UPDATE: Larry Has a New LCD Monitor! (see p.2 for details)

[Luvian]

I know the feeling Larry. They rarely stock what I want either.

Well at least I'm lucky on one thing. futureshop.ca allow you to see store availability, so from home I can see what they have in my local store. I shop there a lot because of that.

[Larry_OHF]

There has been a change of opinion. I went to Intrex today and had the guy talk to me and show me the whole resolution thing with games and stuff and I also learned that my card's max res for a flat screen is 1920x1200, according to PNY's spec chart and 2048x1536 @ 85Hz. for something else (non-flat panel???).

Anyway, seeing this and understanding what I do now about LCDs, I may indeed get a widescreen.

These are my four options.


Samsung 906BW (No DVi cable included) 19" 2ms 300cd/m2 2000:1 1400x900

Samsung 206BW 20" 2ms 300cd/m2 800:1 (DCR 3000:1)1680x1050

*(award-winning @newegg) Samsung 204BW 20" 6ms 300cd/m2 700:1 1680x1050

Samsung 941BW 19" 4ms 300cd/m2 500:1 1440x900

By the way, this list was not made with preference to Samsung, but my searches on newegg for best buyer reviews led me in this direction based on my criteria

[ 03-30-2007, 03:00 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Larry_OHF]

Circuit City has both of these in stock, and I will be coming home with one of them tonight.

Samsung 906BW (No DVi cable included) 19" 2ms 300cd/m2 2000:1 1400x900

Samsung 206BW 20" 2ms 300cd/m2 800:1 (DCR 3000:1)1680x1050

Here's the tricky part. Which one?

1. The 906 is a 19" and the 206 is a 20".
Not big enough difference for me to pay an extra $100, BUT

2. The 906 does not come with a DVI cable and therefore I would have to buy a Monster brand cable for it which will be nearly $100. Therefore, the price of both are the same.

3. Both resolutions are supported by my vid. card, so no issues there.

4. The 906 has a contrast ratio of 2000:1 and the 206 brags about having a DCR of 3000:1, but also an 800:1 is listed there for some reason.

5. Besides these differences, the other specs (brightness and speed) are equal.

6. Cost of each: 906 is $210 (after rebate) / the 206 is $299, not knowing if a rebate exists.

[Luvian]

Doesn't your shop have a return policy? Where I buy you have a 5 days or so to return a computer product if you don't like it. You could test the widescreen with your games and see if you like it. Widescreen is certainly a good idea if you plan to watch DVDs on it.

[ 03-30-2007, 05:00 PM: Message edited by: Luvian ]

[Larry_OHF]

Originally posted by Luvian: Doesn't your shop have a return policy? Where I buy you have a 5 days or so to return a computer product if you don't like it. You could test the widescreen with your games and see if you like it. Widescreen is certainly a good idea if you plan to watch DVDs on it.

In the US, you have to pay a restocking fee for electronics these days if you just don't like it, else you have 14 days to return it for defects.

I have made my choice...but now I have to actually get the thing hooked up and all.

Which did I choose?
The 20", 206BW. It came down to the extra inch plus not having to purchase an after-market cable at the moment.

Does anybody actually think that Monster brand cables offer a better experience? The issue seems to be a topic of discussion amongst our web brethren.

[Larry_OHF]

AH! My Eyes! They're Bleeding! Help! Ah!!

Woah! This is crazy man! IW is like...WIERD! Its all stretched out and junk!

I tuned down the brightness to 85 and the Contrast to 65, but that is about all I know how to handle. Can sombody gimme a tip on how to "normalize" this thing?

Oh, I DL'ed the updated drivers, set the resolution to the homebase of 1680x1050, and the instructions said that of the two Hz available, they'd recommend me using the 59Hz setting when using the full res. and 60Hz only if I take it out of fixed res.

Anybody know if there is a "decent" setting on colors, and all these other little gadgets that this booger has?

WEEEEEEeeeeee!!!!

Oh...I guess I should try that website that I was linked to for optimizing my experience...let's do that now.

[ 03-30-2007, 09:01 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Hivetyrant]

I have never found that Monster cables impoved my monitor visuals (I also bought a Monster DVI cable, though they do make a difference when it comes to Optical/component video)

Good choce on the monito, and I hope it comes with no dead pixels(Seems to be a common fear, however they are very rare these days)

Let us know how it goes!

[PurpleXVI]

If things are stretched out and odd, it's all just a matter of adjusting the resolution.

Or getting used to it.

[Larry_OHF]

I just now tested a trailer from Apple, a DVD, and played through some NWN1 with the resolution set at my monitor's fixed res. and I saw no trouble at all! I was expecting to have to scale NWN1 res in-game to something "littler", but I really saw no reason to!

Does anyone else play NWN on a LCD and play it at a lower res for a reason?

[T-D-C]

Larry. You now have pretty mucht he same LCD as me. I have the 205Bw.

Love this monitor!