Tech spec help on 17" LCD monitor (and other suggestions)

[rivethead]

You know, it shouldn't have to be this hard.

Really.

Like many out there, I too am in the market for a 17" LCD. I've been researching various models for two weeks now. It shouldn't be this hard!! Maybe it's me.

I've narrowed it down:

-I want a 17" LCD
-I want DVI input
-I want no greater than a 16ms response time
-I want 24 bit color support (displaying 16.7 million colors) and not 18 bit (displaying 16.2 million colors). I don't think I should have to "settle" for a monitor with great response time that "cheats" by using dithering.

I've read all the reviews I can find. I'm surprised that THG and others give so much praise to the Samsung LCD's considering many of them are 18-bit and only display 16.2 million colors (they cheat to get those great response times - like the 710T).

So I was ready to pull the trigger on an LG 1710BK (16ms, DVI, 16.7 million colors, $305 at newegg) when I came across the Dell UltraSharp 1704FPT (not the FPV which is different).

The Dell UltraSharp 1704FPT has a 13ms response time and is a little brighter than the LG, but is about $350 ($280 if you're willing to buy it on ebay from a reseller).

But I cannot find out what the color suppor is on the Dell UltraSharp 1704FPT! Nope. I've studied the confusing Dell websites. I've called the useless Dell customer support. I got transferred to India and got a tech support person who told me: "this is an LCD monitor so it displays over 17 million colors". Yeah, really useful there.

So I tried the email route. I keep getting apologies and pass-offs (I'm sorry I don't know the answer but email this address for help). I'm on my 4th (and final) email. Still waiting for an answer.

The reseller on ebay (T Supply) listed color support at 16.7 million colors. I emailed them to ask where they got that spec from. No reply. I guess they don't want to sell the 18 1704FPTs they have in stock to me.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get this spec? Am I making too much out of color support. Yeah, I know that we're only talking 500,000 shades of color (16.7 million vs 16.2 million), but if the technology is out there to have a 13ms or lower response time panel display the full 24-bit, 16.7 million colors, why settle for a monitor that uses 18-bit processing and "cheats" via dithering?

Thanks for any suggestions and please tell me if my logic is faulty (it wouldn't be the first time).

 

[Nessism]

If you read the Dell Documentation you will see that this monitor has all the halmarks of a TN screen: shallow viewing angles, low contrast ratio, and fast response time. Since TN monitors are only 6 bit I think you are SOL on this one.

You might want to check out some screens though before you pass judgement on 6 bit color. I have a Dell 1905 which is 8 bit but the color is not all that great to me - looks washed out.

Good luck in your search.