17" vs 19" LCD: Worth the price difference?

[Antoneo]

Hey guys, I'm looking for some support and advice on which LCD to choose. First time buyer here, and the only LCD I use is my laptop's (IBM T30) Like all of you, I don't want to spend more than I need to. Ok, that description might not encompass everyone but we like our dollars well spent .

I plan to use the monitor for lots and lots of text reading. I do a lot of reading, and very little gaming (close to zero, so non-native resolutions, ghosting, and all those motion reproduction problems in games are bunk to me). So 25ms response time is fine with me I think. But I do appreciate dark blacks, some sort of accurate color (some graphics work/3d modeling), and crisp text.

I have a Matrox G400 and an ATI R8500 (two comps, haven't decided on which the monitor would go to), both being pretty decent in 2D output but no DVI. I am free to upgrade to a DVI based video card if need be. I have a pretty good 19" CRT AG monitor.

I know that the specs on these four monitors are not equal, but if there is a dramatic/noticable difference between the numbers, then please point it out (ie. 800:1 vs 500:1 contrast ratio... are these just marketing BS or worth noting?)

First question, should I get a 19" over the 17"? All of them, the 1905FP, 1704FPV, E193FP, and the E173FP all have a 1280x1024 resolution. I am not concerned about desktop space or size. Is the extra physical screen real estate worth it?

Second, is it worth skimping out on the DVI connection for larger LCD displays?

Is the default normal size Windows text smallish (or a little hard to read) with 17"? I'd rather not strain to read the letters, and I don't have a LCD monitor to try this out on so you guys will have to tell me.



Basically I can't figure out if DVI is worth skipping over and if 19" is really worthwhile over the 17". I am willing to spend a bit more, but if the returns aren't worth it then I'd rather put the money into more RAM or upgrade other internals.

For text reading, no games, I want decent-good blacks, monitor does not have to be the best, I don't think viewing angle matters.

Let me know!

 

[SuperFreaky]

I decided between the 1704FP vs E193FP last week...
1704FP - Adjustable stand is smooth, 1000:1 contrast ratio is really good, 25ms response time not so good for any heavy gamers, $230 after Dellf coupons...
E193FP - no adj stand, half the contrast, but 16ms response time. ~$100 more expensive after Dellf coupons...

I am not much of a gamer and went with the 1704FP

 

[Antoneo]

SuperFreaky, do you find the 17" size restricting? Does it seem smaller than the viewable area of a CRT?

 

[Kingofcomputer]

No.

Either get 17" or 20", don't get 18" or 19".

 

[Jittos]

Originally posted by: Kingofcomputer
No.

Either get 17" or 20", don't get 18" or 19".

can u elaborate more? y r 18 or 19 not good?

 

[deveraux]

Originally posted by: Jittos

Originally posted by: Kingofcomputer
No.

Either get 17" or 20", don't get 18" or 19".

can u elaborate more? y r 18 or 19 not good?

 

[Kingofcomputer]

18" or 19" costs too much more than 17", 20" costs just little bit more than 19".
Jump to 20" and get 1600x1200 regular 4:3 ratio, otherwise stay at 17".
I can't find any benefit for getting 18" or 19" today.

 

[SuperFreaky]

I don't find the size restricting and thats going from a 19" CRT to 17" LCD (not sure the actual screen area).

I'm not using DVI with the 1704FP yet and it still looks amazing. You definately won't be disappointed with the image quality of the 1704FP... other than that I can't comment, I wish I could have seen the E193FP and it side by side...

 

[Treyshadow]

I have used all of these monitors either at work or at home.

Here is my stand.

If you are >35 years old, and are going for a 1280x1024 monitor, do yourself the favor and get the 19. Your eyes will thank you. As for best monitor, the 1905FP is fast for gaming and has a really high contrast ratio. If you are watching a movie on this monitor the black levels are amazing, meaning dark movies don't wash out and look like poop.

If you are <35 and are looking for the 1280x1024 monitor, and you game, it is either the 1704FP or the 1905FP. If size isn't a big deal the 1704FP is really nice. Very capable.

The other 2 are just not as good, thus I left them out. Why you might ask, - Not adjustable, not as much of a viewing angle. They have slower or lower contrast panels which are obvious when you see them together, but not as big a deal when you see them apart. Also, the regret factor has to be put in there somewhere.

E193FP vs. 1704FP. It is a toss up. On one side you have the sexy 1704FP with its tilting screen and variable height. On the other you have the greater size not greater resolution. I would say it depends on the users. If it was for gaming though, 1704FP. And in the future if you got another monitor, this works well in Portrait mode as a web browser secondary monitor.


