My shiney new TFT monitor!!

[Bazzer Smith]

I have finally taken the plunge and bought one, this one:-
http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/sto...fm=2&sm=2&tm=1&sku=290877&category_oid=-20742

I don't think I had a realistic chance of getting a higher resolution
monitor
for a reasonable price, and way I am going to try the two monitor option,
in which case I would probably have been better with just 17", but what the
heck I will have the 19".
Incidently I just compared it to my TV which measured in at 20"
(said 21" in the shop) the monitor measures 19"
Mine you I don't normally sit 18" from my TV, more like 8 feet!!


I will say one thing though, it's fooking bright!!!
I think I might need a pair of sunglasses!!

What swung it for me was that I ready some good figures
regarding picture quality "provides a 550:1 contrast ratio, 8ms response
time "
http://www.aoc-europe.com/monitors_lm928.html

However that maybe more standard now but I am sure I have seen much
worse figures.

I don't have that adjustable base though, my base is a slight issue, not
very
adjustable I might be able to tilt it buy I thnk it is fixed and I don't
want to
break it. (seems it might tilt but I need to have it confirmed , dont wanna
break
it yet!!).

I am wondering if the brightness will be a problem but I have not finished
tinkering
with setup though. I was disapointed with the TV display from my DTT dongle
at first but now I have fiddled with the settings its as good as, it not
much better,
than my TV!!

I recommend having a look at one if you are in the market to buy.
Another thing was is said £209 in the shop but I thought sod it I will buy
it anyway, even though I remember it advertised online for about £189,
actually the correct figure was £169, which is what they charged me at the
till any
way thankfully.

The next job is to install the graphics card and see if I can get two
monitors
going, if not i will have to ebay it on :O) or see if the shop will take it
back
(I think they will).


It looks miles better than the bulky old CRT too!!
I am well pleased :O)

 

[Bazzer Smith]

Acually you can change the despotop appearence in dextop properties
and a change from a white background to an 'off white' colour,
which is less blindiing!!

 

[kony]

I have finally taken the plunge and bought one, this one:-
http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/sto...fm=2&sm=2&tm=1&sku=290877&category_oid=-20742

I don't think I had a realistic chance of getting a higher resolution
monitor
for a reasonable price, and way I am going to try the two monitor option,
in which case I would probably have been better with just 17", but what the
heck I will have the 19".
Incidently I just compared it to my TV which measured in at 20"
(said 21" in the shop) the monitor measures 19"
Mine you I don't normally sit 18" from my TV, more like 8 feet!!


I will say one thing though, it's fooking bright!!!
I think I might need a pair of sunglasses!!

LCDs are normally adjusted down in brightness quite a bit
when new, and this is a good thing because as the lamps age
the brightness will decrease.

What swung it for me was that I ready some good figures
regarding picture quality "provides a 550:1 contrast ratio, 8ms response
time "
http://www.aoc-europe.com/monitors_lm928.html

Most are around those specs now, some of the more
significant issues are:

Bleedthrough, lighter areas on a dark background (most
visible in a dark room) around the edges.

Noise from dithering, more evident in movies/etc rather than
general 2D / windows use.

Blurring (somwhat a function of true response time) when
doing some of the most common things like auto-scrolling
down a webpage (looking at the text).

However that maybe more standard now but I am sure I have seen much
worse figures.

yep, LCD are still in a maturation stage and older are worse
per dollar, and the next gen will be even better.

I don't have that adjustable base though, my base is a slight issue, not
very
adjustable I might be able to tilt it buy I thnk it is fixed and I don't
want to
break it. (seems it might tilt but I need to have it confirmed , dont wanna
break
it yet!!).

Tilt is indeed a very important feature if your desktop
isn't at just the right height (plus height of stand) for
the best contrast ratio. This is most evident on TN panels
which that one probably is.

I am wondering if the brightness will be a problem but I have not finished
tinkering
with setup though. I was disapointed with the TV display from my DTT dongle
at first but now I have fiddled with the settings its as good as, it not
much better,
than my TV!!

