Author Topic: Monitor advice? Them new-fangled LCDs... (Read 4210 times)

Perd Hapley · « **on:** May 09, 2009, 10:34:23 PM »

I am trying to snatch up a ViewSonic monitor from ebay. The starting bid is very low, but I don't see any problem with it, other than it has no VGA cord. Or maybe it's cheap because it is only 15". Most of the others are 17". I am OK with the 15", as the home office is getting a bit crowded anyhow.

Do they use the same VGA cable as a CRT?

Also, will I need to download a driver?

There are also a number of them available without AC adaptors. Are those hard to find? They are model-specific or brand-specific, I assume?

Waitone · « **Reply #1 on:** May 09, 2009, 10:42:43 PM »

Watch out for dead spots on the screen.

Tigerdirect is selling a refurbed 15" Acer for $70 plus shipping.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4290824&CatId=164

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #2 on:** May 09, 2009, 11:06:20 PM »

Quote from: Waitone on May 09, 2009, 10:42:43 PM

Watch out for dead spots on the screen.

I'm looking at a bunch of monitors from a local business. They've noted other monitors that have dark spots and blemishes, but not this one. I'll have 'em plug it in for me, when I go down to pick it up.

KPT · « **Reply #3 on:** May 09, 2009, 11:20:15 PM »

Quote from: fistful on May 09, 2009, 10:34:23 PM

Do they use the same VGA cable as a CRT?

They can be either VGA or DVI. Cheap ones usually only have VGA. I've never seen one that had DVI and didn't also have VGA inputs so you should be fine.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #4 on:** May 09, 2009, 11:38:52 PM »

So VGA cable is VGA cable? Same-same?

The deal is it doesn't come with a VGA cable, so I'm just trying to make sure it's not some weird new cable I don't have, and will cost me a hundred bucks.

Standing Wolf · « **Reply #5 on:** May 09, 2009, 11:43:10 PM »

My View Sonic was a waste of money.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2009, 11:49:52 PM »

Standing Wolf, has anything you've purchased not been a waste of money or a disappointment in some way? I can honestly say I've never seen you give anything a good review.

Chris

Sindawe · « **Reply #7 on:** May 09, 2009, 11:58:09 PM »

Standing Wolf = The Mikey of the 21st Century. He hates EVERYTHING!

I've had decent luck with Dell's LCD monitors. My home setup uses an older 19" that still runs solid with no stuck pixels, as does my sister's PC. My Network Admin at work has a pair of 27" Dell widescreens that are gonzo sweet.

Quality drivers on DVI cables should see the monitor for what it is and tell the graphics card what it can do.

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Are those hard to find? They are model-specific or brand-specific, I assume?

Plug interface, voltage and amperage are what counts IIRC. Brands & Model are irrelevent past that.

PTK · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2009, 12:16:46 AM »

Quote from: Standing Wolf on May 09, 2009, 11:43:10 PM

My View Sonic was a waste of money.

Agreed, pony up and buy a Hanns-G from www.newegg.com

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2009, 12:30:30 AM »

Like I said, the opening bid is VERY low. I'll be setting my max bid in the low twenties, so I'm not expecting a whole lot.

If the bidding goes any higher, I'll just use one of the numerous CRTs I can get for free.

Regolith · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2009, 01:08:18 AM »

I've been happy with my ViewSonic so far. It's a 19" 16:10 widescreen. It has better contrast and color than my CRT, which is not easy for an LCD to pull off. It has absolutely no dead pixels or any other problems.

I've had trouble calibrating the colors to be exact, though; however if you're not doing any serious photo retouching that isn't really a problem. You usually need a $100+ gizmo to get it right anyway.

Gewehr98 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2009, 01:15:20 AM »

No problems with ViewSonics here, either.

Something tells me that Standing Wolf has an Eeyore-style raincloud following him around all the time...

CNYCacher · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2009, 01:44:43 AM »

Quote from: fistful on May 09, 2009, 11:38:52 PM

So VGA cable is VGA cable? Same-same?

The deal is it doesn't come with a VGA cable, so I'm just trying to make sure it's not some weird new cable I don't have, and will cost me a hundred bucks.

Yes, VGA cables are the same thing for CRT and LCD, but are you sure you have one? Most CRTs have a VGA cable that doesn't detach.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2009, 02:15:57 AM »

I bought an extender for my CRT a while back.

