Best LCD for <$300 ? 19" preferrably

[cpals]

I just bought a ViewSonic VA1912WB 19" Widescreen for $185 and I'm trying to decide whether I should return it or not and see if I got the best deal.

I will be using the lcd on a computer that will be used primarily for tv, movies and regular office application stuff.

DVI would be nice and I also like the widescreen look.

Thanks for the info!

Update: Changed the price range.

 

[Ika]

if you're lucky you might see a Dell 1907FP for less than $250. To date, though, i've only seen one deal that had the 1907FP at $219. Apparently Dell has cut back from its deal-craziness of last year.

 

[cpals]

Changed the price range to hopefully include a little more monitors... less than $300 shipped.

 

[kmmatney]

Paying $185 for the ViewSonic 19" widescreen was a great deal! I paid $299 for the same LCD for my wife a while back. I have the same Viewsonic LCD, along with the 2 BenQ LCDs in my sig at home. I personally like the 2 BenQ LCDs better than the Viewsonic for office applications and TV. For movies, the Viewsonic is widescreen, which is better, but it has a little bit of backlight bleeding (more than the BenQs).

If you want to stick to widescreen, you'll probably won't do any better than the VA1912WB in your price range. You could go up to a 20" screen for a little more, though:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824009085

or:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824014105

A 20" screen gives you a lot more real estate - almost 50% more pixels.

The best LCD near your price range is this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824116381

It uses a PVA panel, so will have better viewing angles than any other the other monitors mentioned - good for movies.

 

[cpals]

kmmatney - I updated my price range, which would fit with the Acer... is the Acer 20" a good choice?

 

[cpals]

How's the Dell 2007FPW compare? I know it's above the $300 range, but I'm just curious how much more of a lcd $60 could get me.

 

[kmmatney]

The Acer is a TN 6-bit display, while the BenQ is a newer TN 8-bit display, so its probably worth it to go for the BenQ in the <$300 price range. The ViewSonic VX2025WM is a PVA 8-bit display, with better viewing angles, and considered to be a great LCD for its price. If I was buying an LCD for myself right now, I would buy the Viewsonic VX2025WM. If I really needed to stick around $300, then I'd by the BenQ.

Pretty tough choice - and your original $185 for the 19" Viewsonic widescreen is still a great deal.

 

[kmmatney]

Here's a review of interest:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/2006/03/30/20_inch_widescreen_monitors/1.html

Also, see the buyer's guide at the top of this forum - it lists several good choices, and is updated on a regular basis.

 

[cpals]

Nice.. I'm seriously interested in the Viewsonic vx2025wm. I know it's about double what I paid earlier, but this is a long term investment. ZipZoomFly and NewEgg are very close in pricing... which has a better LCD/dead pixel return policy?

Thanks!

 

[Hamsterstyle]

Newegg is like 8 or more dead pixels, their policy on lcds sucks. Tigerdirect will apparently replace for any dead pixels, but I havent had this confirmed first hand.

 

[cpals]

Originally posted by: Hamsterstyle
Newegg is like 8 or more dead pixels, their policy on lcds sucks. Tigerdirect will apparently replace for any dead pixels, but I havent had this confirmed first hand.

ZipZoomFly?