monitor

[hitharder]

i am looking for a flat screen monitor, at a cheap price but good, preferably bigger than 17". any ideas?

[peterb]

Depends on what you mean by 'Good' and 'at a cheap price'!!

Search the retailers, examine the specs, and go for the best that fits your budget... A Google search using the search term 19" TFT is a good starting point.

There are a lot of subtleties in the specs, apart from resolution, check the refresh rate. Much depends on what you intend using it for - if its mainly static images, then a lower refresh rate will do, if its video editing or an app with dynamic images, you will need a faster refresh rate (actually speed - its the speed at which the pixels switch on and off) As I'm sure you have discovered, minitors above 17" start getting expensive, although prices are falling. At that sort of price, it is wirth looking at side issues like the support arrangements, warranty etc. Buying a brand name device from a manufacturer with a good support arrangement in this country (and I have dealt with Mitac - who are often the mfr behind badge engineered monitors, and whose support I found to be excellent) might be better than one outside the UK, especially when the warranty has expired.

Many of the actual flat screen panels used in monitors are built by the same manafucturers, (I think there are only about half a dozen or so) and are just packaged by different companies anyway. Two monitors with the same model number from an OEM might have different make panels within them!

So to re-iterate - set your budget, look at some specs, and look at the support arrangements.

[Spunkey]

short answer - if you want the best 19" for gaming/price performance try a ViewSonic VP191. It'll set you back about £280.

If you're not bothered about gaming and just muck about in word, buy a noname brand one for as cheap as you can

[peterb]

See the " 2 tfts if you please" thread on this forum... Some useful links

[specofdust]

Just to be pedantic, referring to a "flat screen monitor" will quite often have people thinking you mean a flat screen CRT. Since CRT's are the only type of screen where the screen isn't always flat(some have round screens, some have flat), shop assistants often assume you mean CRT's when you talk of flat. TFT/LCD or Plasma is what you're wanting I think.

[Bobster]

i think most ppl who have a 19" TFT must have an eyesite problem - or sit 1/2 way across the room - 1280x1024 on a 19" TFT is HUGE!!

[Toge]

ebuyer normally have some good bargains. i have a ag neovo TFT which are very good.