Help me decide on a lcd monitor...samsung 171v v.s. mag innovision lt765s(17")

[njs]

I just got back from bestbuy.

There's this samsung 171v lcd monitor, it costs $699 and it has a $100 mail in rebate so the price is down to $599.
And right next to it there's this mag innovision LT765s 17" lcd monitor, it costs $529 and it has a $130 mail in rebate so the price is down to $399.

I checked the spec for both - nearly identical: both have 400:1 contrast ratio, 0.264 dot pitch, both 17", both have same viewing angle, both have max 1280x1024 max res.

But this 'mag' one is 200 bucks cheaper after rebate!

I haven't get the monitor yet, the special rebate deal ends tomorrow though, so i'll have to get it tomorrow.

I do however, notice one thing different:

the mag one has brightness at 250 cd/m 2
the samsung one has brightness at 250 cd/m 3

and that's about the only diff. on spec that i can find.

I think i'll go for the mag one, both looks decent in person, samsung is probably a better brand, but 200 bucks difference? damn...
What do you guys think?

 

[njs]

bump, suggestions?

 

[MWink]

Given my experience with Samsung and Mag displays I would spend the extra on the Samsung NO QUESTION! Mag displays tend to be low quality. Samsung displays are top quality. I have a Samsung 19" CRT and it looks great. I also have a Samsung 15" SXGA+ LCD on my laptop and it is by FAR the best LCD I have ever seen.

 

[Telinar]

I would go for the Mag one, especially since it's cheaper. I've bought and used both a Mag 19" monitor and a Samsung 19" monitor. Although the Mag was more than $100 cheaper than the Samsung, the Samsung only felt slightly better in quality. I'm certain that if I bought a Mag monitor similarly priced to the Samsung monitor, then the Mag monitor would've felt better than the Samsung.

So, bottom line is I would get the mag. It's not worth paying $200 more just for a slightly better monitor. I don't even know if the Samsung is better in this case, since I haven't used either of those LCDs. Who knows, you might even like the Mag more.

 

[T2T III]

Based on customer support experiences, I'd go with the Samsung. I had a Mag monitor - once. Mag's support was pretty hopeless in helping me resolve a situation that I was experiencing. Also, Mag only had one repair depot - in California, but I live on the East coast, so shipping a 50 lb. monitor all the way across the U.S. just to get it repaired didn't appeal to me.

The Mag might be $200 cheaper NOW, but over time, the Samsung will prove to be worthy of the additional $200.