AVS › AVS Forum › Gaming & Content Streaming › Home Theater Gaming › HTPC Gaming › If you had to buy a monitor today...
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

If you had to buy a monitor today... - Page 3

post #61 of 244
6/19/07 at 8:02pm
Thread Starter 
Ugggg...

The wife's MacPro came in today, which means I lost the Apple Cinema Display to her new computer and am back to viewing my PC on this TINY (20") 4:3 Viewsonic. And even at 1280x1024 native, this Viewsonic LCD is no where near as sharp at the Apple 1920x1200 native 23" widescreen.

Thanks for all those that offered advice and suggestions. I think the top runner is the Dell 2407WFP rev04. Although it's not a IPS panel, the reviews are solid and most people who own one swear by it... which is usually a good sign.

The BenQ FP241WZ has a lot going for it (HDMI!), but the extras add a lot to the price and I may or may not use them anyway. Plus there are a lot of reports of these panels intermittently flashing and/or blacking out.

I know I would be happy with another 23" Cinema HD for my Vista machine, but at $900 and it's limited DVI-D-only connection (no scaling options), it just doesn't seem like the best choice for a PC.

And I haven't totally ruled out a larger LCD TV like the Westy. But sitting on a desk at arms length in front of me, I fear it might be too much screen and not as sharp as what I want.

So I think there's a Dell in my future.
Reply
Reply

AVS Top Picks

post #62 of 244
6/19/07 at 8:14pm
Reply
Reply
post #63 of 244
6/22/07 at 7:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaverJ View Post

And I haven't totally ruled out a larger LCD TV like the Westy. But sitting on a desk at arms length in front of me, I fear it might be too much screen and not as sharp as what I want.So I think there's a Dell in my future.

I have the 37" W3 westy and I sit about 3 feet from it as I write this and the sharpness of the text is perfect.I know 37" for a PC monitor sounds big but if I would by a monitor today I'll probably get this one again. (IMO)
Reply
Reply
post #64 of 244
6/22/07 at 8:16pm
I got an HP w2207 about a month ago, and it kicks major arse!
Reply
Reply
post #65 of 244
6/27/07 at 1:05am
i love my sony 22" trinitron. craigslist will get you deskbreaking gold; nothing better
Reply
Reply
post #66 of 244
6/27/07 at 5:20am
Thread Starter 
Well, I ordered the Dell 2407FP last week (6/23) and it's been listed as "In Production" since then with an estimated delivery date of 7/18/2007-7/20/2007!

Is Dell making these monitors as the orders come in??? Why does it take a month to ship a monitor to somebody?

It doesn't help that I'm not the most patient person in the world, but 4 weeks is a long time to sit and wait for something to be delivered. I could order it off eBay but I would risk not having any return options if there's dead/stuck pixels, etc..

I emailed customer support asking why the delay, but I thought I would ask here if anyone ordered anything from Dell like this in the last year or so and can pass along some helpful insight?
Reply
Reply
post #67 of 244
6/27/07 at 9:06am
Apple store has those Apple ones in stock? Why wait?
Reply
Reply
post #68 of 244
6/27/07 at 10:30am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadRusch View Post

Apple store has those Apple ones in stock? Why wait?

Even though they don't scale, if they were $200 off I would.

...maybe I should just get a 37" 1080p Westy. Any deals going on?
Reply
Reply
post #69 of 244
6/27/07 at 10:49am
check costco mate, theyre still 799 i believe.
if you dont have a membership, i think its 50 bucks..... itll probably come in handy later on,
but thats like 850 plus shipping..... not a bad deal, but then again. its 900 again, just like the apple you want, but its 14" more real estate.

decisions, decisions...
Reply
Reply
post #70 of 244
6/27/07 at 11:00am
WHAT?!...and then have to listen to you complain at how un-sharp 1920x1080p actually is??

Amazon Marketplace has the 37" for $999.....Best Buy is selling the 42" for $1169.....

Ecost is out of stock on the refurb models.....but they are listed at $705 there....refurbed tho.

Yikes..Costco is the place!
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...=1&topnav=&s=1
Reply
Reply
post #71 of 244
6/27/07 at 12:35pm
DaverJ,

Trust what you have researched and go with your first instincts, get what you want. If you compromise you will always be 2nd guessing if you made the right decision. Stick with a monitor if thats what is what you decided on.

BTW when I ordered my Dell 30" it said a month , but I got it it in less then 2 weeks.
Reply
Reply
post #72 of 244
6/27/07 at 1:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinker View Post

when I ordered my Dell 30" it said a month , but I got it it in less then 2 weeks.

Awesome, thanks Tinker... that's what I wanted to hear.

..and who knows, maybe they'll ship me one of the new HC models of the 2407.
Reply
Reply
post #73 of 244
6/27/07 at 2:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaverJ View Post

Awesome, thanks Tinker... that's what I wanted to hear.