CNYCacher · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2009, 02:58:22 AM »

Quote from: fistful on May 10, 2009, 02:15:57 AM

I bought an extender for my CRT a while back.

VGA cables have two male ends.

The VGA plug on the monitor will look exactly like the one on your computer.

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #15 on:** May 10, 2009, 09:06:03 AM »

Oooooh. OK. Thanks. You mean two female ends on the cables, right? New Egg has them for about five bucks, and I think I might be able to scrounge one up, anyhow.

Standing Wolf · « **Reply #16 on:** May 10, 2009, 09:51:04 AM »

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Standing Wolf, has anything you've purchased not been a waste of money or a disappointment in some way? I can honestly say I've never seen you give anything a good review.

You may never have heard me talk about my Macintosh SE 30 or my Pythons and High Standards. I'll have to admit it's been awhile since I've said much good about digital gadgetry or the what's its name administration.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #17 on:** May 10, 2009, 10:00:22 AM »

Quote from: Standing Wolf on May 10, 2009, 09:51:04 AM

You may never have heard me talk about my Macintosh SE 30 or my Pythons and High Standards. I'll have to admit it's been awhile since I've said much good about digital gadgetry or the what's its name administration.

Now that you mention it, I do remember your praise for the Pythons and High Standards.

Speaking of Pythons, does it mean I spend too much time with computers that the first thing that came to mind was the programming language?

K Frame · « **Reply #18 on:** May 10, 2009, 10:05:34 AM »

"Standing Wolf = The Mikey of the 21st Century. He hates EVERYTHING!"

Not everything.

I have a 22" widescreen ViewSonic on my desk here at home.

I have had for going on 3 years now.

The thing is fantastic. No dead spots, no issues, beautifully clear, everything you want a monitor to be without the weight and size of a CRT.

LadySmith · « **Reply #19 on:** May 10, 2009, 10:09:57 AM »

Quote from: Sindawe on May 09, 2009, 11:58:09 PM

I've had decent luck with Dell's LCD monitors.

I have one, but am having difficulty keeping the screen clean. Everything I've tried leaves streaks.

LadySmith · « **Reply #20 on:** May 10, 2009, 10:17:14 AM »

Quote from: mtnbkr on May 10, 2009, 10:00:22 AM

Speaking of Pythons, does it mean I spend too much time with computers that the first thing that came to mind was the programming language?

First thing that came to my mind was Colt.
The second was reptiles.
But that's just me.

mtnbkr · « **Reply #21 on:** May 10, 2009, 10:22:34 AM »

Quote from: Mike Irwin on May 10, 2009, 10:05:34 AM

"Standing Wolf = The Mikey of the 21st Century. He hates EVERYTHING!"

Not everything.

I have a 22" widescreen ViewSonic on my desk here at home.

I have had for going on 3 years now.

The thing is fantastic. No dead spots, no issues, beautifully clear, everything you want a monitor to be without the weight and size of a CRT.

He was referring to the "Mikey" of Life Cereal fame.

Chris

Gowen · « **Reply #22 on:** May 10, 2009, 11:09:03 AM »

Not what you said you were looking for, but a good deal none the less.

Newegg: HannsG 22" monitor - $128.69 FS

HannsÂ·G Hi-221DPB Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 Built in Speakers - Retail

http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/hot-deals/923483/

Sindawe · « **Reply #23 on:** May 10, 2009, 11:24:15 AM »

HannsG monitors look great. While they work correctly. I have a 17" model as the 2nd monitor on my media machine that likes to go all funky on the colors occasionally. At work we've lost three of the 4:3 19" models in the past few months, all shortly after their warrenty expired.

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I have one, but am having difficulty keeping the screen clean. Everything I've tried leaves streaks.

Klear Screen: http://www.klearscreen.com/

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Speaking of Pythons, does it mean I spend too much time with computers that the first thing that came to mind was the programming language?

Same here.

grislyatoms · « **Reply #24 on:** May 10, 2009, 12:11:23 PM »

Never had any trouble with my HannsG widescreen. I think it's the same model scanr mentioned with the built in pseakers. Beautiful picture. No DVI connector on mine though, just VGA and HDMI.

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I'm just trying to make sure it's not some weird new cable I don't have, and will cost me a hundred bucks.

I have no idea what you are talking about.

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Author Topic: Monitor advice? Them new-fangled LCDs... (Read 4210 times)