LCD Monitors

[shnikey]

I am going to college in the fall and I am looking to buy a 15" LCD (at the top of my list a NEC 1530V-BK). I have heard that pixels on LCD's go bad and that they do not last long. Is this true? Are some manufactures better than others?

Shnikey www.shnikey.com (http://www.shnikey.com)

[AuraEdge]

Ive done extensive research on LCD's vs. CRT's. I, too, am a college student that is dorming and was looking for a way to alliviate the hauling of my CRT screen.

The LCD's can come with several dead pixels when you buy them. Sometimes it can be one in an obscure place, but sometimes it can be up to half a dozen. However this is completely OK with the company because they have a limit on dead pixels on purchase.

Now, other things - They are expensive of course, and games or anything that is full motion may look blurred when moving because an LCD screen cannot refresh as fast as a CRT screen. Also viewable angle and brightness is important in selecting CRT screens.

Also, if you purchase a 15" LCD screen, you are virtually locked into your resolution of 1024x768. If you try to use a lower resolution, it will either take up a portion of the screen (800x600 will take up the middle 800x600 pixels), or they will supersample the 800x600 back into 1024x768, in order to display it on the fixed grid of LCD's. This will cause the image to look skewed in certain places.

Those are the main issues with LCD screens. They have advantages such as wieght and depth that no LCD can even touch. After examining all the pros and cons, I decided to go with a Shortdepth CRT, but I doubt that many people would have picked my path when given the choice. Being a gamer and liking to stay on top of the video card trend, and need nice smooth fullmotion gameplay is what made me pick the CRT. Some games must be played at a certain resolution, and I think that would annoy me to no end. The LCD would be easier to pack up when its time to move, but I guess thats the sacrifice I took.

Choose wisely.

You may want to look at this
http://www.cc-inc.com/pcmall/shop/monitor_blowout/

$899.00 for an 18.1" LCD. This shop scores a 4.1 on www.resellerrating.com. (http://www.resellerrating.com.) It is an Acer screen, but uses IBM components, so I hear its good quality. Even though its a bargain for what it is, the price is still a bit high relative to other screens.
1280x1024 .28mm

I have never used this product. This is not a recommendation, but just another option for you.

[Hellmund]

If you want to learn more about LCD here's a link http://www.howstuffworks.com/lcd.htm . It explains a little on dead pixels .If you get a better manufacturer your less likely to have trouble and it should last longer, should also have less dead pixels.

[shnikey]

Valid points AuraEdge, I am going to go with a CRT. How does a Viewsonic sound?

Shnikey

[Dr_Watson]

yeah, the only think i could see me wanting an LCD for was if i needed a touch screen and only used the pc for work/office apps...

i think until flat pannel plasma tv technology floods more into pc monitors CRT is still the best option for 'do it all' home pc's.

As far as CRT's go i'm a fan of the NEC and mitsubishi 21" -ers...

From my experience its good to spend alot of $ getting a high quality large screen monitor. rather than risking it with a cheaper manufacturer or a small screen i'll be unhappy with after a year... Monitors have a very long half life... mind as well get one that won't be obsolete in a year.

[AuraEdge]

How big?
I got a 19" screen. I used to have a 17" screen but I found someone to vbuy it in my dorm, so i decided to upgrade.
Even a 19" screen JUST fits in my trunk for the ride down (a 21" would look at my trunk and laugh)
Also 19" screen is already around 50lbs
a 17" is around 40lbs and a 21 around 60-70lbs. So the size of the screen may have to do with how much you can lift or who you can get to help you with the move in.

I got a shortdepth 19" screen because my deskspace is very limited with the dinky little dorm desks. I built a comp for someone in college, and I used the Viewsonic GS790 I think it was. Shortdepth 19" screen. For myself, I got the Philips 109p20. Its not quite as short as the GS790, but still short compared to other 19" screens. It has a flat screen and can support higher resolution and refresh rates. Its price is also higher though due to the flat screen and the very limited availability.

You should really take a look at the desks at school before you go off and buy one. Sure it would be great to have a 21" screen, but if you have no place for your keyboard, what good does it do except cramp up your space?

[shnikey]

I was thinking about the VeiwSonic 17" E70fb Monitor. It has the flat screen too.

[Inferior]

Wow, Auraedge, I did not know those facts! Not like i was considering getting an lcd, i think a crt lokks a million times better anyway.

Not to mention that I wouldn't be able to justify spending that much on just a monitor.

[Kuasimodem]

Just last weekend I upgraded from an IBM 17" to my Samsung SyncMaster 955DF. I LOVE IT!!!

17.9" viewable, .24mm dot pitch, flat screen, and this one can keep up with my Radeon 32Mb DDR vid card!

Couldn't beat the price either, $300 after rebate from Best Buy.