..and who knows, maybe they'll ship me one of the new HC models of the 2407.

Also did you check COSTCO (US). Here in Canada they sell DELL's also.
Reply
Reply
post #74 of 244
6/27/07 at 8:20pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinker View Post

Also did you check COSTCO (US). Here in Canada they sell DELL's also.

Thanks... US's Costco estimated shipping is in two weeks also.

I called Dell tonight to see if I could have the HC version shipped when it comes in, but of course the phone person had no clue what I was talking about. But they apologized for being back-ordered and upgraded me to next-day shipping.

Now I'm debating canceling the order and re-ordering with the HC version appears on the US Dell website. The manual for this revision is on their website so I would think it should be available to order in the US soon...

UPDATE: If anyone is interested in the 2407, it's currently on sale (albeit backordered) at the Dell website. It's unknown and doubtful that they will be shipping out the new HC version during this sale -- they are probably clearing inventory of the rev04 before offering the High Color model.
Reply
Reply
post #75 of 244
6/28/07 at 7:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinker View Post

DaverJ,

Trust what you have researched and go with your first instincts, get what you want. If you compromise you will always be 2nd guessing if you made the right decision. Stick with a monitor if thats what is what you decided on.

BTW when I ordered my Dell 30" it said a month , but I got it it in less then 2 weeks.


Just to be fair: The Westy 37" is a monitor, not a TV. It has no internal tuners of any sort.
Reply
Reply
post #76 of 244
6/28/07 at 8:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadRusch View Post

Just to be fair: The Westy 37" is a monitor, not a TV. It has no internal tuners of any sort.

Then its a low rez monitor.... . Dont take the following as a knock, just IMO stuff.

I have an ACER 1080p 37" TV which I used as my gaming display, now its sits in the corner after it got replaced by the DELL 30". No comparison when it comes to PQ for PC use. I tested the 1080p 42" Westy and was not impressed. But I never tested the 37" one. . I do use LCD TV's as monitors also, I am currently typing this on a 27" Viewsonic 720p TV so I am not bias to monitor vs TV. Just if DaverJ has decided that the higher rez is what he wants then he should get that then compromise on something he may percieve as inferior later.

Addendum: Actually I find that 27" for me is the most comforting size for PC use. The 30" Dell is great if you need multiple windows open, but getting just on the large size for PC use when running just one window (ie gaming). I found I got neck strain when I was using the 37" for gaming at 2ft distance. Also I find most TV type displays are way too bright for long term PC use. The TV type displays are really TVs minus the Tuner since they can not be classified as a HD TV if they do not have a HD tuner (US regs) and to cut cost they just market them as a "monitor". Just check the specs and they side more with the TVs then with true monitors.
Reply
Reply
post #77 of 244
6/28/07 at 8:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinker View Post

Then its a low rez monitor.... . Dont take the following as a knock, just IMO stuff.

HA! (fu).

Quote:


I have an ACER 1080p 37" TV which I used as my gaming display, now its sits in the corner after it got replaced by the DELL 30". No comparison when it comes to PQ for PC use.

1920x1080 at 37" is perfect, for me. Its sufficiently high resolution and the icons are not microscopic in size. Also, to me games started to reach a point of diminishing returns after 1280x1024....1600x1200? Not all that much better looking than 1280x1024....1920x1080?? Again...its a point of diminishing returns...yes objects in the distance are a little sharper.....higher still? Just for bragging rights. I dont watch movies on the thing, its my full-time PC monitor, thats all it does. Xbox on the thing scaled from 3 feet looks lousy....from 6 feet its better. Video wise, I'd like a higher refresh rate...but I can live with whats there.

Quote:


Just if DaverJ has decided that the higher rez is what he wants then he should get that then compromise on something he may percieve as inferior later.

I haven't said he's making a bad decision You should always buy what you want, or else I agree..you'll ALWAYS second guess yourself. But the dell monitors have not been universally praised...just last year when I bought my Westy the 24" Dells were getting all sorts of bad reviews...people unhappy, lots of dead pixels, people on their 3rd or 4th due to dead pixels or uneven backlighting and so forth. IF Dave needs an ultra high-rez monitor, so be it...thats what he needs. Me, I dont fancy the idea of looking at icons the size of matchstick heads on a screen that size

Quote:


Tuner since they can not be classified as a HD TV if they do not have a HD tuner (US regs) and to cut cost they just market them as a "monitor". Just check the specs and they side more with the TVs then with true monitors.

Six of one, half dozen of the other to me......does it pixel map? Great. At least with this device I can move it upstairs, plug it into my cable box, and be good to go if I needed to. Not that I'll likely do that, but its nice to know the ability is there. I dropped the brightness down and now I'm happy.....size? Like anything else, you get used to it..and it seems normal. My 65" set looks positively ordinary to me now. The day they brought it off the truck to deliver it, I swore It wouldn't fit in the room.

Whatever, so long as he's happy. He's still going to wish he had the shiney transluscent mac stuff tho
Reply
Reply
post #78 of 244
6/28/07 at 9:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadRusch View Post

He's still going to wish he had the shiney transluscent mac stuff tho

Prob true...
You know him better then me .
Reply
Reply
post #79 of 244
6/28/07 at 10:19am
anyone know where to find those 37" 1080p acers anymore, i cant seem to find em....
its one of my options......
sorry for hi-jacking, but daver looks like hes made up his mind on the dell. so i might as well.
Reply
Reply
post #80 of 244
6/28/07 at 10:43am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apache137 View Post

sorry for hi-jacking, but daver looks like hes made up his mind on the dell. so i might as well.

Hi-jack away! There's some good info and discussion happening.
Reply
Reply
post #81 of 244
6/28/07 at 1:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Apache137 View Post

anyone know where to find those 37" 1080p acers anymore, i cant seem to find em....
its one of my options......
sorry for hi-jacking, but daver looks like hes made up his mind on the dell. so i might as well.

From a person who has one....don't. Its a pain to get it to work. Since mine is 50hz not 60 and everytime I updated vid drivers, it took me a few hours tweeking Powerstrip to get it working at 1080p @ 50hz again. It will not do 1080p @ 60hz. Final straw was when I got a 8800GTX and regardless what I did it wouldnt support 1080p at any refresh. That was using DVI. VGA looks like crap and HDMI was not to good either (and with a lot of overscan) SO I bought the Dell 30" monitor. But it makes a nice TV.
Reply
Reply
post #82 of 244
6/28/07 at 2:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinker View Post

Since mine is 50hz not 60 and everytime I updated vid drivers, it

50Hz...you in Eeeeuuurrrope?
Reply
Reply
post #83 of 244
6/28/07 at 4:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadRusch View Post

50Hz...you in Eeeeuuurrrope?

No the ACER for some reason was only available in Australia and New Zealand and here Canada. For some reason the ones here in Canada were 50hz. It seems all the ACER 1080p 37" were the same. There was thread a while back in the flatpanel forum I posted on about the ACER and the various down under sites/forum of pple that were having probms with that TV when it was used with a PC. The upside was that at 25/50hz it was great for movies.
Reply
Reply
post #84 of 244
6/28/07 at 5:05pm
Anyone word on Dells next LCD Monitor?


Nate
Reply
Reply
post #85 of 244
6/29/07 at 8:52am
Thread Starter 
For you Canadians, the new HC model of the Dell 2407 is up on the DELL CA website.

If anyone spots it available in the US, please post here!
Reply
Reply
post #86 of 244
7/2/07 at 3:02pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaverJ View Post

If anyone spots it available in the US, please post here!

I'm probably the only one here that cares, but the NEW HC model of the Dell 2407 is available on the US Dell site!

Huzzah!

Right now the non-HC version is on sale for $80 cheaper, but I've been waiting for the 92% color gamut version of this monitor so I decided to pay the extra and placed my order. I think, on paper, this display is technically even better than the Apple Cinema display I was lusting over last month.

I'll report my impressions when the Dell comes in, hopefully the next week or so.
Reply
Reply
post #87 of 244
7/2/07 at 4:54pm


24"...sooooooooo...tiny.

Reply
Reply
post #88 of 244
7/2/07 at 5:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadRusch View Post

24"...sooooooooo...tiny.

It's not the size, it's what you do with it.

...i.e. 1920x1200.
Reply
Reply
post #89 of 244
7/2/07 at 5:47pm
yeah thats gonna look sharp in a size that small............but its cool because optimal seating on a 24" display is like 12-14" I believe so I think you are right in the SMTPE zone with that one!!!!
Reply
Reply
post #90 of 244
7/5/07 at 9:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DaverJ View Post

I'm probably the only one here that cares, but the NEW HC model of the Dell 2407 is available on the US Dell site!

Huzzah!

Right now the non-HC version is on sale for $80 cheaper, but I've been waiting for the 92% color gamut version of this monitor so I decided to pay the extra and placed my order. I think, on paper, this display is technically even better than the Apple Cinema display I was lusting over last month.

I'll report my impressions when the Dell comes in, hopefully the next week or so.

I ordered the non HC version of this monitor myself last night, not realizing that the HC model was now available. Does anyone know how much of a difference this 92% color gamut rating actually makes? I'll mainly be playing games on my PC, but I'm also starting to get into photography, so I'll cancel my current order and spend the extra $80 for the HC version if it'll look profoundly better.

Thoughts?
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: HTPC Gaming

AVS Top Picks

AVS › AVS Forum › Gaming & Content Streaming › Home Theater Gaming › HTPC Gaming › If you had to buy a monitor today...