Which one of these monitors?

[Sniper82]

The Samsung for $289 is the nicest looking one but I don't want to give another $30-50 just because it looks nicer and the base is adjustable(at least I think it is). Or is there anything else below $300 that better?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824001236
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824009111
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824001083
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824009102
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824252008

 

[VinDSL]

IMHO, Samsung makes a V decent flat panel. If you have a choice, always go with Samsung.

The thing is, factories are turning out panels like popcorn, and they're pretty generic these days, like spark plugs, and batteries in automobiles. Sure, there's different sizes for different applications, but you can basically plug different panels into different chassis and away you go.

Take this Dell 1907FP Im using...

At last count, there were like five different companies making the panels for this monitor. On the outside, they all look the same, but I lucked out and got "Samsung Inside" to paraphrase the old Intel slogan.

To digress: I was driving between jobs yesterday, listening to Kim Commando on talk radio, and she said, in the 'old days' she used to buy expensive LCD monitors, but these days even the cheap ones work great - can't tell ANY difference between them. So, now she just buys the cheapest one she can find - and her career revolves around this kinda stuff!

Take it for what it's worth!

 

[VinDSL]

Whew!

Having gotten that 'off my chest', and to directly answer your question, I'd go with this one!

That monitor looks great!

I'm in the market... Might even get one myself!

*edit*

BTW, forget that adjustable stand on the $289 model unless your desk is bolted to the floor! Why?

If you crank that sucker up in the air, and bump the desk with your leg, you'll be picking your $300 monitor off the floor... guaranteed!

The pedestal stands on most of these LCD panels are mad rickety... and that looks like one of them!

 

[nate39]

I just bought an Acer AL2051W that is no longer on sale. I checked some of the ones you listed. Make sure you know if it is a just a TN screen or a P-MVA or better like the Acer 2051. Some of those monitors promise great contrast, etc. but can't deliver on overall quality. I spent a lot of time reading reviews and other research. Check things like the pixel pitch (the lower the better, < than 26 is good) and viewing angle ( the higher the better) This will be an indication of what you can expect.

I wanted one that would handle gaming but also one that had good text quality since I spend more time than anything writing papers. The 22 inch screens are all TN at this time and have the same resolution as the smaller ones, 1680 x 1050 which means they spread the same number of pixels over a greater area. Nothing wrong with that, just make sure you know what you are getting. My Acer rocks!

 

[Sniper82]

Curious would there be much difference in picture quality with the Acer $239 and the Samsung for $259(and $289) that I linked? Or am I just buying brand and looks of the shell?

 

[nate39]

I wished I knew enough about that Samsung's contrast ratios to know what exactly that means. Anyway Samsung is a good brand and I am sure that will be a good monitor. The reviews were interesting though. It has a slightly worse pixel pitch than the Acer but that is probably because it is almost a 22 inch screen. I haven't been able to find out which screen it has but probably a better one that TN.

 

[emelius]

Originally posted by: nate39
I just bought an Acer AL2051W that is no longer on sale. I checked some of the ones you listed. Make sure you know if it is a just a TN screen or a P-MVA or better like the Acer 2051. Some of those monitors promise great contrast, etc. but can't deliver on overall quality. I spent a lot of time reading reviews and other research. Check things like the pixel pitch (the lower the better, < than 26 is good) and viewing angle ( the higher the better) This will be an indication of what you can expect.

the Acer AL2051W is back to $239.99 + shipping...hard to resist...

 

[VinDSL]

Heh!

Just ran across an example of a LCD monitor with a *good* pedestal stand...

ViewSonic Optiquest Series Q22wb

 

[nate39]

Originally posted by: VinDSL
Heh!

Just ran across an example of a LCD monitor with a *good* pedestal stand...

ViewSonic Optiquest Series Q22wb

This is viewsonic's value line, it only has a one year warranty which is a deal breaker for me. It is 22inch so it is a TN screen. Funny that it doesn't give the pixel count.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: nate39
This is viewsonic's value line...

Don't get me wrong!

I'm NOT suggesting buying this monitor -=- I'm just saying this is an example of a cheap monitor with a practical/stable pedestal stand -=- one that will *probably* not rock n' roll & fall over when you bump your desk...

Personally, I think it's hard to beat Dell monitors, but the OP wasn't asking about that. If you get a Dell monitor with 'Samsung Inside', all the better, but it's a crap shoot, you know?

 

[Modular]

Get the Acer AL2051W. You will not be disappointed.

 

[Sniper82]

I was gonna get the Samsung but Newegg quit offering free shipping before I got to order. I decided to go with a Acer al2216w 22" from buy.com for $213.xx shipped with no rebates. It might not be the best 22" but for the price I'd say its well worth it.

As for the Acer AL2051W if I didn't have a Viewsonic 19" Widescreen I would go with it but the difference in sizes wouldn't make it worth it IMO.

 

[Nullvoid]

That runs counter to everything I've been told which suggests the jump to 20" with a 1680x1050 resolution makes for a much more comfortable screen, not to mention quite a lot more desktop space to work in.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Sniper82
I decided to go with a Acer al2216w 22" from buy.com for $213.xx shipped with no rebates. It might not be the best 22" but for the price I'd say its well worth it.

Sweet!!!

I can't believe how cheap these things are getting...

 

[mamamia]

Sorry, posted twice...

 

[mamamia]

Ooopppsss, sorry, posted the same twice...