Help: Need a new monitor 1

[dcloud]

I have an old Dell monitor at the moment. I got it free from a friend, but its starting to get dark and strange waves are appearing in the lower right corner.

I've been looking at many monitors on the Web, like the KDS 17" Flat CRT XF7X and the ViewSonic A75F 17" Monitor.

I don't want to spend a fortune, but maybe a CRT with a flat screen? I'm not aware of how much better that would be than a regular one, but I have read that they are. I do graphic design work and I would like a monitor that has reasonable good color, clarity, refresh, and low dot pitch.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

- dc

 

[jlockley]

OK, you're at a night desk or something, so you aren't doing graphics. This means that the screen should not be too bright (so you need brightness adjustment, which most have). You definitely at this point want a flat screeen.

Whoever said they would be killed for suggesting DEll was spot off. Dell makes excellent monitors, so does LG, and so do Samsung and Viewsonic. There are a lot of second string providers which may or may not be good.

I bought a Samsung Syncmaster 914V on some deal or other just before Christmas, and I was so impressed I got another one of them on less of a deal.

Someone mentioned refresh rate. It's down to about 14 in most new monitors (20 is ok, but more frequent refresh rate seems to save the eyes, so don't get anything higher), and down to 6 (or less - it's been a couple of months) in the newer ones. The above mentioned producers all have monitors in that range. You also need to be aware of the contrast 3:1 was the standard. 6:1 is now common or even 8:1.

Aside from that you are only inerested in robustness. If you google the model that interests you, you will come across various rating sites. If you see comments about dead pixels, you probably should move one.

For good deals go to

http://www.dealnews.com.

This is one of those collective sites that puts out all of the deals viewers mail in. You can sign up to have new deals emailed to you.

They currently have a 19" (my favorite size) x2gen screen for under $200. That's amazint. That is, if you remember to send in the rebate notices.

There are a couple of lesser things to consider when you look for a monitor. Some including some of the Dell (and they are top monitors) have a usb port in the monitor. That would be very nice. Some offer a choice between landscape and protrait screen. I don't need that, but it could be a boon. You need separate software for it, however. Whether you adjust things like brightness from the monitor or through software, on the other hand, seems fairly insignificant. There are a couple of other bells and whistles, but those are the most interesting.

One last note: The safest way to do this is to scope out the deals on dealnews, then to buy, if possible, on site. This lets you return if there is a problem. Both of my new monitors (Flat Screen is truly wonderful) come this way, one from Best Buy and one from Circuit City, who woulda thunk it. YOu can take them back if you get them home and find dead spots on the screen. You can't send them back to tiger direct (excellent record) or any of the other on line purchase sites.

 

[dcloud]

kmcferrin, thanks for that link. My card has the DVI plug. So when I'm looking for a new monitor I should look for DVI support? Would I have to buy a DVI cable, and what are the advantages to DVI over the other plugs? You think I should look for a CRT as opposed to an LCD then?

 

[dcloud]

jlockley, thanks for that link to dealnews. I've bookmarked that site. Now to just narrow down what I'm looking for; excellent color representation, refresh, and as kmcferrin said true 24-bit color (or 32, I'm not sure what I would really need).

 

[theo1881]

before you spend any cash - have you tried a degauss on the monitor, my dell started looking a little strange the other day and this sorted !

Laters, phat, headshape

 

[carpetbelly]

hehe that was me talking about being shot for mentioning Dell, but for monitors they are rather good.

As i mentioned above I have the 20" widescreen TFT. 2USB ports in it which are handy. Portrait/Landscape. Very adjustable settings. Picture in Picture, Picture by Picture. Stunning monitor and great value for money. Was toying with this or dual 19" TFT and plumped for this and am glad I did.