Reccomend me a decent, cheap LCD monitor.

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
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Hey, i'm going to be buying an LCD screen so i can hook them up to one of my old computers so i can have a distraction free computer/place to be writing term papers/school work/outlines/studying, all the fun stuff. Writing a paper with a CRT makes my eyes hurt (with the bright white screen) and an LCD is easier on the eyes for text work.

Anyway, i'm not rolling in money or anything, and since the LCD isn't for gaming i'm figuring i can go pretty cheap. So, what do you think would make a good cheap LCD? Links would be great! If you bought a cheapie LCD let me know what you think about it (even if you think it sucks!)
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
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I don't know if it's in your price range but the Eizo (Nanao) L367 is among the best available. True digital operation capable. Newegg has the lowest price I can find on it. Provantage also can be competitive if you live in a state where newegg has to collect sales tax...
. Other than that, I would watch the Sunday ads in your nearest big city paper for a deal.
..bh.
 

OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
bump! no one has a 'low cost' LCD, i dont beleive it!

Thanks for the suggestions so far though

Edit: the Eizo (Nanao) L367 is a little expensive, most prices i found were at around $390!!! Well, i'd be willing to suck that up i guess, but can anyone tell me what a reasonable price for a cheap LCD would be?
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
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The Eizo L367 is $375. shipped from newegg. I see you are in Maryland so you won't have to worry about sales tax.
. Too bad you weren't looking a few days ago when the Gateway announced the closing of their Country Stores. Lots of people said they were picking up display models for under $200...
. The Hitachi that KofC mentioned from minitorsdirect.com for $339. is probably good too but is only analog.
. Have you checked on eBay? I see a KDS 17" there for $280. (Buy It Now price) and $25. shipping. And some others for just a bit more. I have seen some good comments on the KDS RAD series - can also be gotten at your local Walmart..
. Have you checked the For Sale/Trade sections here and on TechIMO.com? There is a guy that just posted a 17" Planar for $300. shipped! Also a Viewsonic 15" for $210. (says "Pending", but...) Snooze - Lose!
.bh.
 

Kingofcomputer

Diamond Member
Apr 6, 2000
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Last year you could buy many good brand name 15" without dvi for ~$250.
This year you need to pay for ~$300.

For the price of the top 15" such as Eizo L367, you can buy a good brand name 17" with DVI.
I'd rather go for the top 17" such as Eizo L567 (about $500) but it's not available in the US.


 

Viper96720

Diamond Member
Jul 15, 2002
4,390
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If you go newegg can search by price. Not much $300 and under.
CMV CT-529A 15" seems to have good specs.
 

Kingofcomputer

Diamond Member
Apr 6, 2000
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From Dell:
PLANAR - PE1500 15-inch LCD Monitor
400:1 Contrast Ratio, 250 cd/m² Brightness, 16.2 Mn Colors, Anti-glare
Dell Part #: A0320658 | Manufacturer Part #: 997-2879-00
Same Day $346.95
$312.26

At this moment, all LCD is 10% off. Last week it was 15% off. You can try to wait for next 15% off.
 

Kingofcomputer

Diamond Member
Apr 6, 2000
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Or get a cheap 17" from Dell:

SHARP ELECTRONICS - LL-T17A4B 17-inch Black Multimedia LCD Monitor
17-inch, LCD, TFT, Black, Up to 1280x1024 Pixels, 0.264 mm Pixel Pitch, 16.19 Mn Colors, Built-in Speakers, 15-Pin Mini D-Sub Connector
Dell Part #: A0142434 | Manufacturer Part #: LL-T17A4B
Same Day $449.95
$404.96
 

Kingofcomputer

Diamond Member
Apr 6, 2000
4,917
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Or get a cheap 17" from Dell:

SHARP ELECTRONICS - LL-T17A4B 17-inch Black Multimedia LCD Monitor
17-inch, LCD, TFT, Black, Up to 1280x1024 Pixels, 0.264 mm Pixel Pitch, 16.19 Mn Colors, Built-in Speakers, 15-Pin Mini D-Sub Connector
Dell Part #: A0142434 | Manufacturer Part #: LL-T17A4B
Same Day $449.95
$404.96
 