I suggest you Goggle for some greyscale patterns and tweak
the brightness and contrast so you have the full range
visible (discriminable) at the normal viewing angle and room
brightness level.

It looks miles better than the bulky old CRT too!!
I am well pleased :O)

Yep, if I were forced to choose I'd rather have a 19"+ LCD
monitor and older system instead of a new system and older,
smaller CRT.

 

[Bazzer Smith]

LCDs are normally adjusted down in brightness quite a bit

I take it you meant tosay adjusted up?

when new, and this is a good thing because as the lamps age
the brightness will decrease.

Well bring it on, I am on zero brightness and contrast currently!!
What kind of time scales are involved?
I doubt I need worry though, by the time this need replacing I expect the
price
will have halved.

Most are around those specs now, some of the more
significant issues are:

I though I saw a similar one saying 18ms response maybe I confused it
with screen size in the small print!!

Bleedthrough, lighter areas on a dark background (most
visible in a dark room) around the edges.

Can't say I have notoced that, only thing I have noticed is one side of
the screen looks more off white is you view at a bit of an angle
but I think thats fairly normal, obviously the bigger the screen the bigger
the viewing angle.

Noise from dithering, more evident in movies/etc rather than
general 2D / windows use.

Can't really say I have noticed any of that, and I have TV and recorded TV
on my
computer, I would say the picture is as good as if not better than my TV, a
lot better than
some of the displays I have seen in shops, but I doubt much effort was put
into setting
them up correctly. Sometime I have got some 'jerkiness' live stuff but thats
was down to by
CPU being overloaded by background apps I believe (some memory monitor the
culprite)

Blurring (somwhat a function of true response time) when
doing some of the most common things like auto-scrolling
down a webpage (looking at the text).

Do not know how to auto scroll!!
Never considereed it a problem, althouogh I am 'looking for it" now!
A very slow scroll can produce some 'flicker' but you probably get some og
that on CRT?

yep, LCD are still in a maturation stage and older are worse
per dollar, and the next gen will be even better.



Tilt is indeed a very important feature if your desktop
isn't at just the right height (plus height of stand) for
the best contrast ratio. This is most evident on TN panels
which that one probably is.

The stand looks like it may well tilt, it is certaintly not 'obviously'
fixed, however obviously the joint is going to be fairly stiff because of
the
torque it would have to resist when tilted so I am not willing to risk
breaking it
yet as I have only just bought it!!

I suggest you Goggle for some greyscale patterns and tweak
the brightness and contrast so you have the full range
visible (discriminable) at the normal viewing angle and room
brightness level.

Maybe try hat but I am fairly happy with it as it is,the thing is with a
large
screen you get a lot of light thrown at you anyway.
I have just been comparing my computer to my TV watching the same channel
hard to saw which is the best picture, the computer is more saturated in
colour
but unless you can see the real thing you don't know which picture is best.

Yep, if I were forced to choose I'd rather have a 19"+ LCD
monitor and older system instead of a new system and older,
smaller CRT.

Yep I have much more space on my 'desktop' 2/3 free in a 'working'
resolution
as opposed to about 1/8 free on the old monitor!!
I am more than happy with it as a monnitor and it is much more aesthetically
pleasing then that bulky old CRT!! Slim and elegant as opposed to fat and
ugly!
Tempted to get another one :O)

Indeed I might get a flat screen TV now, but they are rather expensive
considering they are little
more than a monitor. Actually the screen area is almost as big as my current
TV, slighty higher
but an inch less in width, so I could get another monitor and dual use it as
a TV.
I think the days of 'stand alone' TV's are probably numbered, you may as
well integrate it into
your computer system and have the additional functionality (but hope it
doesn't break down!!)


This is a more expensive one with a slower response time 12ms V 8ms

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/st...0&tm=undefined&sku=941044&category_oid=-27763

 

[Rod Speed]

I take it you meant tosay adjusted up?

