PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => Self Building, Upgrading & General Hardware Help => Topic started by: GillE on July 18, 2009, 10:45

Title: Monitor Replacement
Post by: GillE on July 18, 2009, 10:45
My monitor has died after many years of faithful service :( .  Does anyone have any suggestions for a replacement?


Re-visiting the last thread, it is not a requirement that any new monitor should be made of wood ;) !
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: Rik on July 18, 2009, 12:15
What do you plan to do with it, Gill, eg photo-editing, general computer use, games playing etc?
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: Simon on July 18, 2009, 12:36
I haven't bought a monitor for a few years, but the Samsung range seems to be highly rated, and fairly reasonably priced, Gill.  Not sure what size you want, but something like this (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/168736), perhaps?
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: Camstop on July 18, 2009, 13:27
http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/442433/24-acer-v243hbd-1920x1080-40-000-1-/ (http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/442433/24-acer-v243hbd-1920x1080-40-000-1-/)


http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/442145/dell-s2309w-23-inch-full-hd-widescr/ (http://www.hotukdeals.com/item/442145/dell-s2309w-23-inch-full-hd-widescr/)


These are available at time of posting and worth a look.



Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: GillE on July 18, 2009, 15:29
I just want a monitor for general computing purposes.  The only game I ever play is Civilisation 4, which doesn't need good graphics.  I do manipulate photographs, but only to reduce them to outline drawings for scroll saw patterns.  My computer is used mainly for editing recorded television programmes, although I like to compress them in order to save as much hard drive space as possible.

Cammy, thanks for those links.  Reading the forum discussions is enough to induce inertia in any prospective buyer ::) , but I do like the look of the Acer (http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?ProductId=29799).  It would be quite a step up from my old LG L1715S.

Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: Camstop on July 18, 2009, 15:43
Cammy, thanks for those links.  Reading the forum discussions is enough to induce inertia in any prospective buyer ::) , but I do like the look of the Acer (http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?ProductId=29799).  It would be quite a step up from my old LG L1715S.




I haven't read through them but you get all sorts of reply's and it can be hard picking out the useful posts.  ::)

I like Dell and it's never let me down. I'm not all that convinced on Acer as far as notepads go, they usually seem good spec for the price but have a bad customer service from what i hear  ':|

The Dell is 23" and the Acer is 24"

If i wasn't bothered about the extra inch  :)x  i'd personally go with the Dell.
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: Rik on July 18, 2009, 16:01
Seconded.
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: Simon on July 18, 2009, 16:02
What about the Samsung, Gill?  Are you looking for bigger than 19"?
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: GillE on July 18, 2009, 19:43
I had not overlooked the Samsung, Simon, although I owe you an apology for not acknowledging your suggestion earlier.  The Samsung would probably meet my needs admirably and it is good value.  I wish I knew what I was looking for!  Those 23"/24" monitors are so tempting because they would be useful for watching movies made in the latest format.  That said, the Samsung is 16:9 so there would be little loss of effective screen.

One customer has spoken of the Dell's propensity to overheat, so I am reluctant to go that route.
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: Simon on July 18, 2009, 21:14
Personally, I think I would find a 23/24 inch monitor too big to sit in front of for any length of time, but I know plenty of people that do use them.  I only picked the Samsung because it seems good value, is a reasonable size, and I believe they have a robust reputation.
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: Sandra on July 19, 2009, 01:07
Dont forget that you need a few inches more for a widescreen 16:9 than for a standard 4:3 monitor Gill.
You need a 21 or 22 16:9 to give a similar screen area to a 19 4:3

I have a 19 inch 4:3 as my main monitor and bought a 19 inch 16:9 to use on the computer thats also connected to my HD TV, thinking it would be better as theyd be using the same format. The actual area is nearer to the old 17 inch 4:3 that I was using before.
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: GillE on July 20, 2009, 10:44
I tried to buy from eBuyer but their security system won't accept my payment.  I once purchased something from them a few years ago but I have since married and changed my name.  Perhaps eBuyer's customers are not expected to marry so there is no need for a facility to enable customers to change their surnames.

:(
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: Simon on July 20, 2009, 11:09
Just set up a new account, Gill.  :)
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: GillE on July 20, 2009, 12:35
That was what I did in the end, Simon.  It took some doing!

Oh, and one of these (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/137323) found its way into my basket too :) .
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: Simon on July 20, 2009, 13:09
However did that happen, Gill?  :)x
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: gmax on July 20, 2009, 15:31
My Book Essential Edition 2.0 WDH1U10000 - hard drive - 1 TB - Hi-Speed USB,   Painfully slow compared to eSATA   
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: GillE on July 20, 2009, 17:48
My computer does not have eSATA, so it will be case of not missing what I have never had :) .

Typical - Aldi has just emailed details of a 1TB external HDD (http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/2827_10550.htm?WT.mc_id=2009-07-20-17-12) (with eSATA  ::) :) ) on sale on 23 July 2009.  At least mine is a little cheaper :) .
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: gmax on July 21, 2009, 02:24
No eSATA on motherboard?, it must be very old.
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: sam on July 21, 2009, 08:14
im still a bit unsure about the 1TB drives, we've had a few crashes here with disks that large, though saying that we really do thrash them much more than the average user.
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: GillE on July 22, 2009, 17:35
The Samsung monitor and HDD arrived today :).  That is pretty good considering I only ordered it two days ago!  I have yet to try the HDD, but the monitor is pretty impressive.  In fact, it is such a good display that in future I will have to avoid compressing my videos.  It is a good job I got the HDD at the same time :) .

Thanks for the help, folks.
Title: Re: Monitor Replacement
Post by: Simon on July 22, 2009, 22:10
Hope you enjoy the monitor, Gill.  :)