Help: Best ~$350 monitor?

[yanon]

Here are my basic monitor requirements
Monitor size: 19"
Main use: text and occasional gaming.
Minimum refresh rate: 85hz at 1024x768
I am interested in the following monitors:
Samsung p950 (.26mm)
Samsung 955DF (dynaflat, .20mm horizontal)
Samsung 955SL (short-neck .26mm)
LG Electronics 995E (.26mm)
Hitachi CM715 (according to buy.com, .22 mm Horizontal/ .14 MM Vertical)

Please tell me your experience with one of above monitors if you own or use one.
Please recommend any good quality monitor that fits my basic monitor requirements but not listed above.

 

[pyr]

I got my mom the p950 when I built a system for her and it seems to look pretty good. I am biased towards my ADI microscan P6

 

[M O M O]

Hello, Ive got two dynoflat samsungs, a 19 and 17 inch and i love them......

 

[Hotpepperz]

I bought the LG 995E a few months ago. I did some extensive research on monitors and found a great review of the 19" monitors. Check out http://www.zdnet.com/products/stories/reviews/0,4161,2340343,00.html. Of course I had to get the top rated monitor! I love it. Got it for around $370 after shipping from egghead.

 

[Lalakai]

I'm in the same boat as you, though I'll be using mine for gaming as a priority.

consider the KDS AV, or the Viewsonic PF790.

each monitor has it's share of detractors and supporters. Best advice is to actually view each one, then also make certain you have a good warrenty with which ever unit you choose.

ps, right now I'm leaning toward the KDS

 

[MadMerc]

that review has a lot of low end (for a given manufacturer) reviews in it - obvious ones are the adi and the ctx - you might want to look around a bit more before relying on information from that review.

2 19" monitors doing well here in the uk at the moment are the ctx pr960f and the adi p910, though i have no idea how much they would cost in the states

 

[The Wildcard]

Hmm well if you are planning on around $350, try considering the samsung 900NF. i think there is a $30 rebate and if you find some coupons for some online store, maybe you can get it down there to $350.

 

[duragezic]

Onvia.com would be the place to get it. It is free shipping and a $25 off coupon I think. There is also a 10% if you sign up with <url>www.Pointclick.com</url>. I plan to order the Hitachi Superscan 715 from there very soon from onvia!

Anyway I was considering the Samsung 955df because of the $30 rebate but I think I am going to get the Hitachi? Why? Well at 1600x1200 the 955df has a refresh rate of 60hz compared to 75hz of the Hitachi. The 955df has a .20mm though compared to .22mm of the Hitachi.

EDIT: How do you post a URL?

I couldn't tell yah about the P950 or 955SL but check out
<url>http://www.onvia.com/usa/products/index.cfm?CategoryID=22681&amp;SortBy=manufacturer</url> for the list of the ones they have. If you do plan to get a Samsung then look at the Samsung website for a $30 rebate on a bunch of the models. If you can afford it, I'd get the Samsung 900ift, it is better than the 955df.

So, yeah, I'd go with the Samsung 955df for the cheapest. Next would be the Hitachi Superscan 715 which I hope to get for a little more. Then either the 900nf or the 900ift (I think the 900ift is better).

eagle

P.S. I forgot about prices. The 955df with rebate and savings would be about $300 shipped since it is free shipping from Onvia. Then Hitachi is around $335. The 900nf and 900ift (not sure if they carry those at Onvia) might be under $350 though.

P.S.S. You might wanna check out the PF790 like Lalaki said. I think is is suppose to be nice but it may not be under $350.

 

[duragezic]

Well I was asking about some monitor questions and someone said that the 10% pointclick and $25 off coupon from Onvia are gone.

SO instead of the Hitachi I'm going with the Samsung 900ift (which can be found at Onvia by searching only) which is $410 minus a $30 rebate. While that is $30 over $350 it seems like a really excellent monitor. I'm sure it is much better than the P950, 955DF, and 955SL for a little bit more.

Good luck on whatever one you get.

eagle