For those that think the Envision EN-710 from Staples isn't high enough quality...

[colinm]

I looked at the envision en710 at staples, and after thinking about it decided I shouldn't buy it. I bought my cousin a Futura 17". Piece OF CRAP!! It had similar specs. I didn't know that monitors nowadays could be so poor quality. It was dark, blurry, and you couldn't get the image sized right. I tried trapezoid, pincussion [edited, sorry I remember now it didn't even have pin. bal. just like the en710 doesn't have pin. bal.], and all of the other ones. I deeply regret getting it for him. I would have returned it but couldn't under the circumstances. The envision is probably better, but if it is as bad as the futura it isn't worth it to me.
THE POINT OF THIS THREAD:
Consider the Envision EN-910 at Staples here
It is a 19" with max res of 1600X1200 and .25mm pitch. Unfortunately envision is too new on retail to have reviews available on the net, but I would much rather put my trust in this monitor. It has similar specs to all other good 19" monitors I have seen (including my Viewsonic A90). If anyone can correct or confirm me on these ASSUMPTIONS please do so.
Here is the deal, $260 at staples (link above) PriceMatch it with the price at Insight.com
Use a $30 off $100 coupon(or $150, doesn't matter) found here (too bad the $40 one expired today)
There is no rebate (maybe someday?), but this is a good deal in my book on what I beleive is a good 19" monitor.

Price ends up $189.99 plus shipping

These are out of stock currently, and I have not bought one yet, so don't hold me to any of this.
I have never used pricematch before so I don't know that staples will accept it seeing how it is out of stock at Insight.com too.
I suggest you use this link in the pricematch because it doesn't seem to include a warranty from insight.com

Colin

 

[serzone]

What makes you think that a 19" Envision is going to be any better than a 17" Envision?

 

[colinm]

well, It has 200MHz Bandwidth as opposed to 110Mhz (not too good for 17&quot, 1600X1200@75Hz instead of 1280X1024@60Hz (not good at all). It also has .25mm (good) compared to .27mm (the futura is .27mm, bad). OSD controls the 17" DOES NOT HAVE: Pin-balance, Parallelogram, 6500 K, 9300 K, User's Color, H./V. Moire Reduce. These are all VERY important. Also, it is a 19". I have never seen a 19" as poor as that futura. The cheapesy 19" I have ever seen wasn't half-bad. The bandwidth IS important. I don't get anything und 200MHz (it doesn't get much higher on non-professional monitors)

Please, if anyone has SEEN either of these monitors, try to give us a detailed report. I doubt the 17" is as bad as my cousin's futura, but I am paralized in fear (well not really) of wasting money on a worthless monitor.

Colin

P.S. Bush won fair and square.

 

[shawnat]

Stop pushing these so called "inexpensive" hardware that are borderline JUNK.
It makes me laugh when people buy hardware just because it's cheap! expecially monitors. Do your eyes a favor and spend a little more on a Samsung 955DF Dynaflat 19" monitor. You will never regret it...which you will with cheap low quality monitors. All the specs are great for a $275 - 30 rebate if you shop around. No cheap monitor even come close! Sure, it's $100 more, why skimp on such an important part of a computer system? Afterall, you stare at it for hours each day. I could recomend much more expensive monitors, but this is my pick for "most bang for your buck' category. One morething, don't believe the specs on those "cheap" monitors. You won't get what you think! if you don't agree, do a little product comparison yourself at a retail store. Just my .02...

 

[MrCoyote]

I agree with shawnat. A monitor is probably the most important part of the computer. Three years ago, I bought a 15" Sony Trinitron 15sfII, .25 . It cost me $499 !!! I bought it because the display was a lot crisper than others at the time, a FLAT display, and I knew for a fact I would be spending A LOT of time in front of it. And I still do today!

You know what's funny? My "little" monitor still has a better picture than a lot of 17 and 19" monitors today. I run my desktop at 1024x768x75hz and small text is still very readable. heh...

 

[colinm]

BACK IN STOCK!!!
both en710 and en910

Anyone have any experience with either of these monitors?

Colin

 

[teraeric]

ummm, this is the forum for deals, not hw reviews, ain't it? a brand new 17" monitor with a 3 year warranty for $80 is a deal... of course it's not a trinitron or flat screen! but this is a great deal for me 'cuz i need an extra tube for my fileserver pc's... i don't look at them much, but it's nice to have a big screen when i do... i can live with less than amazing visual quality!

i hope that all this dissing on these threads doesn't stop people from posting when they come across something for fear of being ripped! let whomever wants to check out a posted deal make their own decision!