Well bring it on, I am on zero brightness and contrast currently!!
What kind of time scales are involved?
I doubt I need worry though, by the time this need replacing I expect the price will
have halved.

I though I saw a similar one saying 18ms response maybe I confused it with screen size
in the small print!!

Can't say I have notoced that, only thing I have noticed is one side of the screen looks
more off white is you view at a bit of an angle but I think thats fairly normal,
obviously the bigger the screen the bigger the viewing angle.

Can't really say I have noticed any of that, and I have TV and recorded TV on my
computer, I would say the picture is as good as if not better than my TV, a lot better
than
some of the displays I have seen in shops, but I doubt much effort was put into setting
them up correctly. Sometime I have got some 'jerkiness' live stuff but thats was down to
by CPU being overloaded by background apps I believe (some memory monitor the culprite)

Do not know how to auto scroll!!
Never considereed it a problem, althouogh I am 'looking for it" now! A very slow scroll
can produce some 'flicker' but you probably get some og that on CRT?
Nope.

The stand looks like it may well tilt, it is certaintly not
'obviously' fixed, however obviously the joint is going to be fairly stiff because of
the torque it would have to resist when tilted so I am not willing to risk
breaking it yet as I have only just bought it!!

Wota wimp.

and tweak the brightness and contrast so you have the full range visible (discriminable)
at the normal viewing angle and room brightness level.

Maybe try hat but I am fairly happy with it as it is, the thing is with a large screen
you get a lot of light thrown at you anyway.

Yeah, I notice that most at night.

I have just been comparing my computer to my TV watching the same channel hard to saw
which is the best picture, the computer is more saturated in colour but unless you can
see the real thing you don't know which picture is best.

Yes you do with some stuff like faces.

Yep I have much more space on my 'desktop' 2/3 free in a 'working'
resolution as opposed to about 1/8 free on the old monitor!!
I am more than happy with it as a monnitor and it is much more
aesthetically pleasing then that bulky old CRT!! Slim and elegant as opposed to fat and
ugly! Tempted to get another one :O)

Indeed I might get a flat screen TV now, but they are rather expensive considering they
are little more than a monitor.

I went for one of the last of the big glass ones of those myself.

Actually the screen area is almost as big as my current TV, slighty higher but an inch
less in width, so I could get another monitor and dual use it as a TV.

Too small for me. I want a TV bigger than that.

I think the days of 'stand alone' TV's are probably numbered, you may as well integrate
it into your computer system and have the additional functionality

Yep, that's what I've done for a long time now.

(but hope it doesn't break down!!)

Doesnt matter if it does, just plug in the replacement.

 

[kony]

I take it you meant tosay adjusted up?

I mean the user normally adjusts it down because it starts
out too bright.

Well bring it on, I am on zero brightness and contrast currently!!

That seems excessive, inaccurate, BUT I don't have your
monitor. Usually contrast is at least at 40% if not more
and brightness varies a lot per model. This is where the
greyscale discrimination tests come in, being able to
discern the subtle shades nearest the brightest and darkest
ends of the spectrum.

What kind of time scales are involved?

A few years, maybe 4 to 50%? That might be wrong, I haven't
looked up the data recently and it's gradual so a moving
target, these all being newer generations we can't be 100%
certain if any progress (or even regression for cheaper
monitors) has been made compared to past gen monitors.

I doubt I need worry though, by the time this need replacing I expect the
price
will have halved.

Maybe, but I suspect they'll hit a floor price soon and
instead of getting much cheaper, they'll just improve the
specs, size, # of pixels, etc.

I though I saw a similar one saying 18ms response maybe I confused it
with screen size in the small print!!

Different types of panels may have different response times,
but even so, 18ms is probably an older generation of
monitor. They've evolved several generations in the past 2
years as even the same frames can be reused with a better
panel put in.

Do not know how to auto scroll!!

Simplest way is having a mouse with a wheel button, press on
the wheel on a webpage or whatever... of course your mouse
driver has to support it, maybe.

