15" or 17" LCD monitor?

[kru]

looking into getting an LCD monitor and my choices are $275 for a 15" or $650 for a 17" one.

here are the specs for the 15" :

Xenon 15.1" TFT color lcd monitor, model # XEN-1510P.
features:
15.1" viewable
max resolution 1024x768 @ 75 Hz
On screen display controls for contrast, brightness, H/V positions etc.
Display Power Management Signaling (DPMS) function equipped.
dot pitch: 0.300 x 0.300 mm
input: RGB analog
view angle: U/D 45 degrees. R/L 60 degrees
weight: 4.2 kg
dimension: 393x190x393 mm


link to the 15's specs



the 17" one is made by Sylvania, but their website only lists the specs for their 15" LCD monitor.
costco is selling it for $650 after tax.


the 15" can go up to 1024 x 768 while the 17" maxes out at 1280 x 1024. i'm actually downgrading from my 21" since i only run it at 1280 x 1024 anyway, and i've kinda gotten used to my laptop's screen so it's not that big a deal for me. the 17" Sylvania only has an analog connector which is fine since neither of my GeForce cards has DVI output and i don't feel like going through the hassle of trading/selling them for one that does.


from a purely financial standpoint, it looks like a no-brainer, but i'd still like to hear from anyone who owns an LCD monitor or might even have used either or both of these models.

 

[Sluggo]

I would probably buy the smaller one to make sure I even liked having an LCD, in a year or so there will be bigger ones, or the 17" will be more reasonably priced.

Of course it might be traumatic going from a big daddy 21" model to the viewable area of a 17" moniter. I get crabby when I have to go work at my 17" moniter computer, makes me feel like I am living way back in ohhhhhh say 1998.

 

[SackOfAllTrades]

i remember the joy i got from upgrading from a 14 inch crt to a 17 inch crt monitor. so my personal choice would be for the 17 LCD, i couldn't go back to such a small size.

 

[swai]

if you game a lot you'll probably wanna go with a CRT, cuz LCDs have a bit of motion blur which may annoy you and give you a headache
otherwise, go with an LCD!! LCDs are dope

 

[kru]

Sluggo, that's a good point. and Sack, I'll still be keeping my 21" so at least i'll have the visual real estate when i need/want it. i guess one issue is the sheer size of the 21". as much as i love it, it just takes up way too much space on my desk. plus it would be nice to be able to pack the LCD monitor along to a LAN party (altho' i have yet to attend one).

 

[Sluggo]

If I was planning on possibly taking it somewhere, i would go with the less expensive one for sure. Nothing ruins your day faster than dropping a $650 moniter..........ask my UPS man

 

[kru]

lol...ok, it's a done deal. the 15" monitor it is.


thanks for all the input guys.

 

[kru]

one more question:

can someone explain this contrast ratio to me? is higher necessarily better?

$275 Xenon = 200:1
$650 Sylvania = 250:1
$650 Dell = 300:1


btw, the third option is a new alternative....it's for aDell 1701FP that i can get for $650 shipped. it may cost the same as the Sylvania, but I can pick the Sylvania up from my local Costco while the Dell will have to be shipped from out of state.

 

[TheOmegaCode]

<< if you game a lot you'll probably wanna go with a CRT, cuz LCDs have a bit of motion blur which may annoy you and give you a headache
otherwise, go with an LCD!! LCDs are dope >>



have you played on an lcd? This isn't an attack by the way. I just played CS on my first LCD and now I don't like my CRT. Too bad it isn't my LCD!

 

[RSI]

Over 2x the $ for 2 more inches? It's up to you if you want to fork out that kind of cash. I wouldn't, though. But going from 21" to 15" will be... needing adjustment.

You'll most likely be satisfied with whatever choice you make, though.

-RSI

 

[kru]

RSI, i've already committed to buying the 15" monitor. i was just curious to know how much of a difference that contrast ratio made.

 

[TheOmegaCode]

<< Over 2x the $ for 2 more inches? It's up to you if you want to fork out that kind of cash. I wouldn't, though. But going from 21" to 15" will be... needing adjustment.

You'll most likely be satisfied with whatever choice you make, though.

-RSI >>



correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that extra 2" 40% more space?

 

[kru]

not sure the exact math behind it, but the 15" / 17" represents the diagonal line drawn from one lower corner to the upper corner on the opposite side, so you're not just getting another 2" added to the perimeter of the screen.

 

[T2T III]

<< lol...ok, it's a done deal. the 15" monitor it is. >>


Actually, I'd go for the 17" monitor. You could also go for (2) 15" LCD monitors for about the same money, but I'm not sure how you feel about dual monitors. I didn't like using two of them - too much strain in turning my head even though they sat side-by-side.

 

[kru]

hmm...i still haven't gotten any response to my question about the contrast thing.

and as for the 17's, if i'm paying the same amount for them, which should i go for? the Dell which might get damaged in transit or the Sylvania which i could simply return if it's defective out of the box?

 

[Viper GTS]

Higher contrast ratios are better, the Dell's 300:1 is better than the Sylvania's 250:1.

The higher the ratio, the greater the difference between black & white.

Contrast is a weak point of most LCD's, even a cheap CRT can produce much whiter whites & blacker blacks than a LCD.

Viper GTS

 

[kru]

so is that 200:1 contrast ratio unacceptable? how does it stack up against the typical laptop LCD screen?

 

[Mday]

contrast ratio matters. but not THAT much

that 200:1 sounds like a laptop.

if it was the difference between the dell and the costco, i'd recommend the dell. how's the TAX situation though? you gotta pay tax at costco, i dunno about tax at dell for LA.

 

[kru]

It's $600 before tax in Costco, just under $650 with 8% CA sales tax.

 

[aceO07]

I bought a planar 17.4" lcd monitor recently and I love it. This is my first monitor that is over 15" so it's probably understandable why I like it. Used to have a Sony E100, 15" flat horizontal/vertical monitor and I don't miss it. It was a combination of need for more space and better position (of monitor) and bigger viewable area that I got the 17.4".

The Planar 17.4" was about 620$(?) from dell when I ordered it. 15% off and free shipping.

If you still need help deciding, you can try the hardware or video forums. Also check and compare response rates, dot pitch, and viewable angle..etc. Buy based on features and quality instead of price, unless price is an issue.

I think the pitch on the 15.1" xenon seems big. It's .26 on mine.

 

[kru]

that's a great deal ace.

$620 shipped for a 17" LCD monitor...yum! i checked out Dell's site and the 17" they're selling goes for $679.15 shipped.