KB+Mouse+Webcam, c) laptop power brick. I got rid of them all for one USB-C cable with the new Dell. Massive de-clutter!

    2) Built-in USB switch. Related to above; This allows in-monitor switching of KB+mouse between my personal desktop or work laptop. I had to use an external USB switch with the old Dell.

    3) Resolution: No contest. More horizontal space = greater productivity, easier multi-tasking, more immersive games & movies, etc.
    Note that I avoided monitors with 1440 vertical resolution.

    4) Power consumption: There can be significant power savings (CCFL vs LED) and less heat dumped into the room.
    Also, my old Dell buzzed (very slightly) even when turned off. It's nice to have silence now.

    • johnwinds on 14/02/2022 - 12:22

      I do use a fancy Black Box KVM so the new monitor probably won't be able to match that.

      I guess that's another important consideration I forgot about. Moving to a new standard like 4k or above would require a whole new KVM stack including cables etc which would be costly. Last I read about it, it sounded like OS and app support for 8k wasn't really there yet. Maybe I'm better off waiting a couple more years for 8k to be more mainstream and leapfrog into that?

  • jv on 14/02/2022 - 00:18
    +4

    Convince me to upgrade my Dell 3008WFP UltraSharp 30” Monitor

    Just keep your current monitor.

    • johnwinds on 14/02/2022 - 12:23

      Sounds like the boring but logical and correct choice (as it is so often true in so many other areas of life as well)!

      • aliam on 14/02/2022 - 17:43
        +1

        If the OP needs someone else to convince him/her, then stick with current monitor. There's enough ewaste in the world.

  • KaTst3R on 14/02/2022 - 09:02
    +1

    Yes.

  • brendan0 on 14/02/2022 - 18:03
    +2

    “Because You're Worth It” - L'Oreal

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