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Thread ID: 80396 2007-06-21 06:07:00 Budget LCD - Viewsonic and Dell jackwass (12442) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
561297 2007-06-21 06:07:00 I live in a house full of laptops and I'm sick of the annoying little screens so I want to buy an affordable monitor to plug in (the laptops all have VGA outs so I assume that won't be a problem).

I will mainly be using it for the usual (internet/Word/etc) but also some photo editing. Having said that it's not like it's colour-critical professional work - I just don't want to use tiny laptop screens that vary so much with viewing angle.

I have seen the Viewsonic ViewSonic VG2021m for around $360 and the basic Dell 19" is around the same. I realise the ViewSonic is slightly larger but that's not a big issue for me.

First question is what is the difference between the same size Dell LCDs (the SE197FP and the E197FP) that justifies the $150 price difference?

Secondly would either of these monitors be decent for what I need?

Thanks!
jackwass (12442)
561298 2007-06-21 06:15:00 I don't see anything wrong with them if your just wanting a bigger screen than your laptop. winmacguy (3367)
561299 2007-06-21 06:17:00 Without checking the specs of those monitors it is often the dead and zero bright pixel warranty that more expensive models have that is the reason for the higher price. Have a look and compare those. FoxyMX (5)
561300 2007-06-21 07:57:00 www.behardware.com



Pixel policies Listed here
pctek (84)
561301 2007-06-21 22:05:00 As the article points out it's not so easy to find the companies' policies!

The Dell website states that they don't consider 5 pixels (either dead or bright) a replaceable defect - ie you have to have 6 dead pixels to get an exchange. There seems to be no difference in policy between the cheaper/more expensive models.

The Viewsonic monitor has 30 day no dead pixel and 3 year no bright pixel warranty - so it would be a bit of gamble.

Are dead pixels very annoying/noticeable?
jackwass (12442)
561302 2007-06-21 22:33:00 Dead pixels aren't as bad or as noticeable as bright pixels CYaBro (73)
561303 2007-06-21 23:08:00 Vewsonic is a good brand, and they have good warranty/dead pixel support. Havn't had experience with Dell, but i know in general dell support (if it breaks) is really dodgy. wratterus (105)
561304 2007-06-22 00:24:00 The Viewsonic monitor has 30 day no dead pixel and 3 year no bright pixel warranty - so it would be a bit of gamble.

Are dead pixels very annoying/noticeable?

Actually they have a diagram on their website showing location and numbers considered acceptable. It depends on where they are as much as how many.

It would be annoying in the centre for instance, which is why they require less there than at the corners.

Like a fly spot............
pctek (84)
561305 2007-06-22 12:46:00 perhaps the price also reflects the maximum resolution and/or response time?

(no i didn't bother to look and yes i assumed they were lcd)

dell has reputedly bad customer support, viewsonic in my experience is a very reliable brand, both crt and lcd.
motorbyclist (188)
561306 2007-06-22 13:49:00 Are dead pixels very annoying/noticeable?I have a relatively new (less than 6 months old) HP widescreen LCD - it very quickly developed a single bright pixel (red) in about the middle of what I would describe as the north-east quandrant of the monitor .

Three bright pixels are considered 'acceptable' by HP .

My own opinion differs by about 300% - a single bright red pixel when trying to watch a movie is VERY distracting .

So, not a damn thing I can do about it, except make a point to the retailer that I will never buy from them again (because that was not made clear at the time of purchase) and would never buy an HP monitor again (unless they change their pixel policy) .
johcar (6283)
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