Best 20" monitor?

[shyam]

I'm buying a new Vista system soon and was looking for recommendations on the best LCD.. The main use is watching DVDs, and downloaded DVDrips etc... and a bit of gaming.

The PC will be pretty high spec with decent graphics card etc..

At first I was going to go for DELL WIDESCREEN E207WFP 20" but was told that the contrast ratio and response time was bad and should go for another monitor? They advised the Samsung but there are so many different ones!

Can I get some advice on this please? I don't really know much about these things to be honest!

[NightshadowUK]

What be your budget?

[kalniel]

Low budget and I'd recommend the LG L204WT, medium and the samsung sm206bw is hard to beat. High and the Dell 2007wfp is untouchable - note this isn't the E207!

[alcor]

I have the Dell 2007WFP and it is outstanding, would definately reccomend it. I got it when Dell did a 25% short term discount offer, these spring up from time to time so its worth looking out for.

Once you go wide you cant go back. It is also fantastic for DVDs.

[Phil_P]

Low budget and I'd recommend the LG L204WT, medium and the samsung sm206bw is hard to beat. High and the Dell 2007wfp is untouchable - note this isn't the E207!

^^ Good recommendations, but if you can stretch a bit, I'd go for the equivalent 22" models as the native resolution (1680x1050) on a 20" screen is a bit too small for my liking and 22" models aren't that much more expensive - worth the extra IMHO.

The 22" LG is normally about £205 but I think it's been available for about £175 recently on offer if you wait/shop around.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=587955

[Mithrandir]

The 22" LG is normally about £205 but I think it's been available for about £175 recently on offer if you wait/shop around.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=587955

If anything email scan to suggest this as a today only offer and they'll put it on again.

[roorooroo]

I have the LG and am very, very happy with it so far.

[shyam]

I have the Dell 2007WFP and it is outstanding, would definately reccomend it. I got it when Dell did a 25% short term discount offer, these spring up from time to time so its worth looking out for.

Once you go wide you cant go back. It is also fantastic for DVDs.

The ratio is only 800:1 , apparantly 1000:1 is much better?

Also.. I was told that downloaded DVDrips look really bad on these 20" screens.. Is that true? Has anyone had any experience watching downloaded DVDrips (meant to be high quality videos) on similar screens?

The one I was recommended was Samsung sm206bw - any thoughts on this?

What is the very best 20" monitor I could get? Something stylish too..

[kidzer]

If the videos you want to watch (I refuse to day DVD Rips, it doesnt sound legal to me ) are Standard Definition, and you watch them fullscreen, then no - they wont look brilliant.

This isn't because it's on a 20" monitor though, It'll happen on any monitor because they run higher resolutions than Standard Def. TV's, if you watch it as its native resolution though, it should look OK.

[shyam]

If the videos you want to watch (I refuse to day DVD Rips, it doesnt sound legal to me ) are Standard Definition, and you watch them fullscreen, then no - they wont look brilliant.

This isn't because it's on a 20" monitor though, It'll happen on any monitor because they run higher resolutions than Standard Def. TV's, if you watch it as its native resolution though, it should look OK.

When you say native resolution what do you mean? I watch them on my laptop and they look fine.. I use VLC and put it on full screen?

How do you stick to the resolution and watch in full screen?

Sorry all a bit confusing to me.. Thanks.

[CooperXS]

Good quality DVDRips don't look that bad as I though on my WFP2007.
It's great monitor.

[NightshadowUK]

Even certain DVD's look bad on large displays not because the monitor is bad but because it's resolution is so high. It's like zooming in on a photo, it doesn't matter what screen you're using to look at it on, it's still pixelated and unclear because it's not meant to be blown up that much. If you get good quality rips, it'll be fine.

What is the very best 20" monitor I could get? Something stylish too..

You'll have to do better than that with pro displays like this available:

- 20" LaCie 130734 Blue LCD ~ £788.43

Give a price range and we'll work to it.

[alcor]

Good quality DVDRips don't look that bad as I though on my WFP2007.
It's great monitor.

I agree!!

[Phil_P]

The one I was recommended was Samsung sm206bw - any thoughts on this?

What is the very best 20" monitor I could get? Something stylish too..

I'd say the Samsung fits the bill perfectly - probably the very best and certainly very stylish. I have the SM226BW (22") and it's awesome, so I bet the 206BW is also a great 20" screen.

[shyam]

I don't want to spend more than about £200 give or take a few pounds! Thanks.

[NightshadowUK]

Well for that much you can afford a 22" display:

- LG L226WTQ ~ £205.50

It'll probably be on Today Only this weekend for around £185.