Looking for an LCD under $500

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
L

lorkp

Member
Jul 7, 2004
107
0
0
My mom wants a LCD monitor for her computer. She told me she only wants to spend up to $500 including shipping. She doesn't game and will mainly use it for word processing, email, and surfing the web.

What monitors do you recommend for her?

Thanks
 
R

RibSpreader

Member
Feb 9, 2005
100
0
0
You'd be best off having her look at some locally and find out if you need 17", 19" or even larger. The native resolutions of LCD's can make the text kind of small on a smaller screen. You can always change it but then it gets less sharp.

I wouldn't pick a monitor for a woman anymore than I'd pick her a pair of shoes without any input.
 
C

CSMR

Golden Member
Apr 24, 2004
1,376
2
81
You probably won't need DVI: it's a bit better, but the connection is more tempramental than analog. Correct me if I'm wrong. A decent analog 19" monitor like the Dell 193FP can be had fairly cheaply.
 
H

halfadder

Golden Member
Dec 5, 2004
1,190
0
0
I always prefer DVI over VGA. It has always "just worked" for me. However I have always used the DVI cables that have come with the (LG and Samsung) monitors. They have always worked like a charm with Radeon 9600 Pro graphics cards.

With DVI you don't even have to adjust sync/phase or fine tuning.

However I have heard of people having problems with DVI. I think some of it has to do with drivers and/or bios/firmware that assumes you're going to be using VGA. Either that or using the wrong kind of DVI cable. I have never had problems with DVI and I've never had to buy a DVI cable seperately, so I really can't comment on that.

Probably the nicest thing about DVI is being able to plug your PC into your newer higher end TV without having to resort to analog ickyness. Anyone who has used the Svideo (or worse, composite) video out knows that I'm talking about.
 
A

Arcanedeath

Platinum Member
Jan 29, 2000
2,822
1
76
In that price range I'd suggest the Dell 2001FP or 2005FPW I belive the FPW is on sale for under or around $500 atm
 
Baked

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
Dell UltraSharp 2005FPW 20.1-inch Wide Aspect Flat Panel LCD Monitor with Height Adjustable Stand

Total Price $617.50 (CA)

I've been looking at picking up a LCD TV, might just get this instead.
 
J

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
33,944
4
81
Originally posted by: lorkp
My mom wants a LCD monitor for her computer. She told me she only wants to spend up to $500 including shipping. She doesn't game and will mainly use it for word processing, email, and surfing the web.

What monitors do you recommend for her?

Thanks
Click to expand...


BenQ FP931

1) 19"
2) DVI-D + D-sub
3) under $365 shipped + there is a $20 rebate
4) You'll need to buy a DVI cable if you want to hook it up that way
5) Full 3 yr. warranty:

[*]Three (3) years parts, labor, and LCD back light from purchase date.
Advance refurbished replacement unit** will be shipped via 48-hour courier by the following business day after an RMA number is issued for the first year. (The only exception to the 48-hour rule is no deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays and shipments to certain remote areas may be delayed due to the shipper's practices.)
BenQ will pay for both ways shipping in the first year.
A refurbished replacement unit** will be shipped via 48-hour courier by the following business day after BenQ has received the defective unit during the second and third year. (The only exception to the 48-hour rule is no deliveries on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays and shipments to certain remote areas may be delayed due to the shipper's practices.) Each party will pay for one-way shipping in the second and third years.

DOA (Dead On Arrival) Policy:
[*]DOA policy will extend to all resellers and end users
[*]DOA period is 30 day from customer's invoice date
[*]BenQ will send out new replacement unit via 2-day courier upon DOA unit received in
BenQ facility
[*]BenQ will pay for both way shipping

Definition of DOA is no video or no power.
 
styrafoam

styrafoam

Platinum Member
Jun 18, 2002
2,684
0
0
19"samsung for $397

Not as cheap as the BenQ, with her not being a gamer the response time isn't much of an issue but she will deffinitly appreciate the higher contrast ratio(1000:1 opposed to 450:1).
 
M

mauiblue

Senior member
Aug 8, 2004
652
1
81
I've been using my Dell 2005FPW for about a month now. AWESOME. I got a good price too when I happened to come across a coupon code over at the Hot Deals forum. I almost settled for a Samsung 193p because of the rebates that JR World was offering last month. I glad I waited.
 
J

John

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
33,944
4
81
Originally posted by: styrafoam
19"samsung for $397

Not as cheap as the BenQ, with her not being a gamer the response time isn't much of an issue but she will deffinitly appreciate the higher contrast ratio(1000:1 opposed to 450:1).
Click to expand...

Please keep in mind that most LCD specs should be taken with a grain of salt. A prime example is the Dell 1800FP which is rated at a 30ms response time. One would think that this LCD ghosts, but that is not the case. In fact it doesn't ghost at all.

A lot of mfg's bloat the contrast ratio as well.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom