Sony G400 value priced

[alfresco51]

After spending the last week eveluating the Samsung 955 DF I've decided to return it to Best Buy. The reasons:
I just couldn't seem to get the 955 adjusted to my satisfaction
I found a G400 for 457.96 (at Onvia with $50 coupon)

At 457.96 I consider the G400 to be a great value. That's 457.96 delivered. No shipping costs; no sales tax. I know that it's close to 200 more than the 955 DF, but I think, from what I read in the many threads in this forum on the subject, I'm going to apprciate the characteristics of an AG tube over a shadow mask tube.

I believe the 955 DF is an excellent budget monitor, but considering how long a quality monitor will last, I calculate the difference in cost to come out to 35 - 40 dollars per year.

 

[Rigoletto]

Well, I think you'll be pleased with the image of a Sony. Only you can say if financially it's right for you.
Seems to me that shadow masks can do passably at black text on pale backgrounds (if you like the pastel appearance of a shadow mask), but that trinitrons are simply better.

 

[Gosharkss]

I disagree with the previous poster. Never trust general statements like "aperture grill monitors are clearer and brighter the shadow mask monitors". Every unit produced is unique and, like fingerprints, no two are identical. Even the highest quality monitors occasionally don't perform as promised.

All Shadow mask monitors do not have a pastel appearance. This would be like saying all Aperture grill monitors have poor focus simply NOT true.

Brightness is one of the key measures of a monitors image quality. Convergence is another. A blanket statement like the one the previous poster put up is very short sighted. Maybe years ago this was true, however the technologies have improved significantly.

Unfortunately most manufacturers do not publish brightness specifications or convergence so I recommend that you call and e-mail the technical support line of the manufacturer and reseller before you buy. First time how long it takes you to reach a human or an e-mail response and then ask them some questions about the monitor you are considering. You don't want to sit on hold; you want to talk to knowledgeable people. They aren't trained to "polish" the answers like sales reps might, but you'll get a sense for how technically competent and knowledgeable they are and how the company will treat you after the purchase.

Good Luck

Jim Witkowski
Chief Hardware Engineer
Cornerstone Peripherals Technology

http://www.monitorsdirect.com

 

[Rigoletto]

How can one say that a shadow mask is a more desirable technology than an aperture grille?

 

[Gosharkss]

Define desirable! What you like may not be what everyone else likes. You say that Shadow mask monitors look pastel. How many shadow mask monitors have you evaluated lately? I evaluate monitors and monitor technology and your general statements just do not hold water. If you post direct model to model comparisons that would be one thing but to say ALL of one technology is better or more desirable than another simply is not true.

 

[Rigoletto]

I see quite enough monitors on display. True, only the Sonys among aperture grilles look perfect there. Other aperture grilles can still look shockingly poor with streaks and poor focus (I don't know if anyone puts up with this when they buy them). Still the best focused examples of both shows me that aperture grilles have greater contrast and clarity. Do you think the astigmatic Rigoletto could use a 15" without discomfort if it were a shadowmask, at 1024x768?- I've not seen such a monitor yet. It's plain to see in the technology. Shadow masks have open dot area no more than half the area of the screen, and the arrangement of the dots means that a straight vertical letter stroke is broken up by the staggered dot pattern across the strokes. It just doesn't look too great. But with my trinitron, I see tiny little perfect squares all across the screen, all vibrant and exact- like an LCD but better. No debate about it. I challenge any psychologists in any large trial to deny me!

 

[Gosharkss]

I'm not a psychologist, I'm a simple engineer who knows a little something about monitors and monitor technology, it's my job.

Thank you for retracting your statement about ALL AG monitors. I would also argue with anyone who would say all shadow mask monitors are better than AG or for that matter slot mask CRT's. It depends on the application being used, the individual end users eyes, and the quality of the electronics driving the tube.

I would argue that the staggered dots of a shadow mask tend to smooth out diagonal lines. I would also argue that the tighter dot pitch of a shadow mask also help in smoothing characters. This smoothing effect is very similar to a technology we developed called Scale to Gray. This technology is basically an anti aliasing program designed for scanned in documents specifically to smooth diagonal lines. Microsoft has developed a similar technology (I cannot remember the name) that does the same thing. By smoothing diagonal lines text becomes easier to read on a monitor because it is more like printed text. This is exactly why most people believe that shadow mask monitors are better for text based applications. The little perfect squares you describe make characters look jagged. A capital "A" should have smooth edges don't you agree.

