Which Flatpanel Monitor?

[Spinal]

So I'm getting annoyed with the quality/size of monitor that I'm using (a 17" on the MBPro and a 19" old forMac on the MacPro) and have started looking for something new.

Really, I want my old 21" Ilyama CRTs back, I've never had monitors are good as those - but I don't have the space anymore...

So while looking around, I saw an Ilyama "Prolite 24" TFT" for just over £200; and that seems incredible value for money if the screen is anywhere near as good as their old ones...

So, what would you consider better? a TFT or an LCD? What brand? Do Ilyama still beat the others hands-down?

M.

 

[Antharro]

I still use two 17" CRTs, both of them Hansols, but that's just because I'm too cheap to upgrade. Early TFTs were pretty dire for gaming with but I think the standard now has improved to a point where they are now as good as CRTs used to be. Die-hard gamers will disagree with me, and I understand why.

However. I ALWAYS recommend LG or Dell TFTs to my clients. LG make their own panels and I have never been disappointed with the quality. If you don't mind splashing a bit more cash, some of Dell's offerings look mightly impressive on your desk, too. (Also, their extremely large monitors use the same panels as Apple's own, I believe that was for the 24" and the 30", but that was a while ago).

Some people swear by Samsung, and while I would agree that on the whole, they make good products, having had a couple of their (then) expensive colour laser printers die on me just outside warranty and well under their specified annual page count, I found out just how useless their customer support can be.

How about this LG Or this Dell which beats the LG on specification and has a built in webcam, but is somewhat glossy which may not be to everyone's tastes?

 

[Nik_Endeavour]

I use a 22 inch Samsung and bought for £150 (because has a dead pixel). I used to have an Iiyama (17" TFT). I used to have 21" CRT Iiyama as well but the Samsung has the best colour representation with very goog printer to monitor calibration.

 

[Spinal]

I've never been impressed by Dell's, but then again, this has spawned after some nasty experiences with them in the past. I did have a very good experience with their customer service for a laptop; so might consider them... Their 23" model is listed at £217 so it's not that much more expensive either..

Apple's cinema-display monitors are nice, but I have 2 issues with them; the cost, and I doubt I'll find a ready-made ICC profile for Windows for one (I tend to avoid OsX these days, a bit too glitchy - but that's another story). (Also, I have gripes with Apple's built-in monitors and their almost-fradulent sales pitch)

The samsungs I saw (I'm just going by eBuyers "24-inch and over" list) are comparatively slow at 5ms (versus 2ms for the dell and Iiayamas). So I think I'll avoid these...

I think I'll need to stay away from the LG for the same reason, I need the screen to do three things:
- Work on my thesis/coursework (size helps here as having Eclipse open side-by-side with a browser is great!)
- Play games (so response time is important)
- Take less space (depth wise) that having 3-CRTs on my desk (so depth is an issue)

What's the general consensus? Dell 23" @ £217 or Iiyama 24" @ £203?
M.

 

[gaz_l]

I bought a couple of Iiyama's for work, remembering how they always made top of the line CRT's. Very disappointing, obviously built down to a price (admittedly, they were cheap) - it seems as though they have gone down the route of being just another box shipper.

I'd recommend having a look at Fujitsu-Siemens - I bought a batch of 22" widescreens a while back and they're very nice to look at. From previous experience, their service backup in the event of a problem is also very good. I wouldn't recommend Viewsonic as their service backup is woeful.

HTH

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[MikeL]

Do Ilyama still beat the others hands-down?

M.

I to miss the iiyama CRTs - superb beasts - heavy though.
Not saying they aren't as good now, but you don't get lifetime warranties any more - 3 years ain't to be sneezed at.

ANORAK ALERT: iiyama, spelt without a capital first letter.

Mike

 

[gbjeppm]

I just bought an LG 22 inch TFT for £130. Very happy with it.

 

[Satch]

Got one of these for No 2 son and his new gaming rig. Works well and good value:

http://www.custompc.co.uk/labs/129221/iiyama-prolite-e2201w-b.html

Whilst on the subject of displays, can somebody please tell me why I do NOT want one of these. No really, I must resist........

http://hdtvorg.co.uk/news/articles/2009022202.htm

 

[Antharro]

I've never been much of a fan of iiyama's TFTs. Their CRTs, as has already been said were some of the best you could buy.