 

[colinm]

UPDATE: Staples has the $40 off $200 again. I found it at dealhunter.c0m

That makes the price $179.99!!! or $60 for the 17"

And, I have searched far and wide for reviews, but envision is too new in retail to have any of their stuff reviewed. I figured this forum is certainly the best place to find someone with experience with these monitors.

Colin

[Added shortly after: I am not saying that the deals that the other people found on the 17" envision are bad. For someone that wants a cheap monitor, it is an excellent deal. I am only giving people an alternative which I beleive would satisfy many people's quality needs.]

 

[mrVW]

colinm -- you are falling into basic trap here.

You are comparing the EASY TO COMPARE things like refresh rate numbers (bandwidth in your terms). These things don't mean crap... the phosphor coatings come at different speeds, so some monitors actually look better at lower refresh rate.

MY POINT IS: YOu are playing the "number games" that are a trap. 110Mhz less than 200Mhz logic seems OK on surface, but just because they are easy to compare. Same with dot pitch. I've seen monitors with .32 dot pitch at same size screen that looked WAY BETTER than .26; Cheap monitor mfg's KNOW that people look at these numbers and there are always a few that have really good numbers... but that is all that is good, the numbers printed on paper.

Picture quality can only be compared by looking at the monitor. Never mailorder a really cheap monitor if you haven't seen the exact model before. Return shipping is just way too much.

Any decent local store (heck, even CompUSA) is going to let you view the same picture on different monitors. Most stores will even let you play with the centering and stuff.

 

[j24u]

I ordered one of these with the deal. I know it's a cheap monitor, but it will suffice for what I intend to use it for - part of an inexpensive system that I am putting together for my parents - they are in their 60's and want something they can learn to cruise the Internet with and print photos & emails from their grandchildren.

I got the HP842C printer for $69 (will print quality 5 X 7's) and I'm building an AMD Duron system for them with pieces/parts I have laying around. After all is done - I should have a decent system for them for < $400 (Duron 700Mhz + 20GB HD + printer + monitor + 128MB PC133 + modem + sound + video + cd)

My 2 cents - yeah this is a cheapo monitor - but for some of us - it's a great deal - that's what this forum is about - my folks are gonna love it - can't wait to see the look on their faces when I deliver this next week

 

[colinm]

Yes, I understand exactly what you are saying mrVW, but I don't have the time to drive down to my local staples (20min at least) to take a gander when they might not even have it on display. That is why I have been asking for people that own or have seen (close-up) one of these monitors!
And, although specs may not always tell the truth, they are there for a reason. I usually decide on reviews followed by specs if I can't see it for myself. (Price matters too) I have a CTX VL710S, and it is sweet. The first time I saw it was on my desk (well in the box actually).

And bandwidth is not purely related to refresh rates. If you have low bandwidth then the monitor isn't going to be able to display the high resolutions very sharply. Max res and refresh rates CAN give you a good idea of how well it can display the other resolutions. NO monitor displays it's highest resolution well.

Colin

 

[faZZter]

Yeah I used the $40 off 200.00 coupon on the Envision 19&quot; at Staples when it was onsale for 259.99. I took it back two days later...the monitor had decent specs but the color was very uneven and blotchy. Then I tried the NEC multisync 95. It was better but had a red tint to it I couldnt tune out. (couldn't get the whites to look white!) So after these two 19&quot; cheap monitor blunders I decided if I wanted a cheap price I'd go to the Santa Barbara computer show. Picked up a 17&quot; KDS &quot;Avitron&quot; flat display (trinitron tube) for 204.00 and couldn't be happier. (unless I could have afforded the 19&quot; at 385.00!) Anyway I have decided NEVER to buy a monitor just cause its cheap with decent specs....there IS a difference.

 

[colinm]

Thank you for the review! That is exactly what I was waiting for....
Can you give more detail as to the brightness and resolution? It might still be good as a secondary monitor if I get a dualhead card.

Colin

 

[faZZter]

yeah....the brightness seemed fine and the resolution/refresh were good enough also. Also the 19&quot; had a one touch control dial (it also pushed in as a button) which made the monitor adjustments quick and easy. I think if I just needed it as a secondary monitor I would have kept it. Remember I am talking about the 19&quot; version, however, I was comparing all the 17&quot;s at Staples also and the envision compared pretty well to the others...actuallly seeming to have more brightness than an NEC flat model (probably had the anti glare coating on it though). Hope this helps. The people at my store were willing to get models they didn't have out on display to hook them up so I could see em....pretty nice eh? Even so I didn't catch the uneven color in the corner till a few hours use at home.