what sort of specs should i look for when getting a new monitor?

[NuclearAnarchist]

i have narowed my choice to a 17" KDS with the trinitron tube(maybe you could suggest something better to change my mind)...i want to know what numbers to look for when picking it...dot pitch, refresh rates, etc.

i use it at college and will primaryly use it for surfing the net and games but (sometimes) will use it for typing reports and such...

 

[fodd3r]

seems like you'll be spending quite a lot of time on it!

it really doesn't matter what you use it for, refresh rate, refresh rate and more refresh rate.

easier on the eyes, and that's really what matters.

 

[stingygrrl]

I am also about to get a monitor (waiting for my amazon gc's to arrive!) but I decided to stay away from KDS. They don't seem to have good reviews by most people here, and even at amazon.
I am not going above .26 diagonal DP and I agree that refresh rates are KEY! I 'd really like the Samsung 753DF or 755 DF, which I think you can get for about $250, but of course, Amazon doesn't stock them...but onvia and buy.com do..

and you also want to note whether it's aperature grille or shadow mask, the latter being better for text i *think*.

 

[fodd3r]

actually speaking of samsung, they joined their monitor venture with panasonic.

what does this all mean?

well a few things:

-first panasonic was viewsonic/optiquest's supplier. they aren't anymore and the new viewsonic/optiquests suck! no buy!
-panasonic makes good monitors, lets face it those old viewsonic/optiquests were dope. paired with samsung i figure they'll be some of the best, so if it's this years model i'd give it a buy rating.
-i hear adi and tvm are pretty spiffy as well.

 

[pillage2001]

I wonder, is the Samsung 750s any good? They do come with a 0.24 DP.

 

[BenSkywalker]

The best "spec" is your eyes, seriously. Higher refresh rates are important as long as you can tollerate the resolutions that tax that particular spec.

Try to find a big computer store so you can spend some time looking at the actual monitors you are thinking about.

A couple of years back I was all ready to buy a Sony monitor and decided to go check it out in person and discovered that the pieces that hold the AG in place were very noticeable to my eyes, extremely distracting and annoying. My sister went with me and couldn't see them when she tried. Great specs, great monitor, my eyes didn't like it.

 

[Brig]

Dot/pitch and refresh rates are most important. However, the saying "One man's garbage is another man's treasure" was never truer than it is with selecting a monitor.

Look at it before you buy it, in the resolutions that YOU will be using. Spec sheets are a good guide, but they don't mean much if you're eyes/head start bothering you after a few hours. Let your own eyes be the final judge.

 

[grillmasterP]

KDS trinitrons are good value but not the best quality out there.
I picked up a KDS 19in non trinitron and returned it because color was not a vivid as my ol faithful Mag DJ700 17 in .26 dpi. Be wary of of the 2 lines- aperture grill? on Trinitron models.
some people don't mind, for others its bugs the hell out of them.

I wouldn't settle for any thing larger than .25/26 dpi - As well as refresh rates....It Depends on what your desktor viewing area will be displayed at. I Have been quite comfortable at 1024x768 @75Hz - But the monitor should support 1280*1024 @ greater than 65Hz.

Again it Highly depends on Your need/budget/settings.
Monitors will vary from one manufacturer to another- some .25dpi have poor test readability

 

[snoogans]

Viewsonic seems to be a pretty good "all-around" monitor

Never had one myself though so I can't say from experience. Was thinking of getting one soon though

 

[JellyBaby]

The first thing to decide is type. The Trinitron/DiamondTron aperture grille monitors are one type (and have that visual oddity that BenSkywalker pointed out) -- these tend to have very flat screens and richer colors. Another type, the dot pitch/Invar Shadow Mask monitors, tend to have brighter displays and sharper text but colors are more bland. It's hard to go to a store and make comparisons because you need to first know which brands use which types of displays. And most stores don't carry the very high-end tubes. PC World has frequent monitor reviews. Might want to check 'em out: www.pcworld.com.