Best 19-21" LCD <$1200 (esp for text)

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shivohum

Junior Member
Dec 4, 2003
15
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I would like to get the best 19-21" LCD possible. My priority is the clearest and least eye-straining possible text, but a monitor that was good for gaming would also be a big plus.

So far my choices boil down to the Samsung 213t and the Apple 20" Cinema Display. Does anyone have any comments on the relative merits of these two displays, or other suggestions? Thanks.
 
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shivohum

Junior Member
Dec 4, 2003
15
0
0
I did do a search for LCD, but didn't find too many threads that addressed my particular question w/my particular circumstances...
 
Nebor

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
The 213t or the Apple Cinema would both be great choices, and would far outclass the dell 2001fp.

Tough call on which one of the two to get thoguh. Do you need widescreen?
 
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shivohum

Junior Member
Dec 4, 2003
15
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Yeah, I'm not sure about widescreen. I don't per se need it, but I thought it would be nice if I wanted to view two documents side-by-side. On the other hand, the Samsung can tilt into portrait mode, which gives it some extra versatility.

Also on my list now:

Viewsonic VP201B
Formac 2010

Anyone know about these?
 
E

eLiu

Diamond Member
Jun 4, 2001
6,407
1
0
I'll vote for teh Dell 2001FP. You can get it now for like $715...and ptu teh rest of that money in the bank, or toward a new video card or whatever the heck you want/need.

Of course, I've never used the other LCDs mentioned here, so take my suggestion with a grain of salt.

What I can tell you though, is that the Dell 2001FP is crystal clear, great for gaming/movies...so on and so forth. It looks better than the various CRTs I've used (even the 21" here at work...which is already REALLY nice--we use'em to do CAD work, so the office bought high quality ones). And it beats the pants off Samsung's 172T (dad has one).
 
Mr.IncrediblyBored

Mr.IncrediblyBored

Lifer
Jun 18, 2000
11,197
769
126
For the money, definitely the Dell 2001FP.

Just a warning, though, there is a grainy anti-glare coating on the screen that is noticeable on lighter colored backgrounds. Its been known to bother some people when web surfing and reading text. I use mine primarily for gaming so the coating doesn't bother me in the slightest.
 
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shivohum

Junior Member
Dec 4, 2003
15
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Has anyone here with a 2001FP worked a lot with text? Is it easy to view two full pages on the screen? Is text quite legible even at say 9 pt font?

I actually went to a Fry's electronics today and saw a 213t and was quite impressed with its text and image performance. I saw a Viewsonic VP201B too, but it was running daisychained to an analog port along with half a dozen other computers, so I won't make too much of its poor performance.

Surprisingly, older-generation 20" Apple Cinema Display, which was hooked up to a nice ATI 9000 card all by itself was extremely disappointing when it came to small text. The color looked beautiful, but clearly it lacked sharpness. Well, that one's struck off my list.

I'm very tempted to go with the 2001FP but the Samsung IS really nice... urgh.
 
Nebor

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
The Viewsonic VP201B is the exact same monitor as the Dell, it just has a different bezel. I've also looked at them side by side, and the Samsung wins hands down. Look closely at the Viewsonic\Dell, there's a fine grid across the screen, very strange.
 
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shivohum

Junior Member
Dec 4, 2003
15
0
0
Just wanted to report that I did go with the Samsung 213t, and so far I'm very happy with my choice. Now, it's probably not the best choice for gaming -- there is a clear and significant difference in refresh rates between this and a CRT, even when playing a less demanding game like Neverwinter Nights. However, the image is beautiful, clear, and sharp. I dimmed the brightness way down, and I'm happier with it that way. No dead pixels, it seems. Not a one :). (knock on wood)
 
J

jrphoenix

Golden Member
Feb 29, 2004
1,295
2
81
If you want the best quality monitor go with the Samsung 213T (that's what I have). The Dell is cheaper but not on the same level (Anand reviewed both).
 
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