JudySmith

Member
Jun 8, 2003
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Looks like we're in the same boat, you & I.
But - before assuming that LCDs would be an improvement to your health, get a load of this:
NOTE THAT THIS SITE ISN'T ACCESSIBLE VIA ANANDTECH, RATHER COPY/PASTE IT TO YOUR ADDRESS BAR, THEN IT SHOULD WORK
http://www.cloanto.com/users/mcb/19960719lcd.html


Here's my experience:
In the past, older (13" viewing area) CRTs were OK for my photosensitivity.

Then along with the 15" flat-screen KDS CRT came SLIGHT symptoms of dizziness, eye pain, etc.

Then with the 15" Samsung Syncmaster 151s LCD ($300 from NewEgg) came HUGE symptoms, like you wouldn't believe. I'm using it right now, and it's bothering me & even weakens my muscles, stabbing abdominal pains, etc via the triggering of my optic nerves radiating to & degenerating the rest of my body.

I dimmed the screen via the video card, as well as changing the color so the screen is completely stucco-colored - that is, except for images, such as the MUSHKIN image - above-right.
That only helped somewhat.

I also recently tried a 17" NEC FE750+ CRT - year 2002.
It has flat-aperture grille ("improved brightness" - ugh!) /Opticlear anti-glare screen (you name it)
my problems were even WORSE than the Samsung.
Symptoms were worse even though I dimmed the NEC to the utmost via its monitor controls, as well as the same exact stucco color that I used with the Samsung LCD.

At least 3 photosensitives have informed me they can't use anything but laptops, otherwise they have problems.

So I think the common denominator of all this is:
(1) To make sure it's as small viewing area as is nowadays feasible
(2) To make sure it's as low-intensity brightness as is nowadays obtainable

I'm still in a state of desperation, trying to solve this mystery. Of course, I'd get a laptop, BUT it's not affordable for me, especially since I really don't need a complete system, only the monitor.

P.S. Another thing. If you decide to go with an LCD, you gotta be careful because some LCDs might have blurry text (and it doesn't make a difference whether you use the rounded-fonts option or not. In fact, the latter makes it even worse). So make sure to ask about that. I say this because when I was at a local library, they had up-to-date 15" Dell plug'n'play LCDs, yet their text was blurry, and selecting the rounded fonts option made it worse).

Here's some more links you may wanna browse:
http://www.drsheedy.com/ (computer vision syndrome)
http://www.essex.ac.uk/psychology/overlays/ (color & visual stress)
http://www.evansconsult.org/is.htm (Irlen Syndrome)
http://www.pol-us.net/ASP_Home/ (PhotoBiology Society)
http://www.epilepsynse.org.uk/pages/info/leaflets/photo.cfm (photosensitive epilepsy)
 

JudySmith

Member
Jun 8, 2003
69
0
0
Originally posted by: fireontheway
it may, it may not. OverVolt's post was for a cheap LCD.:D

True, but he also said his CRT makes his eyes hurt :)
Over to you, OverVolt!

P.S. While we're on the topic (sorta)... it might help me if anyone reading this can offer feedback regarding which CRTs/LCDs they considered to be too DIM for them - with emphasis on DIM rather than blurry/flickery. Then I might seriously consider acquiring same before all dim monitors become totally obsolete and force me off-line. I think it's also criminal that the manufacturers don't install healthier incandescent lighting versus cool flurescence.
:roll:

I realize this may sound like rambling, but aside from the brightness/photosensitivity issue, I'm wondering whether brightness is interwoven with power emission. Like, maybe the brighter the monitor, the more power it emits, and the more it therefore degenerates those physiques which had previously been compromised via stress/injury/Gulf-War, rendering them more susceptible.
Or are brightness and power-emission positively separate issues?