Looking to buy a monitor - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

InTheSlot · 08-12-2005, 03:41 PM

As the title says, I am going to purchase a new LCD monitor within the near feature, and I come to you guys for suggestions.

I live in the U.S. and I'm looking for something at least 19" in screen size that is, as mentioned, LCD opposed to CRT. For a 19 or 20" monitor, I'd like something that displays well in 1024x768 resolution because I would be using it as both a PC and TV monitor, along with something that has a fairly low response time, preferably 16ms or 12ms (8 would be fantastic) because again I would like to play the occasional game on my PC as well.

If I find a really nice monitor perhaps in the 22-26" screen size area, I'm willing to go as high as $700 for something nice. Again though I'd like this one to have the same minimum resolution and response time.

Dimensions and weight aren't really a factor to me. With that said, I'd appreciate any great deals you guys could swing my way as I continue to search. If you have any monitors, brands or models to recommend, please fire away. Again I live in the U.S. but I'm willing to shop at any major retail store like BestBuy, Circuit City, as well as online, perhaps Newegg. (I do shop on eBay, but I don't think I would want to buy an expensive item such as a monitor via eBay).

Thanks in advance!

photon · 08-12-2005, 03:50 PM

For that resolution you'll be looking at a LCD TV rather than a monitor.. pretty much every 17" and 19" LCD monitor is at 1280x1024, and 20"+ are at 1600x1200 usually.

I'd recommend the $899CDN Viewsonic 27" LCD TV at Costco, but it doesn't look like they have it on the US site

cheung31 · 08-12-2005, 03:51 PM

i know memory express sells some of the cheapest hardware around. might wana check out their site

www.memoryexpress.com

InTheSlot · 08-12-2005, 06:02 PM

Someone on Newegg said they got a good monitor from Costco around that price, but I believe you're right it's only Canadian. Also, cheung, thanks for the link I will check it out.

As per my first post, yes I did mean I want to buy an LCD TV, not monitor, sorry for the bad wording. Like I said I'd be happy with any resolution of at least 1024x768, so 1280x1024 and 1600x1200 would be more than fine.

Tyler · 08-12-2005, 06:05 PM

I just picked up a 20" Apple Cinema Display. It's the most gorgeous piece of computer hardware I've ever owned.

I believe they are $799 US. (Cheaper if you're a student). Complimentary pic:

Wookie · 08-12-2005, 07:10 PM

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=25094

Quote:

Microsoft Vista means you need new monitors

EVERYTIME Microsoft releases a new version of its operating system, someone points out that it will involve the wholesale scrapping of existing hardware.
Going through the specs of Vista it looks like you will not only probably need a new PC, but it will be time to splash out on a new monitor too.

...

Amongst those that will not have it are the people who spent shedloads impressing their friends with their new Dell UltraSharp super sexy 2405FPW widescreen display.

ratech · 08-12-2005, 07:13 PM

Check out benq. I have a couple and have been very impressed.

InTheSlot · 08-12-2005, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wookie@Aug 12 2005, 06:10 PM
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=25094

Quote:

Microsoft Vista means you need new monitors

EVERYTIME Microsoft releases a new version of its operating system, someone points out that it will involve the wholesale scrapping of existing hardware.
Going through the specs of Vista it looks like you will not only probably need a new PC, but it will be time to splash out on a new monitor too.

...

Amongst those that will not have it are the people who spent shedloads impressing their friends with their new Dell UltraSharp super sexy 2405FPW widescreen display.

Uh, first of all, what is Microsoft Vista? Second of all, you do know that link is to the inquirer and maybe one out of every 50 things that comes from that site is true...

As for BenQ, my friend has a nice 19" monitor from them, but I believe they are known to be quite the expensive brand.

Wookie · 08-12-2005, 10:11 PM

Vista = longhorn = the followup to windows XP, theINQ is not related to the tabloid paper, and is a PC/technical/online news source that is very often correct.. Or close with their info

photon · 08-12-2005, 10:44 PM

I would classify Benq as an inexpensive value brand, not an expensive brand.

You might want to check this one out:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/Product...uctlisting.aspx

That's what I'm running right now. It has a nice res for Windows use but also has SVideo and composite inputs for TV.

12ms response and it's an 8-bit panel so the colour is MUCH nicer than the 6-bit panels the sub 10ms units use.

(This uses the same panel as the Apple 20" that was mentioned by Tyler)

InTheSlot · 08-13-2005, 12:15 AM

I had a feeling Vista was another name for Longhorn. Longhorn won't be released til the public til '07 at the earliest, so I'm not really worried.

As for the Dell, my friend recommened I get one of those as well, but for almost half the price with a $50 mail in rebate I found this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16824168005

It appears to have everything I want minus the S-Video connectors that the Dell has.... 19" opposed to 20" which isn't terrible, 1280x1024 max and recommended res, and 12ms response time.

As per BenQ, some of them I've seen seem to be rather pricy for non-HDTV Ready monitors.... I'm talking between $5-600.

Either way, the suggestions and links are great, so please keep them coming. Definitely taking them into consideration. B-)

Wookie · 08-13-2005, 02:20 AM

Well Microsoft is planning a second half of 2006 release, that's been officially announced. While there can be delays, and it wouldn't be a surprise your 2007 comments are pretty vague and out of date ')

Regardless widespread implementation may take well into 2007/08 and hardware complications can always be dealt with then.. I just wanted to provide the link

and this one.. "arriving 2006"

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/default.mspx

photon · 08-13-2005, 08:11 AM

Keep in mind the Dell and the Apple are wide screen so are better suited to display DVD or HD format media.

With that Fuji, there isn't any video input so you'd have to have a TV tuner in your computer in order to watch TV on it (or have a DVI output on your DVD player or cable box).

I would highly recommend buying from a place with a good return policy; until you try it out you won't be sure if the display is ok for you.

InTheSlot · 08-13-2005, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by photon@Aug 13 2005, 07:11 AM
Keep in mind the Dell and the Apple are wide screen so are better suited to display DVD or HD format media.

With that Fuji, there isn't any video input so you'd have to have a TV tuner in your computer in order to watch TV on it (or have a DVI output on your DVD player or cable box).

I would highly recommend buying from a place with a good return policy; until you try it out you won't be sure if the display is ok for you.

Yeah, I hear you loud and clear on that. The reason I am looking at the Fuji so much is because, in fact, I have recently purchased an ATI AIW 9600 XT (TV Tuner card).

I haven't hooked it up yet because I still need to buy the output adapter for it to hook up to my monitor, but when I do I'll be able to watch TV on my monitor, as well as record and pause live TV which should be nice.

And again with Longhorn, the 2007 date was one I just threw out there because I had read it in PC Magazine some 9 months ago. Whether or not they bumped up the release date was news to me, I see by your link that it is true.