I do not see how anyone can use a 15" when 17", 19" and 21" monitors are so reasonably priced these days. So if you are comparing your old 15" shadow mask to a newer AG, of course the AG will look better. Aperture grill can do a lot of things but it cannot correct your astigmatism.

For more information on dot pitch, Aperture pitch, and slot mask CRT technology, see the following link.

http://www.csf.org.uk "see dot pitch explained"

Jim

 

[LXi]

Gosharkss:

I absolutely agree. There really isnt much of a way to decide whether AG is better or SM is better ot slots are better, the user has to see it for themselves and look at what the user will use for it, different types of tubes will satisfy different usage.

 

[Finality]

Gosharkss so what monitors would you recommend?

 

[Rigoletto]

Damn cheek, Gosharkss, I made or retracted no statement that all aperture grilles are better... though they are a better type of display.
I don't take you too seriously because of your vested interest in the biz. Obviously you KNOW you can't just sell aperture grilles.
I would even risk offending you further by suggesting to anyone that they buy monitors from a place where they can return if unsatisfied, because there is too much variation between monitors. If monitors all had focus control open to the user, things would be easier, but this is rare... so just send it back if it's not right.
Fact is that LCDs are much more expensive and respected than CRTs, and a good trinitron comes far more similar in image to one than a shadow mask. QED.

 

[Gosharkss]

Hi everyone hope you all had a great holiday season.

Finality

Like Rigoletto said, I have a vested interest in the business, I have been in the monitor business for over 15 years and evaluate monitor technology on a daily basis. I do not have a vested interest in the type of technology used, AG or SM. With that said I do not recommend specific models because I am biased and would always recommend my products. Also the mods would come down on me for hard selling in this forum.

I have put together a monitor selector tool that is completely unbiased. See the following link. Answer a few questions about your specific needs and the selector will show you the models that best meet your requirements. Then you can compare the model features side by side.

http://www.monitorsdirect.com/shopping_tools/monitorselector.html

Rigoletto

When you start adding specific facts about your views I will start to take you seriously. Again general statements without facts to back them up is just an opinion. I respect your opinion, however I do not think someone who has admitted to having eye site problems should be recommending monitors to others.


Good Luck

Jim at http://www.monitorsdirect.com

 

[zsir]

<< Every unit produced is unique and, like fingerprints, no two are identical. Even the highest quality monitors occasionally don't perform as promised. >>



Something I suspected for a while now....



<< Other aperture grilles can still look shockingly poor with streaks and poor focus (I don't know if anyone puts up with this when they buy them). >>



I agree....Of the 19&quot; monitors I tried some had very poor focus qualities, I mean that focus was not consistent across the screen....I have a G400 that I'm happy with, but I have a feeling that if I lined up 5 G400's and was to examin them I would be able to choose one over the other....So choosing the monitor that you want is one thing, getting one that actually works as advertised is another...

I also took advantage of that Onvia deal....Good luck with yours....

Of the 19&quot; monitors I tried I thought they all looked good for games....The deciding factor for me was focus consistency and geometry....I would tell you which monitors I tried but I think that it would be wrong to say that a monitor was bad based on me trying one unit...

 

[LXi]

Gosharkss:

If Im not mistaken, are you Jim Witkowski of Cornerstone?

 

[Sephy]

LXi:


<< Good Luck
Jim Witkowski
Chief Hardware Engineer
Cornerstone Peripherals Technology >>

 

[LXi]

Hah... Im blind.

 

[clumsum]

Way to go guys,..............
Anyone contemplating the purchase of a monitor will definately benefit from the above exchange of information and opinions.
I just purchased a 19&quot; E400 Sony for my 84 years young Aunt and she loves it!
The bright screen and supurb color was the deciding factor.
The Sony also looks great (even when it's turned off) and surprisingly, it fits well on her desk-top/hutch!!!

 

[Gosharkss]

LXi

I do not try to hide who I am or who I work for. Who do you work for, Samsung perhaps?

Sephy, thanks for paying attention.

One more time:
Jim Witkowski
Chief Hardware Engineer
Cornerstone / Monitorsdirect.com