Choosing a 22' Full HD monitor? Please help.

First of all I am a student who is pretty cheap and I don't really want to spent too much on a new LCD Monitor. I have already found 3 Monitors ranged from £142-164 and I was wondering if any folks who know their stuff could tell me if ANY where worth buying or if I should up my budget. The main things I was looking for are 22' Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixels and HDCP (I don't have anything else to plug in apart from my laptop right now but just in-case that changes in the future I would rather have it).

1. Dell S2209W - £142 ~ Its the cheapest and looks the best but does not have a HDMI Port. Link to webpage = accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=320-7438

Main stats Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (typical) Brightness: 300 cd/m2 (typical) Response Time: 5 ms (typical)

2. BenQ E2200HD - £148 ~ The website I read a review on this said "There are still other 22" LCDs that provide better color accuracy and color gamut, but if we had to pick one 22" LCD to purchase right now it would be the BenQ E2200HD" a month ago. Link to webpage = anandtech.com/displays/showdoc.aspx?i=3449&p=2

Main stats Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (typical) Brightness: 300 cd/m2 (typical) Response Time: 5 ms (typical)

3. Viewsonic VX2260WM - £164 ~ The website I read a review on this gave it a overall 9 out of 10 stars and said it had a few interesting features like the fact you could alter the response time in some sort of button. Link to webpage = bit-tech.net/hardware/monitors/2009/01/05/viewsonic-vx2260wm-22in-full-hd-monitor/1

Main stats Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (typical) Brightness: 300 cd/m2 (typical) Response Time: 5 ms (typical) But has double the Dynamic Contrast Ratio of the other two with 20000:1.

Right now I'm thinking maybe I should go with the BenQ E2200HD but any input would be greatly appreciated. Does anyone think its not worth getting such cheap monitors and going for a 24'? Or even waiting until prices come down in a few months to get something better? And I'm used to a 16:9 ratio as I just use my laptop right now so the aspect doesn't bother me. Or are there any other monitors that support full HD that people can suggest for me to look at ?

Sorry about the links... it wouldn't let me post links so i had to take out the http and www's.

Matt

as far as i know. Full HD isn't technically possible on a 22" screen. All HD content is downscaled and doesn't look that good.


I'd look into 24" if thats an option.

EDIT* just read the bit about resolution. Disregard my post.

I'm currently going through the same purchasing decision as you. I've knocked up a Google Spreadsheet to try and help.
spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=p7yJNY8Q3dtLCIHMyp7QQDg

Hey, I was having the same trouble deciding on a new monitor as well! No one ever gave me a reply
= (

But, yeah after that I went on my own research and found out that the BenQ E2200HD is pretty impressive! 16:9, 1920x1080, 2ms response time, speakers (not so promising, but at least their in the package!), HDMI, D-sub, DVI, all for the price of £148?!

That's a pretty good deal if you ask me! I saw the monitor the other day actually! I went to visit my friend on my day off, at his work place, the office next to his had it! It was their lunch break so I snuck in to play with it for a bit, haha. The monitor is extremely bright, of course you can always turn it down if it's too much, but I love the brightness! And the control panel on the monitor is really easy to use, unlike some others! I did not notice any glare as well!

The waiting times for all the websites I could find for the E2200HD was too long, most said around 26/3/09 for new shipments of monitors. So I just decided one night to look for a 24' monitor and I found this one amazon.co.uk/Samsung-SM2433BW-Widescreen-TFT-Monitor/dp/B001F05ZQI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1235954603&sr=8-1

Its a Samsung 2433BW. I managed to pick up a second hand one that was basically in new condition, I'm not sure if it was even used. It only cost me £170 and a fiver shipping. Its excellent in my opinion. Bright and clear, no dead pixels and still has HDCP but only a VGA and DVI input. I had to get a DVI male to HDMI female connector off eBay for £2.50 to use my HDMI cable.

It was well worth it, so far I have only had it just over a week but I'm still loving it. I'm glad I put a little bit more money in for a 24' screen it looks brilliant watching 1080 and 720P movies on it. I have yet to try any games on it though.

I found this website for getting a new one if anyone else is interested in this monitor. Its about £194 new with shipping on this site digital-fusion.co.uk/Inu_products/INU_ProdDetailsL9.asp?ref=11227276 But in another month I'm sure it will have dropped.

Matt

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/158908

what about this?
i bought one the other day for my brother and it's amazing :D
for £130 it's an absolute steal!

http://i416.photobucket.com/albums/p...g?t=1235652034

only has VGA and it's better than HD resolution, but it's 16:9 like 1920x1080.

Wow... 130 pounds? Was it 2nd hand?


By the way, why does your brothers 360 controller have a cord?! I thought they all came wireless?! No?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by santana4312

Wow... 130 pounds? Was it 2nd hand?


By the way, why does your brothers 360 controller have a cord?! I thought they all came wireless?! No?

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no, see the link above the picture, brand new.

and it has a cord because it's the PC version. cheaper to buy the corded controller than get a wireless one and get a wireless receiver for it.

Bought the Dell S2209W from PC World the other day for £150.

Windows use is spot on. Does the job sitting with my old Dell 20" widey next to it as the second screen. Not a single problem with it as the main gaming monitor as well and it's spot on for film/TV viewing too.

Very good bit of kit.