7Planar PX191 LCD flat panel display review (condensed version)

[HardWired]

Remember, monitors and their performance are really subjective and everyone will see and interpret things differently, but here's my take on the newly released Planar 19" PX191 LCD flat panel display, which I received today. I am running it off the DVI output from my ATI Radeon 9700 Pro.

It's gorgeous! Not a single dead pixel/sub-pixel. I tried the PL model 19" and this one is a definitely a step up in quality and performance from that one. The thin bezel is sweet, and the portrait mode rotation is awesome. I'm liking it so much in portrait mode, I may just leave it there most of the time except when gaming, which I do very little of any more

There is some slight ghosting, which you can expect with it's 25 ms. pixel response time, and which I experienced with the PL191 I used a month ago, but I don't really spend any significant time gaming so it's not a bother to me. I've played Need For Speed:Hot Pursuit 2 and Return to Castle Wolfenstein a little tonight to check it out and there is some slight ghosting/smearing, but again, not enough to make me want to return it. If your buying a monitor specifically for gaming, you may be dissapointed and would probably be happier with a 16 ms. response time display. But if gaming is secondary and you want an outstanding Windows display (which is the case for me), you won't be disappointed. There colors and clarity are fantastic. It's a keeper!

 

[AeroSnoop]

Thanks for the heads up HardWired. I am now trying to decide between ordering the px191 or waiting for the Samsung 192T.

 

[rickon66]

Does the 4 way adjustable base really operate easily with one finger, like they say on their website? I have got one on order, but now Dell has the the PL191m on sale for $498. I just need to figure if it is worth an extra $130 to stick with the PX. Thanks for the mini-review

 

[HardWired]

I think the "with one finger" is sugar coating it . The user manual actually shows a picture of two hands grabbing each side of the screen and rotating it. Maybe after several rotations and the mechanism loosens up a bit you may be able to do it with one finger, but brand new it takes a little more than that.

I had the PL191 a little over a month ago and returned it to Dell knowing the PX was about to be released, and I'm glad I did. I think the rotation feature is more useful than I ever thought it would be. Also, the PX is much more pleasing to the eye than the PL. It's all around thinner bezel with no speakers is more "new age" looking. Image wise, I would say it's an upgrade too. The colors are a little richer and brighter.

The on screen display menu has been greatly improved as well. The PL was a devil to figure out, as far as how the button changed things. Very goofy. And really it shouldn't be that tough to figure out without the manual, but I almost found myself referring to the manual to understand the functions of the buttons on the PL. Not so with the PX.

So the slightly enhanced image, the bezel, the rotation feature, and the button layout are all an improvement over the PL. Whether it's a $130 improvement is debatable to some, but to me it was worth returning the PL and getting the PX.

 

[HardWired]

I've been running the ATI demos tonight and I've noticed that this LCD does a much better job at correctly displaying black/grayscales and varying levels of color scales than the PL did. When running the Chimp demo on the PL, no matter how I had the brightness and contrast set, the fur on the chimp was not very detailed and it all looked kind of a "all-over" dark. With the PX, I can make out the individual hairs that make up his fur. It's been more than a month since I had the PL in front of me, but I do remember distinctly how I didn't like the way the PL displayed the chimp demo. Everything was just too dark, and now it all seems much more balanced.

I also d'led the demo version of DisplayMate again and proved to myself that it definitely displays color and gray scales better. With the PL, the last two bars looked pretty much black without a difference between them, leaving me to feel that is was lacking good display in that area. But with this PX, I can definitely see the difference in the last couple of bars towards the dark end. It has the same effect on the gray scale screen. The last couple of bars were almost totally black on the PL but I can now see the differences in intensity with the PX.

It's only my second night with it so there are little things yet to discover, but to me this is another important upgrade over the PX that makes me again glad I made the switch.

 

[KristopherKubicki]

Our Samsung 192T review will be done pretty soon. Still waiting for samples from Samsung unfortunately. We should have the first 192T review on the net. If anyone has any Planar contacts feel free to shoot them my way and perhaps I can setup a head to head match for those 2 monitors.

Cheers,

Kristopher

 

[HeinekinMan]

Hardwired,

Where did you buy your PX191 from and how long did it take to get? There seems to be only a handful of online vendors listing this monitor as being in stock.

I ordered one through Dell last week and the estimated ship date is tomorrow. Once it ships, it shouldn't take too long to reach me (Northern CA) from Oregon. But I wonder if it will ship on time...

I ordered an NEC 1860NX for the wife at the same time and it shipped already (will be here tomorrow!).

 

[KristopherKubicki]

MonitorsDirect should be carrying this display.

 

[rickon66]

I ordered mine from DELL when they had 15% & 10% stackable coupons. It was supposed to ship on 6/11 with ground shipping, but ended up shipping on 6/4 via Fedex. I got it on 6/6-only two days from Oregon to Tennessee.

 

[HeinekinMan]

Thanks for the info; I ordered through Dell as well using 10% off and $40.00 off $400 stackable coupons. Came to $686.00 delivered.

Checked Monitorsdirect but they're showing OOS and without coupons, they can't beat Dell.

 

[trikster2]

LiL bump for this timely thread:

Dell has 15% off this monitor and if you are lucky enough to have a 15% emailed coupon price comes out to $580 plus tax

Having a hard time choosing between this and the 20 inch planar for $700.

10% more area but the 19" is 20 percent brighter.

