COMPUTER LCD MONITOR

[frank_f15]

Hey guys i need to buy a new monitor(current is 10yrs old) leaning towards an LCD ! What shoud i look for? wide screen or regular? if wide screen how do web pages disply on it? also name brands that you like ,thinking of at least 19" . any and all suggestions appreciated.

 

[mikim]

just had 4 new 24" LCDs delivered here at the office ... boy they're nice ... but I'll bet $$$$ .... (dunno - not privy to how much) If money is no biggy - then go big ....or even 2 side by side...

 

[drssg]

I've been using an LCD for a while and really like it. The display is clearer and it has MUCH less glare.

I think the biggest thing to keep in mind with the LCDs is that they are optimized for a particular resolution. So if you purchase one that is optimized for 1600x1200, but you can see the screen better at 1024x768, you can still use the LCD at the lower setting, but the display will be fuzzy. The CRTs use a different mechanism of projecting the display, so they can display multiple resolutions with equal quality. So I suggest figuring out what resolution you want to use, and then purchase an LCD that is optimized for that resolution.

They used to sell some really cheap ones that only supported analog input. I'd suggest getting one that supports analog and digital. That way, you know you can hook it up to any computer.

As far as wide screen, I think it's a personal preference. I'm not a huge fan myself, but they sure seem to be gaining popularity.

I've had good luck with ViewSonic monitors, but I'm sure there are a bunch of good ones out there.

 

[LMTC]

We have gone exclusively to LCD and LOVE them. Oldest one was bought in 2003, 15" Dell, still works great. Two HPs, 17 & 19, one 19 Hahns, and one 19 Samsung I think (I'd have to walk to check it...it's in another room). The Hahns and the Samsung are widescreen and I just hate that format. My sons like it. All have good color, etc. The 19" HP I am looking at now is on app. 12 hours a day, 6-7 days a week, since purchase in Jan 2006. The Hahns and Samsung are newer, the 17 HP is probably 3 years old and gets nominal use. I'd buy on price and ability to exchange quickly if it dies early. Oldest son is retail manager for huge chain, and tells me that LCDs that fail, generally do so in the first few weeks. For that reason alone I buy them at Sams or Costco or Best Buy so I can do a quick exchange if necessary....haven't had to yet.

 

[jdbower]

Do you have any special requirements? If you do a lot of photo editing a good contrast ratio may be important. Or if you do a lot of games the response time may be important. In a well-lit room you may care about the brightness. I've got four LCD monitors for three computers: a Proview, a ViewSonic, a Dell and a Hyundai. All four were close to the cheapest in their class and none have given me any problems that I care about (a hot/dead pixel or two doesn't bother me). I'd also consider checking out a new PC that comes with one, Dell is advertising a PC with a flatscreen that's not much more than an LCD monitor was alone a short time ago.

A digital input is good, but they have digital to analog converters if the price leap is too high. I like the ones with built-in speakers to conserve space, but most people like better speakers than the LCDs provide. Widescreen isn't something I like, but if you've got bad eyes it may make the type seem bigger since when you expand a window to fill the screen you've got less vertical space to deal with. With most computer stuff I like Tiger Direct.

 

[frank_f15]

jeff, no special requirements, i do a bit of photo editing but no games, my monitor screwd up yesterday, colors way out of wackm flipping , lines etc, not sure if it was monitor or graphics card, a friend just rought over a spar 17" HANNS LCD and it appears it is my olld monitor as his works fine on my system. i think i will look at 19" NOT WIDESCREEN and see what price i can get on NEW EGG. PLEASE keep info comming

 

[LMTC]

Newegg and Tiger will probably be your best pricing. I buy a lot of fans and small supplies there, but with a monitor, as with my printers, etc. I want the ability to drive in and get a new one on the spot if it fails early. I do not want to ship back and wait, and I'll pay $20-$30 more at sams, costco, or best buy.

 

[RonMar]

I like the Viewsonic VE series. I installed several on the last ship I was on in the pilothouse and chartroom as nav info/map displays. It was an icebreaker and we tended to shake the snot out of things on a regular basis. After the second year going south to Antarctica, not a single one had failed. I bought a smaller personal one for my own computer(VE-150) I had onboard and took it on one trip to antartica and back(third and final trip for me) and it along with the others were all fine and looked as good as the day they were installed. I don't remember how many conventional monitors failed during that time, but it was more than a few... Still have mine 3 years later on my CAD machine and it still looks great. I have a samsung on my non moving desk at work that I have replaced once in the last 3 years(backlight started to flicker after 1 year). Neither it nor it's current replacement ever looked as good as my 4 year old Viewsonic. The Viewsonic cost a little more than comparable models, but in this case I believe it was worth it. When my CRT goes on this machine, it will get a new Viewsonic

 

[tractorsanmore]

My GF needed ( wanted ) a new monitor , we looked at a lot of them . I t seemed to us the larger ( over 21 " ) models were around the same money as a lcd tv . We bought a samsung 23" flat screen ( widescreen ) tv which can also be used as a monitor , great picture , she loves it , about 9 mo . old now .

 

[RoyJackson]

I bought this one an Acer 22" unit last year. It came from Tiger Direct and cost just under $200 with rebate.
I am quite happy with it. I was quite surprised how well it worked with games (Quake 4, Doom 3 nd Prey, for examples...killing freakin' aliens is my hobby)