Monitor help

[Rishi_Rich]

Hi,

my mum said i can buy a new monitor for my birthday. were we have the pc is in the sitting room and there isn't much space on the desk where the computer is. so my mum said i can only have a 20 inchs monitor. which is the best one to go for?

i like to play fifa and my sister watches movies and things and my mum uses it for work to do picture edits and touch ups.

and will the monitor have hd like normal tvs?

thanks for help

[colmo]

There are a lot of things to consider when buying a monitor:

See this page on TFT Central for more on flatscreen specs and technology.

1) Size - when you say there isn't much room, does that mean width, depth, or height? The increasingly popular widescreen monitors are wider than 4:3 'standard' ratio monitors for a given size (diagonally measured, corner to corner). Note that some monitors have a pivot function, allowing it to be oriented in portrait mode.

2) Resolution - as TFT monitors have a 'native' resolution (it's easy to tell which one it is, if you set it to anything else, the image loses it's sharpness), you have to decide which one to go for. e.g. I am using a 20" HP LP2046 20" monitor, with a resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels. For desktop work, many prefer as many pixels as they can get. Gamers may prefer something a little more modest to keep frame-rates up. Typically, a non-wide 20" will be 1600x1200, a widescreen 20" will be 1680x1050, and a wide 19" will be 1440x900.

3) Panel types - different TFT monitors use different panel technologies. There are three predominant ones, and each has their strengths and weaknesses:

TN film: Cheapest (and commonest) type, fastest response times, worst colour fidelity and viewing angles - gamers and casual users like these.
IPS: Most expensive, slowest response times, best colour fidelity and viewing angles - photographers and graphics people like these
VA: Probably the best allrounders, sitting between the other two types on all four features listed. This 24" one has been doing the rounds on the Hexus forums, and is probably the best deal for a VA monitor of that size.

As panel type is very often not quoted by retailers, you have to find out what they are yourself. I use TFT Central's panel search facility.

4) HD - To be a 'proper' HD display device, a monitor needs to be HDCP compliant. The reasons for these are better explained elsewhere, but basically Blu-ray and HD-DVD devices will only output to a display at full resolution when that device is detected as HDCP compliant. Other HD video sources, afaik, do not have this constraint. HDMI inputs are also useful, though I think they aren't completely necessary, as a HDMI > DVI converter can be used.

5) Backlighting and gamut - New technologies like CCFL and LED backlighting are emerging, which are improving the maximum available contrast and colour gamut of LCD monitors.

6) Glossy or matt - a lot of the new generation of TN film TFTs have glossy, reflective finishes to combat the contrast and colour issues when viewed from an angle. On the upside, it produces a 'punchier' image, but the reflections are a massive distraction to some, and can be a problem in rooms with light sources behind the user (they will reflect).

Ok, on to recommendations...considering the varied uses, a VA type might be the one to go for. They calibrate well for colour-managed graphic work, perform well with movies, have decent response times, and shouldn't be too expensive.

[-N!CK-]

one of the best 20" monitors imo is the dell 2007wfp, i have one, excellent monitor like. i use it to game, ocassional casual photoshopping and watching movies/tv would def recommend it, the only time i intend to replace it is when i can afford it's bigger brother 2408wfp lol

[Rishi_Rich]

thx colmo lots to think about! i will look at the dell 2007wpf hope it is not too much

[Giraffe]

Go to PC World(sorry) and have a look at some - be sure that a small wide-screen monitor is OK (I wouldn't consider anything under 22"). A 5:4 19" one might be more suitable, depending on what you want to do.

@colmo: thanks for the details - very useful.

[staffsMike]

I love my 2007wfp but it's pretty old now as good as it is.

For the money I would stick with one of these, I know they are 22" but it doesn't really take up much more space

with freeview
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

with analogue TV (also avaliable at PC world if you want to inspect it or even buy it there, it's as good a price as any )
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

it's essentially the same monitor but different TV. Comes with a remote etc.. for all the different inputs which are extensive.

1 x Antenna (RF)
1 x Audio I/O
1 x Audio Line-Out
1 x Component Video
1 x Composite
1 x D-Sub
1 x DVI-D
1 x S-Video
1 x SCART

and if you really want 20"
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

just an idea really, but you plug pretty much anything in, DVD players, PC's, consoles. It's HD ready and all that mumbo jumbo and for the price it's great.

If you have a lower budget they are plenty of "just monitors" around for around the £125 - £150 mark.

[colmo]

Just to follow on from staffsMike, those screens are all TN film panels, listed here. Bear in mind the pros/cons.

If you require less of the TV capabilities, and were spending over £200, I'd really recommend getting a VA type or IPS type screen. If I were buying right now, I'd be making extra room for that Yuraku, it's an unbeatable deal.

Lastly, here's a list of HDCP capable current monitors. I'm not sure there are any HDCP non-TN film monitors under 24" in size.

[colmo]

and if you really want 20"
Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

I had a quick look through that link to Idealo.co.uk I pasted above, and spotted the very same LG 20" M208WA Monitor/TV for £119.97 at PC World. That strikes me as a great deal at the budget end of the market.