best monitor for $400-$500

[spoma]

I currently own a 17" Sony A400 and I am very happy with this. I wanted to go a little bigger for DVD viewing. For the price range I am looking I think I will have to settle in the 19" range. I am currently looking at the Sony G420S. Does anyone have any input for me?

 

[ahsia]

I currently own a Sony G400, it is great, and I always recommend Sony if you have the money. For the $400-$500 price range, that would be the monitor to have.

 

[VBboy]

For something as important as a monitor, you should definitely read some professional reviews. Try www.ReviewFinder.com as well as google.com. I read 15+ reviews and comparisons from various video- and general hardware-related sites before buying my monitor.

I recommend you do a very thorough research, because monitors are a bizatch to RMA and ship back =)

P.S. Sony are by far not the best monitors. I bought a sony, and its picture is not very sharp (on any videocard). It was very expensive, too. I would look at what other companies have to offer, as well.

Expect to spend 2 weeks or so on research before buying.

Good luck!

 

[VBboy]

You can buy an 17" LCD close to $500. That's very close to a 19-inch monitor's viewable area...

 

[Jen]

i prefer to buy a monitior local so that i can make sure that it works with my eyesight. i have found this out the hard way by ordering a monitior online and finding it wasnt compatable with my Geforce card.......several RMA's later and it finally did work with my geforce card just not to well with my eyesight


Jen

 

[spoma]

I def want to go with a CRT rather than an LCD
thanks everyone for the input. When I am looking at the specs to decide what are one that interest me form other brands what are some of the specs I should be looking at. Obviously I should check the dot pitch. What else is important to check out?

 

[spoma]

Actually looking through specs the two that seem to be the best on paper are the samsung 900NF and the liyama vision master pro 451. does anyone have any personal experience with either of them?

 

[nicowju]

If you can find older ones like the NEC FP950 or FE950+ for cheap, then go for them (should be under $350). But the Sony G420S is nice, as are most sony monitors (loving my G520)

 

[VBboy]

Yes, you should see the monitor before buying it. Unfortunately, it might be very difficult to do because not many stores carry high-end monitors in that price range...

At least go to CompUsa, OfficeMax and other stores and look at what they have. A monitor is definitely something you need to "feel" before buying.. It's not a floppy drive or a a modem =)

 

[Random Variable]

IBM P97

 

[tecumseh]

"I am currently looking at the Sony G420S. Does anyone have any input for me?"

I HAVE THAT MONITOR!!! I have had it for 5 months now, and it's frekin awesome. I too watch dvd's on it and it's so vibrant. Also, if you do any gaming you'll be amazed at the clarity of this monitor.

I bought it at Mwave for $450.00 Go check out the site. Maybe the cost has come down a bit.

www.mwave.com

 

[fendel]

I have a Samsung 900NF and love it. Right now you can find them for about $390 shipped (see Pricewatch). High refresh rate, 19", good resolution, very sharp. It's an aperture grill (Trinitron-type) monitor, which I vastly prefer over the shadow mask monitors. When I bought it, I dug around for reviews and this one had some of the best reviews and specs I found.

My friend has been using my computer for a week while we're waiting for parts for his. It only took a couple of days before he starting thinking out loud about ordering a 900NF for himself...

Edit: Oh yeah... it's a flat-faced CRT, too. Makes my old monitor look like a fishbowl in comparison.

 

[DoOLiE11]

i would go for a samsung 900nf

u should check if dell is haveing a deal on moniotrs and if there is a coupon again

u can get it from dell around the low 300s i belive

but i love my sony g520

 

[spoma]

thanks guys for all the info. i am going to look between the 900nf and the g420s. the g520 is awesome but i don't think i want to spend quite that much. any other comments are appreciated.

 

[spoma]

what coupon at dell where you talking about?

 

[DoOLiE11]

um..not too sure, might have expired already...

but try searchin in the hot deals forum

 

[kjacobs]

I have two Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 87TXM 17 inch monitors. Bought one new from provantage.com, and the other used from eBay for $105 incl shipping.

Provantage has the following for $351.00 (plus $25 rebate):

Diamond Pro 920 19 inch. Don;t know how it compares to my 17 inch though.

Definitely try to see one locally altho this brand is hard to find.

Also check out uBid.com for used equipment.

Ken

 

[fendel]

Dell has the 900NF listed for just under $380 (plus shipping, I assume, ouch). The 900DF is cheaper but lower quality.

 

[slunk]

I'd have to say the 900nf is the best monitor I've ever used.

 

[HappyFace]

<< "I am currently looking at the Sony G420S. Does anyone have any input for me?"

I HAVE THAT MONITOR!!! I have had it for 5 months now, and it's frekin awesome. I too watch dvd's on it and it's so vibrant. Also, if you do any gaming you'll be amazed at the clarity of this monitor.

I bought it at Mwave for $450.00 Go check out the site. Maybe the cost has come down a bit.

www.mwave.com


>>

Mwave has the monitor listed at $389! Are you sure that you purchased the G420S at $450? The Sony G400 is listed at $ 345 right now.

 

[Mrcheap]

You might also want to try out the LG Flatron 915ft Plus. It got great reviews, images look great. I ended up buying 2.

 

[tecumseh]

"Mwave has the monitor listed at $389! Are you sure that you purchased the G420S at $450? The Sony G400 is listed at $445 right now."

I still have the box for that monitor. Maybe it was a little cheaper, I would have to look. I just kinda thought of that off the top of my head

 

[ku]

I agree with what some of the people of this thread have suggested. You need to actually experience monitors firsthand before you buy them. Go to a local computer retailer and compare them. look them out and see how you like them yourselves.

 

[felixlee]

get a nokia 21inch monitor for about $450.

 

[spoma]

so cheap the quality can't be there. i actually am having second thoughts and thinking of going with a 21 inch instead. i watch a lot of dvds on it and that would make so much better. i would go g520