Never considereed it a problem, althouogh I am 'looking for it" now!
A very slow scroll can produce some 'flicker' but you probably get some og
that on CRT?

Flicker is an issue but I meant a blurring in the direction
of the text movement. Sometimes it seems they'll either
flicker or blurr, the two offset each other if the panel
isn't very fast.

 

[Bazzer Smith]

That seems excessive, inaccurate, BUT I don't have your
monitor. Usually contrast is at least at 40% if not more
and brightness varies a lot per model. This is where the
greyscale discrimination tests come in, being able to
discern the subtle shades nearest the brightest and darkest
ends of the spectrum.

I thinks perhaps I should explain it more. If I am looking at the desktop
with it's blue wallpaper I could probably do with turnnig the colour and
brightness
up a bit, However it's a different kettle of fish with Outlook Express,
thats a vast
area of mainly white screen. Because the screen is so big there are large
areas which
don't even have text on. Obviously an area with text on only throws off
about half the light
of a blank area. So over all it will probably throws off three times the
light of my old monitor,
because it is twice the size and has more pure white spaces.
Anyway the way I have it adjust is fine now,I can'timagine is it any
different from other
large monitors, afterall a high luminosity is a 'selling point' for LCD
screens.
Actually it is specified at 270 cd/m2 which is not that birght.
http://www.anz.aocmonitor.com/nz/specs/LM928_specifications_090606.pdf

The screen below is 450cd/m2

http://www.comet.co.uk/comet/html/cache/571_242098.html
That is nearly twice as bright! I wonder is they give a pair of welding
goggles away free with it :O)


Anyway it response time is a sluggish 12ms and it is nearly twice the price
:O)

A few years, maybe 4 to 50%? That might be wrong, I haven't
looked up the data recently and it's gradual so a moving
target, these all being newer generations we can't be 100%
certain if any progress (or even regression for cheaper
monitors) has been made compared to past gen monitors.



Maybe, but I suspect they'll hit a floor price soon and
instead of getting much cheaper, they'll just improve the
specs, size, # of pixels, etc.



Different types of panels may have different response times,
but even so, 18ms is probably an older generation of
monitor. They've evolved several generations in the past 2
years as even the same frames can be reused with a better
panel put in.




Simplest way is having a mouse with a wheel button, press on
the wheel on a webpage or whatever... of course your mouse
driver has to support it, maybe.

Yea that works, but its not a feature I use very often really, prefer to
read at my own pace!

Flicker is an issue but I meant a blurring in the direction
of the text movement. Sometimes it seems they'll either
flicker or blurr, the two offset each other if the panel
isn't very fast.

I can't really say I can see any blurring as such, flicker yes but bluring
no.
I guess its response time of 8ms means I cannot notice it?

 

[Bazzer Smith]

I have finally taken the plunge and bought one, this one:-
http://www.currys.co.uk/martprd/sto...fm=2&sm=2&tm=1&sku=290877&category_oid=-20742

I don't think I had a realistic chance of getting a higher resolution
monitor
for a reasonable price, and way I am going to try the two monitor option,
in which case I would probably have been better with just 17", but what
the
heck I will have the 19".
Incidently I just compared it to my TV which measured in at 20"
(said 21" in the shop) the monitor measures 19"
Mine you I don't normally sit 18" from my TV, more like 8 feet!!


I will say one thing though, it's fooking bright!!!
I think I might need a pair of sunglasses!!

What swung it for me was that I ready some good figures
regarding picture quality "provides a 550:1 contrast ratio, 8ms response
time "
http://www.aoc-europe.com/monitors_lm928.html

However that maybe more standard now but I am sure I have seen much
worse figures.

I don't have that adjustable base though, my base is a slight issue, not
very
adjustable I might be able to tilt it buy I thnk it is fixed and I don't
want to
break it. (seems it might tilt but I need to have it confirmed , dont
wanna break it yet!!).

I have just found it does tilt :O)