 

[HeinekinMan]

If you were lucky enough to have a Dell SB 15% off coupon, then yeah this would be a pretty hot deal in my opinion but I'd still have to pay tax in CA making the price $611.00 delivered. Since I have no additional SB coupon, I'll have to stick with what I got!

I ordered on the 5th for $686.00 delivered and scheduled for shipment on the 12th; it's been delayed for whatever reason (even though Dell's website is listing availability as 1-2 days); it is now scheduled to ship on the 17th.

I ordered a Silver one if that makes any difference; and I can wait...

Trikster, which 20" Planar are you referring to? The one that I see on their website (PL201M) looks like dog-doo when compared to the PX191 asthetically speaking!

 

[KristopherKubicki]

The PX191 is really sweet. I have the 192T now (which is apparently the same panel). Nuff said.

 

[trikster2]

Originally posted by: HeinekinMan
If you were lucky enough to have a Dell SB 15% off coupon, then yeah this would be a pretty hot deal in my opinion but I'd still have to pay tax in CA making the price $611.00 delivered. Since I have no additional SB coupon, I'll have to stick with what I got!

I ordered on the 5th for $686.00 delivered and scheduled for shipment on the 12th; it's been delayed for whatever reason (even though Dell's website is listing availability as 1-2 days); it is now scheduled to ship on the 17th.

I ordered a Silver one if that makes any difference; and I can wait...

Trikster, which 20" Planar are you referring to? The one that I see on their website (PL201M) looks like dog-doo when compared to the PX191 asthetically speaking!

Yes I am talking about the dog doo PL 201M but the screen size of the dog do is like 10 percent bigger or something.

 

[trikster2]

Originally posted by: KristopherKubicki
The PX191 is really sweet. I have the 192T now (which is apparently the same panel). Nuff said.

Heh heh. Working for Atech has to have some privileges. I can can't find much info on the 192T, it's not even listed on samsungs web site.

At first I was leaning towards getting the 191T just based on the samsung name and I use a dell 1900FP at work and love it. But everything I've researched has me swaying toward Plannar even though it is the less well known name. They have a zero dead pixel policy on their waranty (but allow 3 dead "sub pixels". )

Samsung OTOH:

Monitor - TFT LCD

======================================
Question
How many dead pixels are allowable on your TFT monitor screens?

Answer
10 = 17-19?
17 = 21-24?

======================================

Wholly yuckerroony.


Do you use the pivot feature at all? Hard to decide if this is a factor as I have never had this feature.

 

[KristopherKubicki]

Planar and Samsung usualy both use the same (samsung) substrates.

I kind of ripped into the pivot feature on the 191T review a few months ago. It is hard to pivot and kind of makes it a hard feature to use.

Im pretty impressed with my 192T which just came yesterday (no pivot but it lets you adjust its vertical height and pitch). Its basically a big 172T =) In any case, this was my first Samsung that showed up with 2 dead subpixels, so they are going to get an earful for that.

Basically if you have your heart set on an LCD, make Frys open it and set it up before you leave the store with it. If any real retail store values your purchase they would gladly do this for you.

 

[BuonaDomenica]

I bougth the Planar PX191 19" LCD from Dell SB yesterday for $618.04 shipped to PA. I'm glad I have found this mini review here and looking forward to this LCD. I'm not a gamer but I do want nice crips text with this LCD. I hope it will have no dead pixels. Estimated shipping is 06/17.

 

[kaizersose]

If any of you can live with a 17" model, go with the px171. No ghosting (16ms), not a single dead pixel, awesome adjustability and dvi. I got mine for $418 from dell and fully recommend it.

 

[KristopherKubicki]

BuonaDomenica - Are you sure you got the PX191 and not the PL191?

 

[trikster2]

Originally posted by: BuonaDomenica
I bougth the Planar PX191 19" LCD from Dell SB yesterday for $618.04 shipped to PA. I'm glad I have found this mini review here and looking forward to this LCD. I'm not a gamer but I do want nice crips text with this LCD. I hope it will have no dead pixels. Estimated shipping is 06/17.

I just purchased it too!

Main deciding facter is the 300 brightness, I use my monitor in my family room that has a TON of windows in it.

My total with tax/shipping was $615

Kind of expensive condering the other 19" planar was going for under $500. Would have just got two of the cheap ones, but this bezel looks a lot nicer. Long term plan is to get two of these......

 

[trikster2]

Originally posted by: KristopherKubicki
BuonaDomenica - Are you sure you got the PX191 and not the PL191?

Kris

Why did you ask this question? Is the PL191 better?

 

[AeroSnoop]

Ordered my px191 on Saturday. Scheduled to ship out on Wednesday. I'll post my thoughts on it as well here when I get it (hopefully Friday).

 

[KristopherKubicki]

Trickster2- just making sure. The PX191 retails around $800, while the PL191 retails for around $600. Just making sure you got the right one! (The PL191 is a much different monitor).

Kristopher

 

[The Sauce]

I came within a red cunthair of buying the PX191 for ~$580 last night with all the Dell deals that are flying around. Could have gotten 35% off the $800 price...even had it in the cart with the mouse over the "Submit" button. Ugh. I just couldn't do it. My fiancee would have whipped my ass with our wedding coming up and me dropping duckets on the monitor. Doesn't love suck? I'll just have to keep living vicariously through you guys.

 

[HeinekinMan]

I placed an order for one last night for $599.00 delivered (through Dell SB)!! Along with several other items

Looks like I'll be canceling the other one that's still on backorder for $686.00. Man between AT Hotdeals and FW Hotdeals, if this keeps up, I'm going to be broke!!!