New Monitor Search

[hwango]

In an effort to improve my workspace and make it a more comfortable place in which to work, it would appear that I should get a nice flat LCD monitor. This would mean that I would have enough room to sit facing it straight on, instead of the scrunched, crooked setup I have now that is starting to twist my internal organs into knots.

Anyone recommend a particular brand? Anyone decry a particular brand as being an instrument of the devil? I'm looking to spend less than $200, which seems to give me plenty of options on Newegg.

Any thoughts on whether I'd be better off with widescreen or plain old rectangular? If I understand the bit about connection methods, my current monitor is D-sub, but how the heck can I tell if I can use one that connects via DVI-D? As I understand things I'm looking for a small number for response rate, large number for Constrast Ratio, wide angles for viewing angle, and high number for brightness, but are there any other fiddly numbers I should be watching carefully?

Comments

[fenris-lorsrai.livejournal.com]

If you can find 'em, try snagging a remanufactured monitor. They're typical quite a bit cheaper than new ones. They're basically the returns that can't be sold as new anymore. often there was nothing wrong with them, the box just got opened. And if there was something wrong, the manufacturer goes and fixes it, double check it works, then sells it.

This is typically what I do when I need a monitor or computer. I've never had any problem with a remanufactured item. I've had more problems with brand spanking new ones. I do have remufactured LCD monitor at the store, which is still looking great after at least 2 years.

The easiest way to find those is shop for the item you want, then go to the manufacturers website. They'll often have them for sale direct through their website. You'll have to pay shipping, but you'll probably still be able to get a larger monitor cheaper than you would at a place like Circuit City or Best Buy.

[logicallyrogue.livejournal.com]

I actually *recommend* going to BestBuy and Circuit City.... not to buy, but to browse.

All those numbers (refresh rate, contrast ratio, etc) that will confuse you mean nothing until you look at an actual screen.

If you go to a major store and look, you can immediately tell which screens look nice and which don't. That will allow you to look at the numbers of the nice monitors and start to determine which of those wacky values are important to you.

In general, I like the Dell branded LCD monitors - I think they are Viewsonic originally. I also like the widescreen LCD monitors as well. I *don't* like shiny screens, I like ones with matte finish - the shiny ones tend to reflect far too much.

Most LCD monitors that I have seen either support VGA through DSUB, or *everything* from DVI to DSUB to even composite if you want to plug a VCR into it. I generally prefer the everything monitors as I have alot of options to plug into it.

How to determine if you can support DVI? Well - if you have only a 15-pin DSUB connector on your video card - you can't support DVI. DVI is not only a new standard, but also a new connector. Not to fear - there are DSUB to DVI adapters out there. One might have come with your video card.

[octophobic.livejournal.com]

Consider purchasing one of those color calibrators as well. You don't want things to look strange when you print them out. :)

I agree with the idea of browswing at CompUSA and Bestbuy.

NewEgg also has returned stock if you're willing to take a chance. It might be a very good deal but make sure to compare the price to new first.