Monitor recommendations?

  • Thread starter SendintheClowns
  • Start date
S

SendintheClowns

I'm looking for an inexpensive (aka best of the cheapest quality), black,
17" CRT monitor (16" viewable). The highest resolution I ever go to is
1152x864. Is it worth buying online due to the high shipping prices? Or
should I try eBay?
 
R

Ruel Smith (Big Daddy)

I'm looking for an inexpensive (aka best of the cheapest quality), black,
17" CRT monitor (16" viewable). The highest resolution I ever go to is
1152x864. Is it worth buying online due to the high shipping prices? Or
should I try eBay?

Free UPS Second Day Air:
http://www.ZipZoomFly.com/jsp/ThirdCategoryList.jsp?SecondCategoryCode=0113

I think Samsung makes great monitors for the price. Just my $.02.

--
Big Daddy Ruel Smith

My SuSE Linux machine uptime:
4:10pm up 32 days 0:55, 3 users, load average: 0.16, 0.27, 0.17

My Windows XP machine uptime:
Something less...
 
D

Dave C.

SendintheClowns said:
I'm looking for an inexpensive (aka best of the cheapest quality), black,
17" CRT monitor (16" viewable). The highest resolution I ever go to is
1152x864. Is it worth buying online due to the high shipping prices? Or
should I try eBay?

A monitor, especially a CRT monitor, should always be purchased locally, so
you can return it easily if there is a problem. If you are looking for a
bargain, try to find a computer show in your area. Any decent show should
have a great selection of monitors, CHEAP. I doubt if any of the following
shows are local for you, but it will give you an idea of how to find the
local ones. -Dave

http://www.coganfairs.com/schedule.htm
http://www.pcshow.com/schedule.html
http://www.ncshows.com/
 
J

jeffc

Dave C. said:
A monitor, especially a CRT monitor, should always be purchased locally, so
you can return it easily if there is a problem.

I bought my original Iiyama display online and don't regret it because it's
been a great display, but all the same after having purchased a new display
recently, I have to second this opinion.
If you are looking for a
bargain, try to find a computer show in your area.

For the same reason you just mentioned, I think this is not good advice.
 
T

ToolPackinMama

Ruel Smith (Big Daddy) said:
Free UPS Second Day Air:
http://www.ZipZoomFly.com/jsp/ThirdCategoryList.jsp?SecondCategoryCode=0113

I think Samsung makes great monitors for the price. Just my $.02.

I got a gorgeous 19" Envision flat screen CRT for two hundred bucks
online. I'm ecstatic about this monitor!

I recently bought an attractive black 17" flat-screen Compaq monitor
(refurbished) for my daughter online, and with shipping it was under 120
bucks. It's extremely fine, and she's very pleased with it.

The monitors available locally at the four stores that sell PC
components (CompUSA, BestBuy, Staples, Office Max) all all junk, or very
very overpriced, IMHO. I tried shopping locally, and ultimately bought
online because I could find better deals.
 
B

Bill Turner

My SuSE Linux machine uptime:
4:10pm up 32 days 0:55, 3 users, load average: 0.16, 0.27, 0.17

My Windows XP machine uptime:
Something less...

_________________________________________________________

My SuSE Linux machine uptime: Zero. Never could configure the damn
thing to recognize my sound card or modem. Hours and hours wasted.

My Windows XP machine uptime: All I want. Works first time, every
time, right out of the box. Several different mobo's, soundcards,
modems, printers, everything I could throw at it. Perfect.

I have attempted Linux at least half a dozen times - Mandrake, SuSE,
RedHat, Knoppix, Debian, even Xandros. Never again. Ever.

If I should weaken, someone please just shoot me.
 
B

Bill Turner

If you are looking for a
bargain, try to find a computer show in your area.

_________________________________________________________

You might try thrift shops too. I found a perfect 17" Imagic for
$15.00. Been running fine for six months now. Such a deal.
 
J

jeffc

Bill Turner said:
_________________________________________________________

You might try thrift shops too. I found a perfect 17" Imagic for
$15.00. Been running fine for six months now. Such a deal.

That would be a far better idea than the computer shows I think.
a) cheaper, so even if something goes wrong, less risk
b) you usually have 15-45 days to return something. Computer shows are
packed up and gone the next morning.
 
B

Bob M

ToolPackinMama said:
I got a gorgeous 19" Envision flat screen CRT for two hundred bucks
online. I'm ecstatic about this monitor!

I recently bought an attractive black 17" flat-screen Compaq monitor
(refurbished) for my daughter online, and with shipping it was under 120
bucks. It's extremely fine, and she's very pleased with it.

The monitors available locally at the four stores that sell PC
components (CompUSA, BestBuy, Staples, Office Max) all all junk, or very
very overpriced, IMHO. I tried shopping locally, and ultimately bought
online because I could find better deals.

