What Flat Panel should I get, any reviews

[mikef208]

I am looking into a flat panel monitor. I would like info on these, reviews, whatever info you got. I will prolly end up getting a 15" but if you know of bigger ones that are good LMK. Also what is the differance between TFT and LCD, which is better?

 

[mikef208]

Help me out please

 

[mikef208]

Just read the review that anadtech has today. Anybody have any info on what brand is good?

 

[rmblam]

I don't care for flat panels as a primary display 1) because of cost 2) because of wash out in bright light 3) Angular view issues. 4) Durability (bad pixels)

They are great for a laptop but not for a desktop IMO.

 

[Ordo]

I just bought a Planar 15" (true 15" I might add) for $505 from Onvia. The small footprint alone on my desk is worth it. Planar has made flat panel medical displays for years and this is their first attempt at a "consumer-oriented" product. It is the best bang for the buck deal going. BTW - the quality of the screen is as good as any I've seen.

 

[clockhar]

How about gaming quality? I heard that they have fixed refresh rates and don't look as good under true gaming. Am I right?

Thanks,

 

[Zorn]

I picked up a Samsung 570s a while back. It's been pretty well reviewed and it currently runs around $600, maybe even a little less. It lives in our kitchen and is used strictly for web surfing and television. The display is bright and vivid and the viewing angle is not an issue (as I heard it could be.) I haven't used it for any gaming so I can't give an opinion there. Overall, most TFTs aren't as precise and fine as CRTs, i.e., I wouldn't recommend a TFT for something as precise as CAD. My main issue was space and aesthetics and it servers those purposes well.

 

[SPAnDAU]

I've got an NEC 1530V and it is really good. The image is perfectly sharp and view angle is fine.
It's about $1200 CDN so it should be around $600-$700 in the US. It plays DVD's just fine, but fast paced games would blur out on it, and you would have to play in 1024x768 or the image would be fubar'd.

Edit -- Oh, TFT is a type of LCD. There are two types of LCD's, TFT(AKA active) or DSTN(also referred to as HPA or passive). Passive displays are cheaper than active, but can't be seen at an angle, they ghost images, basically they suck AFAIK desktop LCD's only come as TFT, so that will not come into your decision-making process.

 

[mikef208]

So they may not be good for gaming?

 

[mikef208]

Anybody know how they do on gaming,got mixed reviews, anybody have any review sites.

 

[mikef208]

Here are some of the prices I have found LMK what you guys think.


Flat Panel LCD?s

CompUSA
NEC MultiSync LCD 1525V 15?-749.97-50=699.97
NEC MultiSync LCD1530V 15?-749.97-50=699.97
Pixie R50T 15.1? TFT LCD 549.99
Samsung SyncMaster 150Mp 15? TFT LCD with TV-999.99-50.00=949.99
Samsung SyncMaster 170Mp 17? LCD-1549.99-50=1499.99
Samsung SyncMaster 570s 15? TFT LCD-699.99
Samsung SyncMaster 770TFT 17? 1099.99
Sony Multiscan N50 15? LCD 1299.97
Vaio PCVA-15XD2 15? LCD-999.97-100=899.97
Viewsonic VA800 17? LCD-1399.99
Viewsonic VG150 15? LCD-799.99
Best Buy
MAG 15? TFT LCD LD500-749.99-50=699.99
MAG 17? TFT LCD LD700-1199.99
Magview 15? VM560-649.99-50=599.99
Magview 17? LCD VM780-1099.99
Samsung 15? TFT LCD 570sTFT-699.99
Samsung 17? TFT LCD 770TFT-1099.99
Sony Multiscan 15.1? TFT LCD SDM-M51/B-899.99-100=799.99
Viewsonic 17.4? LCD VA800-1399.99-100=1299.99
Viewsonic 15? TFT LCD VG150-799.99-100=699.99
Staples
HP Pavillion FX70 15?-1099.00
NEC LCD1530V 15?-749.98
Princeton 850 18? LCD-2125.99
Viewsonic 18.1? LCD VG181-2000.49
Viewsonic 15? VG150-749.99
Micro Center
NEC MultiSync 15.1? LCD 1530V-749-50=699
NEC MultiSync 17? LCD 1700M-1499
Philips Brilliance 150P 15? 749
Viewsonic VG150 15?-849-100=749
Viewsonic VA800 17.4? 1599-100=1499

 

[RockEater]

I have the Viewsonic VPD-150, I got it rifurbished at a decent price, no defects.
I love how it looks(really sharp), and the space it saves. This model is a digital one, that is, had a DVI connection instead of an analog VGA plug. A digital connection really helps image quality, and you don't ever have to mess with any settings, because LCDs are digital, not like CRTs, and its stupid to take digital images, convert them to an analog signal, and then back to digital at the monitor. So if you can, get one with DVI connection and a card like a GeForce MX with DVI out

But anyway,
Games look just fine on mine, its awesome for text, just DVDs are sometimes slightly lacking.
Try and fine a decent price, just be aware that cheaper models will be lacking in brightness(go at leas 200 lumens), have a poor viewing angle, and may have on average more dead pixels

If you want to read into some of the technologies behind LCDs, at tomshardware.com under the guides section, there is a 3 part article about TFTs, its a little old, but good reading

Hope you found this helpful

 

[mikef208]

Sweet thanks.

 

[MGMorden]

I say to go for a Samsung. Their CRT monitors have never let me down and are a good quality brand. As for personal experience though, the only ones I've used are the Viewsonic VG151's, which is what all the "favorite" professors get at work. They're a little less bright than a CRT but I really like them because of the small footprint (my current 19" monitor doesn't fit very well at all on a dormitory desk). I'm seriously considering getting a 17" Samsung flat panel this summer as the prices have dropped a lot recently. I'm also wanting a laptop though (looking into possibly getting the Titanium Powerbook, which looks just plain sweet), so I'll have to see how the finances pan out. Especially since from what an inside source tells me my school (Clemson) could start requiring laptops as soon as next year.

 

[mikef208]

Okay I need a little more help. Hopefull that article on toms will provide it, but I haven't read that yet. What are the advantages of the flat panels over CRT's, aside form the size.

 

[Dunbar]

PC World recently recived them and picked the Eizo L330 (I think that's the number.) You can get it new from the Dell online store for $650, that's a whopping $200 cheaper than anywhere else.

 

[mikef208]

On the site or in the mag?

 

[mikef208]

I read that review thanks. Still need to know why these are better. i was under the assumption they had better picture quality.

 

[Dunbar]

They are supposed to be a little sharper which is great for web suring and word processing. Unless you need to save space go for a good CRT, especially for any kind of gaming.

 

[mikef208]

bump