On Tuesday 04 July 2006 02:22, Kurt Granroth wrote: > betty wrote: > > i am thinking i would like a flat panel monitor for my computer, less > > desk space. i don't use this computer for photo work so that part > > doesn't matter much, but am wondering if a cheap flat panel from fry's > > will work, or do i need something special or to know something special > > b4 i buy one? i don't want to spend more than $200, and the less the > > better. i only read email and do some occ. spreadsheet work on this. > > Honestly, if you're not playing "twitch" games or watching lots of > video, then pretty much any LCD will work. Size does matter a bit. I > wouldn't consider a monitor smaller than 17" and would try for a 19" or > 20". Remember that unlike CRTs, the bigger LCD monitors aren't > necessarily thicker than the smaller ones. You could argue that 20" is > overkill for email work but over the years, I've *never* wished for a > smaller monitor (in normal use) but I've often wished for a bigger one. > > One huge factor in choosing an LCD is their dead pixel warranty. LCDs > have a habit of getting stuck or dead pixels where you will see a "dot" > on the screen that is always the same color (black or white). That can > get fantastically irritating if there are a lot of them or if they are > in prominent locations. All LCD manufacturers have warranties against > that but they vary wildly. Given a chance, I prefer to disregard all of > that and just buy my LCDs from Costco. Costco has an unbeatable return > policy: If you don't like it anytime after buying it, just return it for > a full refund. This doesn't apply to desktop or notebook computers but > it does apply to monitors. So rather than fight the LCD maker since > they require 20 stuck pixels and you only have 19, you can just bring it > back and get a new one. > > Honestly, I only buy things from Fry's that I am nearly 100% sure I will > never have to return. An LCD doesn't fit into that category. > > Kurt I did a quick check of both Geeks.com and Newegg.com (my two favorite online vendors) and they both have over a dozen LCD monitors from 17" to 19" ranging from $160 to $199. I will note that Newegg has a better return policy, but I've never had to return anything to either of them, myself. Just the same, I wouldn't have a problem buying one from Fry's either, if the price was right and did NOT have a return label on it. My only real issues with Fry's are that they restock returned items without fully testing them first, and talk scat about Linux. Stu --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change you mail settings: http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss