OT: recommendations for flat panel display please

[RJK]

I want a new flat panel monitor, and of course I want the best possible
quality for the least possible amount of money !
After spending lots of time at Toms hardware, I'm even less sure of what you
get for your money.

One complicated area seems to be latency times, these are dealt with quite
thoroughly at Tomshardware but, again, all this info. lots of which seems to
be "splitting-hairs," leaves one even more confused. In addition to
manufacturers latency / refresh figures being less than accurate, the newer
faster 4ms panels apparently are good for games but, not so good for video.
12ms seems to be better for video and dvd etc.

Unless I'm barking up the wrong tree I've whittled it down to either a
( from http://www.aria.co.uk )

Neovo F419 19" brightness 250cd/m2 Contrast Ratio 500:1 £182.07
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=20064
or a
Samsung SM913B 19" TFT Silver 8ms 300cd/m2 / 700:1 £244.32
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=19466

The Neovos' "Hard Coating, Anti-Glare and Anti-Static treatments keep the
display at its best" appeals to me. I suspect the Samsung one is the type
that gives "squishy" rainbow effect if you touch it. Both have DVI input
sockets. Bit of a difference in price, and would prefer the Neoveo with
hard coating on the screen.

....what about a Digimate:-
19" Digimate L-1925 TFT with DVI 3 Year Warranty 250cd/m2 / 700:1 £167.97
http://www.aria.co.uk/ProductInfoComm.asp?ID=19732
...the price is a bit more like it but, yuk! it's got speakers.

It would have been easier to pay the extra and choose a Sony, with it's
almost guaranteed quality and performance but, the X-black models were
almost described as rubbish on Tomshardware's review
http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/04/do_the_new_19/
Sony X-black:-
http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/04/do_the_new_19/page17.html

Any recommendations ?

regards, Richard

 

[Alan]

I want a new flat panel monitor, and Any recommendations ?

regards, Richard

Go to a showroom and look at the displays working.

No-one else's opinion can substitute for your own eyes and your own opinion.

 

[RJK]

I didn't think of that ! (not joking or being sarcastic - it didn't occur
to me!).
Too used to having big boxes delivered I guess. Come to think of it,
there's not much to choose from in the way of stores where I live, nearest
would be Taunton or Bristol I suppose. What a horrid thought driving all
the way over there !!!! ...and paying for the shop frontage in the price !

regards, Richard

ps I'm tempted to buy the Sony and have done with it - I didn't like the
tone of the review at Tomshardware and wonder if the reviewer was really
being honest, frankly Sony has never let me down in the past.

regards, Richard

 

[Alan]

You don't need to buy there.

But it will save carriage, waiting in .........

Just to add a spanner in the works I just bought a flat screen TV which has
built in facility for a monitor. It's not the fastest response but the price
is excellent compared to monitors only. It also has SCART, SVHS .......
inputs. The display is comparable to the dedicated LCD screens I have. Even
the Argos catalogue has them but you can get cheaper. But try before you buy
again!