19"-21" Monitor Advice

[Sneedes]

I've been looking around for a larger monitor. After CompUSA hosed me over on an incredible deal, I'm back at starting ground. I'm looking to spend less than $300 (ok, so it rules out the 21").

Right now I'm checking out the Hitachi CM721F 19" model for $300 shipped from NewEgg or Dell. Is this a decent montior? or deal? Are there any other suggestions of a good monitor?

I've browsed the local retail shops, but all they carry are the nasty looking 19s. The ones that are wicked curved and the bottom of the totem pole.

Anyone in the know of any hot monitor deals?
Thanks!

Sneedes

/rant Compusa ripped me off of an IBM P96 monitor for $170 shipped. They magically cannot complete my order and the item disappeared from their catalog. bastards
/end rant

[Darth Willis]

I've found refurb monitors to usually be a safe purchase. Try going <a href="http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Refurb/display.asp?category=Monitors&id=12">here</a> and poke around a bit. It looks like Tiger Direct has some good ViewSonics available.

[Sneedes]

I'd like to stay away from refurbs. Especially when it comes monitors. Monitors tend to be somewhat finicky. I've heard of people getting very great deals and also getting garbage. I'm not brave enough to try my luck on a refurb monitor. I like refurbed <and backed up> hard drives though.

A quick look at tigerdirect's <a href="http://www.resellerratings.com/cgi-bin/reseller/vendone.cgi?TigerDirect" >reviews </a> on resellerratings.com shows me that they are a company I wouldn't do business with. There aren't many happy customers.

Any others?

Sneedes

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Sneedes on 2002-01-03 23:10 ]</font>

[Darth Willis]

Granted I don't do much business with them due to most of their prices and ad tactics, but I've gotten a couple of refurb monitors and a few Samsung laser printers through them and haven't had any problems. As for the quality on a refurb, it probably depends on what manufacturer it is and who does the repair work/cleaning. Oh well, that's pretty much the best I can offer. Best of luck to you.

NEXT!
_________________
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Darth Willis on 2002-01-03 23:21 ]</font>

[champs]

The one thing I can say is that Sony tubes really are worth the money. I've seen the CPD-G400 (my main monitor) go for less than $400, now that it's not in manufacture.

It's not perfect, but it has fewer flaws than anything else I've used for a long time, and in many cases they either don't apply to anything important, or are things you have to look for. Trinitron tubes have tension wires behind the screen that sometimes put a thin, horizontal, quarter pixel shadow on bright backgrounds. They won't annoy you nearly as much, if at all, after you can appreciate everything else that comes with them, but you may want to see it first. If you think there's any chance you can live with it, you _can_.

[TwoFer]

I'm using a Hitachi CM823F, the 21" big brother of the one you're looking at, and it's a georgeous monitor. I used to think my ViewSonic P815 was great, but this Hitachi quickly replaced it -- even though I bought it for my second monitor.

BTW, I run them side-by-side (dual monitor setup) so it's easy to see the differences...

[Bruce]

Hi,

I'm with TwoFer - I'd rate Hitachi monitors very highly. I've never used the 721F - I think the last one I used was a 772, which is slightly dearer.

I never saw the sense in shelling out big bucks for a high-end video card and then plugging it into a crappy monitor....

Bruce

[RandomNull]

Well I work at that damn store CompUSA and we have got a good deal on a flat screen viewsonic the A90F for 299 I have one and am extremely satisfied.
Might wanna give it a look.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: RandomNull on 2002-01-04 15:21 ]</font>

[Sneedes]

Not to sound like a prick or anything, but I was wanting something a little better than the A series.
I've looked at a few of these in person. Since I'm going to shell out this much money for a 19", I might as well spend a few more bucks on a better one.

Nice deal none the less. Is that without any rebates?

Sneedes

[wtburnette]

I agree with LocalYokel, the Sony G400 is worth the extra money. I don't like the viewsonic. A friend of mine has it and it's slightly blurrier looking then mine and doesn't support the same high resolution/refresh rates. I have a Compaq P900 based on the same Sony Trinitron tube that the G400 has. I'd recommend this monitor, but unfortunately it's been phased out...

[RandomNull]

ya w/o ne rebates.
well I had been using a cheap 14.1 inch viewable before I got the A90F and so I guess anything will look great compared to my old one.
1600x1200 on it looks crystal clear to me.

[RandomNull]

o ya and if you plan to buy a monitor from a retail place like CompUSA we have all of them hooked up to the cheapest video cards set to the lowest refresh rate. So its kinda hard to distinguish the good monitors from the bad because of how they are set up.
I mean anything will look like crap if its running 800x600 60 refresh and hooked up to an old POS video card.
I for one would like to see a montior display hooked up to a matrox card or something. I have used one at my buddies house and I tell u nothin looks better in 2d neways.

[Vortex_X]

I've always been partial to IIyama monitors, especially the VisionMaster 450/451. They use the Diamondtron tube, so if the two damper wires bother you, don't even bother investigateing further.

If you're REALLY lucky, you may find a refurbished unit for 300-325. My next choice would be a Sony, but in side-by-side comparisons, I find the IIyama to be noticably better.

[Forge]

I have a Hitachi CM-751 that I'm very happy with. It has some very minor defects, but on the whole it's a fantastic 19", made even more so by the fact it cost 200$...

BTW: Minor defects = Top scanline or two disappear on the left side at 1024x768 only, and at 800x600x120Hz the top few scanlines on the upper left have uneven separation. Looks almost interlaced if you stare closely at the top five lines or so on the upper left.

At 1600x1200, though, where I do most everything, it's perfect, and that's fine by me.

[Sneedes]

Is that CM-751 or CM-715? Any differences if so?

I see newegg has the CM-715 for $264 shipped. Anywhere else have a better deal (still being a reputable dealer)?

[MikeShaffer]

I'm pretty happy with my Sony G520 21". It was $639 from mwave.com. I normally wouldn't spend that huge amount of money on a monitor, but I figured it was worth it since I spend so much time on the computer and my eyes were starting to hurt.

[Sneedes]

I definately wouldn't mind having that monitor. Too bad it's about 3 times out of my price range.

[highlandr]

I would recommend the Samsung 955DF.

It doesn't have the reputation of the sonys, or the refresh rate (65Hz @ 16X12, yikes!) but it is a very good deal for a 19" flat CRT. I haven't had any problems in the 6 months or so I've had it, and the picture quality is respectable.

I got mine for a fabulous deal ($190 w/40 rebate, which I uh, kinda forgot to mail in) but it's $260 at newegg.com

[nrobison]

I agree with Vortex_X - the Iiyama monitors are outstanding (I do photo, graphic design and CAD work often and very happily on this monitor). There is a 19" 450 (refurb) at their shop now for $299 http://www.iiyamadirect.com/iiyamadirec ... roduct.asp