Please help me choose a 19" CRT under $200

[Firebond]

I really shouldn't stretch my budget on this one. I'd like to get a mostly flat screen (just not one of those cheap curved ones), and I prefer shadow masking over AG although it's not a big deal (the AG's are probably too expensive anyway). I will use the monitor for school (word processing and programming) and gaming.

The best deal I could find online is the Viewsonic A90f+ (I think this is the same as the E90f+SB?) for ~$179 (shipped). Think I can do better? My only real problem with this monitor is that Viewsonic's A-series only come with a one year warrenty.

Well I'm very open to suggestions. I've seen other decent looking monitors like the Samsung 955DF for just under $200 as well. I'm going to have this monitor for a couple years so I'd like to get a good one.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jacktesterson]

Samsung Syncmaster 753 DF and save $50

if 1600*1200 is needed, 755

 

[Firebond]

Those look like nice 17" monitors, but I was looking for 19"

Maybe I'll have to up my budget a tad after all if I want a decent one.

 

[Harvey]

If, and I mean only IFF, you live in a city where there is a reputable refurbisher, you might take a look at what they have. I live in the San Fernando Valley area of L.A., and a local refurb outfit often shows at our local swap meets.

What you can get obviously depends on what is available to them at any given time, but I have seen many good looking 17" and 19" monitors, there and bought several for friends, including ViewSonic G771's and G773's, as well as a several good 19's. Prices are around $70 - $80 for a 17" and $90 - $120 for a 19" with a 90 day warranty.

The quality of a number of refurb'ed monitors, even of the same make, can vary considerably, but the companies I deal with always let me test each monitor individually. That is, they allow me to bypass the distribution box that drives all of their displays and see the one I'm considering connected directly to the computer. Distribution boxes change the picture, so this is the only way to evalutate a specific monitor.

I would only deal with a local vendor because, if there's a problem, the cost and hassle of shipping a monitor would kill the value of the bargain price. OTOH, when you find a good one, you may score a great deal within your budget.

 

[Schadenfroh]

OD had a deal where you could get a 19" KDS flat screen CRT with a .20 dot pitch for 130ish a lil while ago, might still be going on. check the hot deals forums

 

[yhelothar]

A90f+ is an aperture grill monitor I believe...

well if you want shadowmaks.. look no further than hitachi... they make the best shadowmasks....
might be hard to find within your budget though...

you might want to consider samsung 955df, or viewsonic G90f+,

 

[techwanabe]

Newegg has Samsung 19-inch monitors for $215 shipped... yeah, but that ain't much over 200.

 

[modestninja]

Try the phillips 109B43 (Black) or 109B40 (Beige). I have one and the picture is really good and they were about $200 shipped when I got mine about 3 months ago. The only review I could find that compared it to other monitors said it was the best monitor in this price range ($200). Anyway, I'm really happy with mine so check it out.

 

[Lyfer]

Viewsonic G90FB 19inch, the quality phvcking awesome. My bro got his from gigabuys.com(dell) for only $206 free s/h. Thats with 10% off tho, I dunno if its still running. You can also get the E version (economic) which has similiar quality but lower refresh rates for $188 shipped.