Samsung 215tw or 226bw

imported_eb1

Junior Member
Feb 16, 2008
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0
hi
I'm a fairly average computer user. My main uses are basic office work, internet, watching movies (and may be in the future creating and modifying scanned paintings and drawings). I don't play any games and probably never will.

Between the 215tw and the 226bw which is superior for watching movies? From what I understand the 215tw panel is a PVA and should therefore have better viewing angles, specifically the vertical angle

Is this correct? Will this make a big difference in terms of watching movies? Or is it a minor difference and something I should not be concerned about?

Are there any other major differences I should be aware of considering my usage needs?

much appreciate any advice. thanks
 

MyLeftNut

Senior member
Jul 22, 2007
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The 215tw is way better. You get better, truer colors with the S-PVA panel as well as better horizontal and vertical viewing angles. For watching movies, having a TN panel such as a 226bw may get annoying when it darkens out on the vertical angle. Furthermore, the S-PVA is a fast enough panel for games and watching movies, although not as good as TN panel response times.
 

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
I've been having some issues with viewing angle on my 216BW while watching movies. Having come from a cheapo 19" monitor, I didn't think viewing angle would be a problem (it wasn't on my old monitor), but when I got my monitor I was surprised at how bad it was. I'm never actually sure what the real colors/contrast is, because it changes whenever I move my head. I don't think I'll be getting another TN monitor again for my next monitor.
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
4
81
Not much more to add.

Two posters above summed it up nicely.

Are you buying a new display now though?
And if so, what price range are you considering?

You might be able to find a cheaper [Westy] *VA panel 24" not too far from your budget :)
 

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
Originally posted by: n7
Not much more to add.

Two posters above summed it up nicely.

Are you buying a new display now though?
And if so, what price range are you considering?

You might be able to find a cheaper [Westy] *VA panel 24" not too far from your budget :)

While you're on the subject of 24" panels, that Soyo is an enticing option... $250-300 for a 24" P-MVA panel? Yum...
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
4
81
Ah yes forgot about that one.

Hard to keep track of all these displays since many of them we don't even get in Canada :(
 

IlllI

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2002
4,927
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the 215tw was known to have some input lag with the mouse, which didnt make it ideal for games. also being that its pretty old in terms of technology, the response time is also kind of high as well. i believe there was also some color shift with the panel. i did a lot of research on it, and finally decided the negatives outweighed the positives.

 

imported_eb1

Junior Member
Feb 16, 2008
6
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0
thanks for the reply

that is what I thought. And, indeed, I noticed exactly what you describe watching a DVD on the 226bw at a local store
 

imported_eb1

Junior Member
Feb 16, 2008
6
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Originally posted by: MyLeftNut
The 215tw is way better. You get better, truer colors with the S-PVA panel as well as better horizontal and vertical viewing angles. For watching movies, having a TN panel such as a 226bw may get annoying when it darkens out on the vertical angle. Furthermore, the S-PVA is a fast enough panel for games and watching movies, although not as good as TN panel response times.

thanks for the reply

that is what I thought. And, indeed, I noticed exactly what you describe watching a DVD on the 226bw at a local store
 

imported_eb1

Junior Member
Feb 16, 2008
6
0
0
Originally posted by: n7
Not much more to add.

Two posters above summed it up nicely.

Are you buying a new display now though?
And if so, what price range are you considering?

You might be able to find a cheaper [Westy] *VA panel 24" not too far from your budget :)

wow, great to get these quick responses. thanks
yes I'm buying a new display now
truth is the 215tw is a bit out of my price range and I was considering it only because I saw it as a more long term investment that I would be happier with rather than get a TN like the 226bw or dell 228wfp. I was hoping to be able to use my monitor as a tv that I could watch TV and movies on, which is why I wanted the good viewing angles.

as for the 24", I thought 22" was a good size for me and find the 24" overkill as far as sitting right in front of it for extended periods. It just seems huge. And going smaller to 20" means the 1680 x 1050 resolution is crammed into a smaller space making things very small. (although I know this means a better picture). So the 22" seemed just the right size for me, untill I of course found out about the 22" TN issues.

so. not sure what to do...
budgetwise I wanted to keep the cost under $400
 

imported_eb1

Junior Member
Feb 16, 2008
6
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0
as for the two 24" suggestions, what are the model #'s ?
it would be great to keep it closer to $300 rather than the $400 I mentioned in the previous post

is there no other 22" ?
 

will889

Golden Member
Sep 15, 2003
1,463
5
81
I have the LG L226-WTQ and although TN it's a great TN panel. It does have the same issues with viewing angles as the 226BW Samsung but it does not apply to me even when watching movies because I'm directly in front of the LCD at all times. So if you're going to watch movies and not be in front (directly or pretty close) I wouldn't get a TN panel if I were you, but for me it's perfect. Even gaming is very good and I came from a Sony Trinitron CRT, but again I'm right on front of the panel at all times.
 

n7

Elite Member
Jan 4, 2004
21,281
4
81
Originally posted by: eb1
as for the two 24" suggestions, what are the model #'s ?
it would be great to keep it closer to $300 rather than the $400 I mentioned in the previous post

is there no other 22" ?

1680x1050 22"ers are all TNs.


Westy 24" - goes on sale at Best Buy for less than $400 periodically...it's on sale at Canadian Best Buys right now for $370.

Here's newegg link; i'll let you find the best US deal:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...6824255001&Tpk=L2410NM

And the infamous cheap Soyo: http://www.officemax.com/omax/...sku.jsp?skuId=21361009

To a TN hater like myself (no offense intended), there's no way i'd recommend one when you can get cheaper *VAs like those two for sub $400.
 

imported_eb1

Junior Member
Feb 16, 2008
6
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0
thanks for the links. The soyo seems like a good deal, but the 24"ers just seem huge to me.

I neglected to mention that I'm getting a complete new system, so I think I'll get the dell 228wfp as part of one of dell's combo deals (and therefore paying about $210 for the monitor) and save the extra money. The 215tw would have run $430 and $30 shipping = $460. Thats $250 more which I could use at a later date on another monitor when prices come down and the technology matures/improves

I'm also attaching the monitor to a fully adjustable monitor arm which should help a bit with getting the right viewing angle for movies.

doe this make sense?
thanks for all the replies