I don’t do detailed product reviews – no time.
But I’m happy to briefly share my opinion and thoughts after buying the NEC PA241W yesterday.
The time had come to get a new monitor for my edit workflow. My clients deserve it, and frankly a 3rd monitor would speed things up a bit. I am getting busier and busier every year and here comes October and November the busiest months of the wedding season.
For high-end professional image editing there are only two options to choose from: Eizo’s ColorEdge, the industry standard or NEC’s professional series.
I consulted the best in the industry when it came to IT for photographers, Camera Electronics, Team Digital and PRA Imaging. Team Digital and CE push Eizo and PRA’s got the NEC range.
Eizo ColorEdge may be the industry leader but for the size I need $5000+ pricetag can’t be justified, imho. Eizo’s 2nd best range is the SX-series in the FlexScan range.
Pricing is identical between the NEC PA-series and Eizo’s SX-series, so it was a tough choice. Paul from PRA finally convinced me with a lot of technical gibber-gabber in the end and I happily purchased the NEC PA241W along with NEC’s own calibration software called SpectraView II.
THEN THE ISSUES HAPPENED
On initial installation the screen was blindingly bright, but no matter, SpectraView would fix that. Installation revealed that the model PA241W did not supoprt SpectraView. What!
So I spent all night googling updates, info and patches but no luck. By 3am I was starting to regret my purchase, especially after discovering the monitor I just paid over $2000 for was actually selling at B&H Photo in New York for less than US$850! More than double the aussie price! Double What!
I was less than delighted so, the next morning, embarked on a mission. I call NEC to find out what the Australian RRP was and why SpectraView did not work.
Long story short.
NEC’s led me on a wild goose chase and no one could help me! handballed to a record six different call centres:
131 632
1300 366 144
1800 171 294 also 1300 780 103 (same people/different number)
1800 176 505
And then finally the right contact, a direct number to NEC’s Calibration Expert in Sydney, Daniel Hancox. If anyone is interested in contacting the NEC Calibration Experts visit this site. Hopefully the promised revamp will be done soon.
After downloading the patch, all good from then on. Alternative Patch Download.
QUICK REVIEW
btw, the NEC PA241W is a solid 10/10, B&H reviews all 5/5 to date
NECs general service handling is hopeless at 3/10
NECs Daniel Hancox help and assistance is an excellent 10/10
Paul, from PRA Imaging, advice and help is a wonderful 9/10
…and finally the price…
why would anyone in their right mind buy from an Australian supplier when the American and possibly Asian suppliers can sell these for less than half the price? Good question.
I am sure NEC and other international companies like this will suffer in the long run.
But the simple fact is it all comes down to volume. NEC Japan supply huge American distributors with a thousand times more units than Australian distributors.
The good thing is that buying local does have critical benefits however. Apart from supporting a local business, a local economy and local families is that as a consumer you’re also getting the service, advice and warranty. But it still sucks a bit!
BOTTOM LINE
As a critical business acquisition the NEC PA241W is still worth buying local and with the $2000+ Pricetag.