I have the same Envision monitor and I love it. Would definitely buy
another one.

Bob
 
D

Dave C.

That would be a far better idea than the computer shows I think.
a) cheaper, so even if something goes wrong, less risk
b) you usually have 15-45 days to return something. Computer shows are
packed up and gone the next morning.

What kind of computer shows do you go to? In New England and down South,
the only computer shows I've seen were gatherings of dozens of LOCAL
vendors, and the vendors were all required by the rules of the show
organizer to provide you with their local address and phone number on the
receipt. There is no more risk buying at a show than if you bought at their
brick and mortar store within easy driving distance. The only difference is
price. The exact same component or system at the show will be much
heaper. -Dave
 
J

jeffc

Dave C. said:
What kind of computer shows do you go to? In New England and down South,
the only computer shows I've seen were gatherings of dozens of LOCAL
vendors, and the vendors were all required by the rules of the show
organizer to provide you with their local address and phone number on the
receipt. There is no more risk buying at a show than if you bought at their
brick and mortar store within easy driving distance. The only difference is
price. The exact same component or system at the show will be much
heaper.

Much "heaper"? More a heap of junk? Just kidding. I've only been to a
couple, and they both sucked. Not like you described - basically more like
flea markets with "fly-by-night" looking vendors. Bad assumption on my part
about what computer shows in general were like. If they are local vendors
with return policies, then sounds good to me.
 
D

Dave C.

Much "heaper"? More a heap of junk? Just kidding. I've only been to a
couple, and they both sucked. Not like you described - basically more like
flea markets with "fly-by-night" looking vendors. Bad assumption on my part
about what computer shows in general were like. If they are local vendors
with return policies, then sounds good to me.

Oh man, you need to find a good show then. You'll love it, though you might
not buy much there. The real bargains at a good computer show are software.
Yes, you'll find some gray market mixed in there, but you'll also find legal
software sold for ridiculously low prices. On the hardware side, you will
find a great selection of monitors cheap, if you aren't shopping for
high-end specs. The average home user should be able to find a really good
monitor cheap at a show. For most other components, you will also find a
good selection at good prices, though much of the selection will be
lower-end components. You can't blame the vendors for that, as they stock
what SELLS at these shows. Still, if you know hardware, you could build a
pretty decent system using just parts from the show. Good luck finding a
decent power supply, though. If you are lucky enough to find a good brand
of power supply at a show, it is their very cheapest model. At least that's
what I've observed at many shows. I mainly go to the shows about once or
twice a year for the entertainment factor more than anything else. It's fun
to see some of the latest hardware components that you won't see anywhere
else . . . or if you do, it'll be in a box. At the show, you can see that
new motherboard you've read about, sitting right on the table. Shows are
also good for miscellaneous junk. If you build a lot, you are always
looking for LONG hard drive cables and miscellaneous standoffs/screws, for a
couple of good examples. Buy a bag of each for about a buck or two and you
are set for the next five years. (!) I even manage to drag my wife along
sometimes. She always says she hates the shows, but ends up spending more
than I do. (!) Yeah, I've never been to a show that seemed to have shady
dealers. The many shows I've been to, the businesses showing there were
LOCAL, with name/address/phone clearly displayed on overhead signs and on
receipts that they give you when you purchase something. Oh, another thing
about the shows is that they are a GREAT place to purchase a whole system if
you know what you want but (for some odd reason) don't want to build it.
You can easily get a system that will beat the "Dells" with better specs and
lower prices. But you've got to know exactly what you want, as the default
configurations are always lacking in something (but they will customize to
your order, of course). If you know exactly what you want , probably better
to build yourself. Still, the shows are great. As I said before, they can
be entertaining, at least, even if you don't spend much money. -Dave
 
D

Dan Musicant

I've been going to computer shows for more than ten years. Probably been
to around 25, maybe more. In my area they are free if you register
online (they email you a coupon).

I've learned a lot and now I realize that most of the stuff you see at
those shows aren't such a great deal.

Dave C. was right about just about everything he said. It's
entertainment, there are some very good deals especially in software and
in those little things - odd connectors and cables. Nowadays since you
can shop online and search for the best prices it's usually possible to
get something shipped for less than you will get it at a show, unless
it's just one cable or connector and such.

You can sometimes definitely get some ideas at shows, see the new
things. But realize that very often if not usually, the very newest
things aren't what you see. You may well run into something that's being
replaced by something more current. So do your homework before you buy.
For instance, when I had just shopped and bought a video card I was very
aware of what was cutting edge. I saw them selling cards that were not
cutting edge, selling for more than they were worth. I've bought
keyboards at better prices than I could have in stores, also many a
mouse, ram chip, CD-Rom drives, burners, media, CD sleeves, a monitor
A/B switch...

I've never bought a monitor at a computer show but contemplated a few.
I've gravitated to high end monitors and I never see those at the shows
unless they are used, possibly.
 

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