As for DVI, these monitors tend to look very good on both the DVI and the analog. All of them have very good analog vga connections. So if you are going for dvi because someone said it was better, I would not put much stock in the fact that they have seen these monitors against each other.

 

[SuperFreaky]

Originally posted by: Treyshadow
If it was for gaming though, 1704FP. And in the future if you got another monitor, this works well in Portrait mode as a web browser secondary monitor.

That is incorrect. The E193FP has a 16ms response time and the 1704FP has a 25ms response time. This is the most important difference between these two models for gaming. The slower the response time, the more of a "ghosting" effect you will experience in your games.


1704FP
Response Time: 25ms
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Max Res: 1280x1024
Ports / Connector Type: 15-pin D-sub miniature / DVI-D / 4 x USB 2.0
E193FP
Response Time: 16ms
Contrast Ratio: 500:1
Max Res: 1280x1024
Ports / Connector Type: 15-pin D-subminiature (blue)

 

[Nessism]

I receintly purchased a 1905FP and love it. Paid $460 with shipping and tax after a delf coupon and stackable coupon. Was considering a 20" but it was $150 more which didn't seem like a good value to me.

My main reason for choosing 19" though is the text size, 17" and 20" TFT monitors running at native resolutions have VERY small text size. Plan on putting your face right up next to the monitor, within 18" anyway, if you choose a 17 or 20 incher.

Good luck.

Ed

 

[alrocky]

Of the listed LCDs (&amp; a 20"), today Dell shows:
17" $270 &amp; $332
19" $450 &amp; $630
20" $800

Of the 17" vs 19" and DVI and no DVI options, it's best if you personally compared them to see if you could tell the differences and prefer one over the other. Generally speaking, I'd think you wouldn't need DVI at 17" but might want it 19". My 19" Samsung 912N ($425 total) is also 1280 x 1024, no DVI and text is fine. Since you do a lot of reading, consider a screen that rotates 90 degrees.

 

[Antoneo]

I ordered the 1704 last night and now reading some of the new responses I feel it. Perhaps I should have gotten the 193 for about a $100 more.

Alrocky: Yep, I wish I was given a chance to do a side by side comparison. The numbers tell me nothing, and since it is very subjective measurements what might be good for one person might not be for another. wahhhhhhhhhhh.

 

[deveraux]

If you do a lot of text and stuff, I would agree with Nessism, larger text size would be much easier on the eyes. And since you don't do gaming, don't bother getting anythign lower than a 25ms response lcd, that should lower the price of the lcd down quite a bit. Just my .02.

 

[Antoneo]

It's not that bad with a 17" monitor doing 1280x1024 right guys? On my 14" IBM laptop it runs 1024x768 and I think this sized text is ok.

Oh, now the wait is killing me. I knew I shoulda bought the 193. ARGARGADSfalkewnfad fsadfjwoenas dweiuha

EDIT: If someone has another 25% off coupon (sorry to beg, the dellf and I don't like each other. She refuses to give it up ) PM me please, my eyes will thank you!!!!

 

[SuperFreaky]

My 25yr old eyes don't have any problems with the text, in fact I leave the monitor sitting about 3 feet back on my desk


EDIT: eyes plural

 

[w00t]

i would say 17in if you are used to crt and want to save some money and 19in if you just want a nice big monitor. the reason i said this is because crt have a lower viewable size so a 22in crt is 20in viewable. a 17in crt is 15in viewable. so if you work on a 19in crt than the 17in will be the same size.

edit gj superfreaky

 

[arsbanned]

SuperFreaky aka Captain Kidd. Harrrrrrr I love me monitrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I have the 1704FP and like it. The USB ports on the side are nice as is the adjustable stand. Very bright picture and good text capabilities. I play UT on mine and haven't detected a lot of ghosting. Check gotapex.com for coupons on the 2001FP and 2004FP if you want to go larger. I've heard of people getting them for under 5 bills.

 

[Antoneo]

Ah good to hear some more positive responses. I'll check back again when the monitor arrives and tell you guys if I got buyers remorse. Perhaps this thread will be of help to others in the same situation.

 

[SuperFreaky]

you can actually get the 2005FPW (20.1 Widescreen) for under $550 if you stack a 25% off Dellf and a $45 off $450 promotion (when one is active)...

 

[w00t]

Originally posted by: SuperFreaky
you can actually get the 2005FPW (20.1 Widescreen) for under $550 if you stack a 25% off Dellf and a $45 off $450 promotion (when one is active)...

that is what i wanna do.

 

[Dman877]

I have a 19 inch LCD for my internet/TV/DVD box and a 17 inch for gaming. IMO, text is just too small at 1280x1024 on a 17. Also, I can't tell a dif between DVI and Analog connectors.