I'm also not entirely convinced about the 2ms vs 5ms argument. In the tech circles I'm involved in, it was generally considered that once TFTs dropped from 20ms and 16ms to 8ms, that they were acceptable for gaming. However, as I still use my Hansol 710D CRT at 75Hz, I can neither deny or agree with this.

A little maths:

1 second = 100ms

My monitor refreshes at 75Hz, so 75 times every second.

100 ms / 75Hz = a response time of 1.33ms.

At 60Hz = 1.66ms
At 85Hz = 1.18ms
At 90Hz = 1.11ms
And at 100Hz = 1ms

So I see why the manufactuers are trying to get the refresh times down.

To answer your question, out of the two you picked, I'd have the Dell. Although I must say that Satch's iiyama looks very tempting.

 

[mercmanuk]

bought one of these a cracking deal

http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/22"+Acer++Widescreen+LCD+Monitor+?productId=35100

 

[Satch]

Arrrgh belay that put the wrong link in. This is the one:

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=5BC4

For £160 it is cracking value as it gives full HD, but when they say "wide" be prepared to have to look around the screen for you icons!

Bought a Sony Blu-Ray drive as well for £55 and Ta-Da HD movies!

 

[Spinal]

bought one of these a cracking deal

http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials/Other+products/22"+Acer++Widescreen+LCD+Monitor+?productId=35100

Looking at that site, they have some pretty good deals!

http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...+Piano+Black+with+HDMI+&+DVI+?productId=34348
2ms response time, 26" TFT for £200! It could do with slightly higher resolution to cope with the extra inches... but this is still quite tempting, and the reviews look good...

 

[agatward]

A little maths:

1 second = 100ms

My monitor refreshes at 75Hz, so 75 times every second.

100 ms / 75Hz = a response time of 1.33ms.

At 60Hz = 1.66ms
At 85Hz = 1.18ms
At 90Hz = 1.11ms
And at 100Hz = 1ms

Erm... 1 second = 1000ms, not 100ms... so:

75Hz = 13.33ms
60Hz = 16.66ms
etc.

However the refresh rate is the line refresh rate, each individual pixel is refreshed much faster than this. The exact calculation is a lot more complex though as you have to take into account what is known as the front and back porch of each line, and any overscan; as well as the response times of the phosphor dots and so on.

In an LCD, the figures given are typically gray-to-gray switching times rather than black to white. This means the figures are for the pixel switching from one partially on value to another, rather than on to off of vice versa. These cannot be directly compared to CRT technology as it works in a completely different manner.

 

[masher_uk]

Suggest you pick up the April edition of PC Pro magazine in which they test eleven 22"-28" TFT monitors. They rate BenQ E2200HD amongst others...

 

[Antharro]

agatward - thanks for that info. I should've caught the missing 0 in my calculations there. I know it's not quite as black and white (ha ha) as I made it out to be, I was really just musing out loud.

Aria are pretty good, and I have nothing against Acer monitors. I'm always wary of own-brand kit, some of the own-brand stuff eBuyer ship out is just diabolically bad. But, for that money it might just be worth a look.

 

[andy_k]

I've got a pair of these

http://www1.dealtime.co.uk/xPF-ASUS-MW221U

superb sharpness and colour representation

 

[Mambo]

Looking at that site, they have some pretty good deals!

http://www.aria.co.uk/SuperSpecials...+Piano+Black+with+HDMI+&+DVI+?productId=34348
2ms response time, 26" TFT for £200! It could do with slightly higher resolution to cope with the extra inches... but this is still quite tempting, and the reviews look good...

I've got one of these - fantastic monitors!

 

[The Dent Guy]

Have had a 22" Fujitsu Siemens LCD for the past year - can't fault it.

 

[andrewcliffe]

I've just bought the Dell 2209WA 22" monitor. Why? Most cheaper TFT monitors are TN panels which are fast refreshing but lack colour accuracy and many display in 6 bit colour rather than 8 bits per channel and can't display the full colour range without cheating and using dithering.

The 2209WA is described as an IPS panel which is superior and at £ 200 is very fairly priced against other IPS panels.

I'm coming from a photographers viewpoint rather than a gamers viewpoint.

 

[verytalldave]

Can you still buy CRT monitors?
I would be surprised.
My first PC had a 14" monitor and the upgrade to a 15" FST was £150.
How times change.