LCDs: Samsung SM913N vs Acer AL1916S

[Timmah1980]

Hello!

New user to Google Groups looking for a bit of advice about 19" LCD
monitors.

I've currently got two CRTs (Iiyama Vision Master Pro 500 19" and
Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 2020u) and am looking to replace them with a
pair of LCDs. They're a bit bulky and the image quality of the
Mitsubishi isn't what it once was! (I'm keen on the idea of getting two
matching LCDs, with a slim bezel, and squeezing them up together -
mmm!)

I use my computer for a range of things (gaming, web/graphic design,
internet browsing), so would need a good all-rounder. I'm not running a
particularly good graphics card, and consequently won't be playing the
latest games (mainly GTA:SA, NFS, HL2 and CS:S).

I've had a good look around and have narrowed my search down to the
following two LCDs (at the top of my price range):

- Samsung SM913N (£185 from Amazon); and
- Acer AL1916S (£173.89 from Ebuyer*).

Basically, I guess I've got three questions:

1. Is it worth upgrading my CRTs to LCDs, given what I use them for?
2. Is the main benefit of LCDs the space-saving factor or are they
generally better than CRTs?
3. If I were to go for LCDs, which is a better buy; the Samsung or the
Acer?

Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions!! )

Tim.

(*I'd rather steer away from Ebuyer, if it can be helped!)

 

[Schrodinger's Cat]

I've had a good look around and have narrowed my search down to the
following two LCDs (at the top of my price range):

- Samsung SM913N (£185 from Amazon); and
- Acer AL1916S (£173.89 from Ebuyer*).

Basically, I guess I've got three questions:

1. Is it worth upgrading my CRTs to LCDs, given what I use them for?
2. Is the main benefit of LCDs the space-saving factor or are they
generally better than CRTs?
3. If I were to go for LCDs, which is a better buy; the Samsung or the
Acer?

Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions!! )

Tim.

(*I'd rather steer away from Ebuyer, if it can be helped!)

I'm sitting looking at two SM913Ns from Ebuyer.

I bought one and I liked it so much, I bought another. Good text and great
for gaming.

They are very crisp, bright and clear. I've not seen an Acer so I can't
compare, but I'll tell you this - if you buy these monitors you will not
regret it.

Good luck

Martin

 

[geoff]

I have a samsung 204t and the sharpness was so good, I went back to my old
reading glasses.

I can not comment on gaming but I have used it to watch movies and did not
see any problems.

The only downside to all of this is a new standard is coming out called
'display port' and dvi will go away. So, by thhis time next year, the
monitor will become or start to become obsolete.

-g

 

[Timmah1980]

Thanks for the comments, guys!

What sort of bezel size does the SM913N have? I'm after one with as
small a one as possible - from what I've seen in pictures, the Acer
seems to have the edge. Although, having read reviews of the Samsung on
Ebuyer's website, it doesn't seem I'd go far wrong with them.

Not wishing to send this thread off on an "I hate Ebuyer" tangent, but
did you find Ebuyer a good vendor? I've had a few problems with their
customer service in the past and swore not to be seduced by their lower
prices again!

Also, what do people reckon to widescreen LCDs? Amazon are selling a
19" widescreen Acer for around £175. Would dual widescreen monitors
cause me any problems or be worse in any way than 4:3 monitors?

Geoff - the Samsung 204t looks like a very good monitor. Unfortunately,
it seems to be somewhat out of my price range. I'm looking to spend
around £350 for two monitors, whereas the 204t's seems to cost over
£400 each! I won £7.40 on the Euromillions though, so maybe I'll
reconsider! ;o)

 

[Schrodinger's Cat]

Thanks for the comments, guys!

What sort of bezel size does the SM913N have? I'm after one with as
small a one as possible - from what I've seen in pictures, the Acer
seems to have the edge. Although, having read reviews of the Samsung
on Ebuyer's website, it doesn't seem I'd go far wrong with them.

Bezel width is 20mm including the rebate on the Samsung. Tow of them sit
well together.

Not wishing to send this thread off on an "I hate Ebuyer" tangent, but
did you find Ebuyer a good vendor? I've had a few problems with their
customer service in the past and swore not to be seduced by their
lower prices again!

I've been lucky with them - I've never had to send anything back and I've
bought a lot from them over the years. But I have heard they can be slow to
respond if you have a problem. Certainly my monitors were delivered bang on
time.

Also, what do people reckon to widescreen LCDs? Amazon are selling a
19" widescreen Acer for around £175. Would dual widescreen monitors
cause me any problems or be worse in any way than 4:3 monitors?

I honestly don't know.

Good luck.

Martin

 

[johns]

Acer has a terrible reputation regards warranty. They don't support
their outsource techs very well at all, and so the service is
questionable.

johns

 

[adsci]

my acer AL1951 had 8 dead pixels (2 black, 4 darker, 1 white, 1 green)
when i bought it.

i managed it to return it and got a new one which seemed to be perfect.
later i've see one darker pixel on the bottom and 1 week later 1 white
pixel emerged on the right of the screen. i kept it since i dont know
how many pixels are dead on the next one.

the samsung i had had no dead pixels.

just a story

 

[Timmah1980]

Cheers guys.

I went for a couple of Samsung 913Ns and couldn't be happier! No dead
pixels, lovely sharp bright display, no ghosting on games - superb!

)

 

[H. Seldon]

Timmah1980 rolled this off the keyboard on Sunday 2/5/2006

Hello!

New user to Google Groups looking for a bit of advice about 19" LCD
monitors.

I've currently got two CRTs (Iiyama Vision Master Pro 500 19" and
Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 2020u) and am looking to replace them with a
pair of LCDs. They're a bit bulky and the image quality of the
Mitsubishi isn't what it once was! (I'm keen on the idea of getting two
matching LCDs, with a slim bezel, and squeezing them up together -
mmm!)

I use my computer for a range of things (gaming, web/graphic design,
internet browsing), so would need a good all-rounder. I'm not running a
particularly good graphics card, and consequently won't be playing the
latest games (mainly GTA:SA, NFS, HL2 and CS:S).

I've had a good look around and have narrowed my search down to the
following two LCDs (at the top of my price range):

- Samsung SM913N (£185 from Amazon); and
- Acer AL1916S (£173.89 from Ebuyer*).

Basically, I guess I've got three questions:

1. Is it worth upgrading my CRTs to LCDs, given what I use them for?
2. Is the main benefit of LCDs the space-saving factor or are they
generally better than CRTs?
3. If I were to go for LCDs, which is a better buy; the Samsung or the
Acer?

Thanks in advance for any advice or opinions!! )

Tim.

(*I'd rather steer away from Ebuyer, if it can be helped!)

I purchased the Acer 1916 about 3 months ago. I am extremely happy
with the performance of the unit. It came with no dead pixels and no
permanently turned-on pixels. In its native resolution, the picture is
very sharp and clean with no ghosting visable to my poor old eyes .
However, it will never have the versatility of a CRT display when it
comes to flexibility of configuration or the contrast/brightness range
and whereas the LCD works very well in its native resolution, it can
look 'not so great' in other resolutions. That is never really a
problem with a CRT display. I give the same advice here as I would
with the purchase of an audio system. Aside from the obvious technical
specifications, the rest is strictly subjective. Go to a number of
vendors in your area, if you can, and observe both types and various
brands. Let your eyes make the selection for you.

--
_____________________________________________________________

That's all,


"Just because you're not paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get
you"

< Colin Sautar >