Good monitor deal ($299 22" Samsung @ Futureshop)

[Caydr]

For Canadians only, you can get the Samsung 2232GW monitor right now for $40 off. Price is $299. No rebate or anything like that.

Basically the monitor is the refreshed version of the famous (among gamers anyway) Samsung 226bw monitor, it seems to be unanimously agreed that it's a superior product. The 226bw's main flaw was that there were 4 different panels that were actually used. You could get a really good panel or a really bad panel, it was totally random. The 2232GW apparently has only one type of panel. 3 year warranty too, I think.

Monitor's getting really solid reviews, everyone seems to love it. It's got a TN panel but I still think it looks very nice. Just bought one to replace my NEC Multisync 90GX2, and the colors are incomparably superior on the Samsung. I decided to set up a dual-monitor configuration instead of retiring the NEC altogether, it's working out pretty well.

I don't have any proper experience with a lot of different LCDs, but this one is certainly one of the better monitors I've owned. Color reproduction is very good and it comes with a disc which has software for making a monitor profile so you get the best color quality possible.

Mine came with a single semi-dead pixel, it's not noticeable unless you're looking for it.

Price is good until the 5th or 6th of March, iirc.

update: lol, the backlight on my other monitor just died so I guess it's a good thing I got this one when I did.

[Aeon_Illuminate]

I got Samsung SyncMaster 941BW 19 inch standard definition. I have it hooked up to PS3. The monitor really hurts my eye for some reason, but my other monitor acer 19 inch standard definition hooked up to my computer doesn't.

[Caydr]

standard definition

Huh?

[Aeon_Illuminate]

some monitor at 19 inch is high definition

[SwiftSpear]

Monitors don't have a "definition" ratio. CRTs have virtually no resolution at all, while LCD panels have an ideal resolution, the case of your LCD, most likely 1440x900 pixles, which is indeed smaller than true high definition (at 1920├âÔÇö1080). If the monitor is set to the wrong resolution it may be tearing and causing fuzzy horizontal lines. That might be the cause of your eye strain.

[Caydr]

Hm... no, 19 inch, I don't think that would be widescreen. Probably a 4:3 or 5:4. In any case, I just wanted to show off. I have nothing else to add.

[rattle]

The 206bw (20") from Samsung is nice too, 1680x1050 is more than enough anyway. Price should be fairly low now.

[Aeon_Illuminate]

I played 2142 that comes in DVD for better graphic. One time I saw a graphic that I didn't normally saw just for few second. It was quite detailed. Similar situation occurred while I played Armored Core 4 for PS3. There is this particular map that seems to display high graphic than usual, including the thing that are not part of the map such as mech, missile, etc. PS3 does say my monitor optimal resolution is 1440x900, but for some reason, my monitor display it in around 748x400 (something like that). Mine is widescreen.

[Caydr]

*squints, as if trying to make sense of something incomprehensible*

[AF]

CRT monitors do have a native resolution, or rather a maximum resolution, you can go beyond it but quality starts to degrade as a result. It mainly depends on how the manufacturer designed the mesh that illuminates at the front when hit from behind.

[Caydr]

He's not got a CRT though, he says it's widescreen.

[rattle]

HD CRTs... read up on CRTs dude - they're 4:3 thus 1280x960 "native" for a 19".

[Caydr]

I don't think anyone in this topic is understanding each other.

[Aeon_Illuminate]

Just to clarify, I have SyncMaster 941BW widescreen 19 inch LCD monitor, not CRT, and it's not high definition. And have it hooked up to PS3 which causes great eye strain when I play for 30 minutes or more. And I don't think there is high definition CRT. CRT is outdated.

[rattle]

I don't think anyone in this topic is understanding each other.

Obviously. It's about a good monitor deal. Shame on the guy above me for derailing with illiterate bullshit.

[SwiftSpear]

Just to clarify, I have SyncMaster 941BW widescreen 19 inch LCD monitor, not CRT, and it's not high definition. And have it hooked up to PS3 which causes great eye strain when I play for 30 minutes or more. And I don't think there is high definition CRT. CRT is outdated.

CRT's don't possess the maximum pixle formation issue though, and thus can, in theory anyways, handle virtually any resolution. You could, in theory, run a CRT at 10000x6000 pixles and it would work. Basically, CRTs are effectively HD capable, even true HD capable, even in the fullscreen format. You will just be looking at a little strip of HD image where as a widescreen LCD is probably larger, and probably closer to the widescreen HDTV format.

CRT's are acctually a really cool technology, they still have a plethora of advantages over LCD panels. Although affordability in size and reduction of weight and profile are not some of those advantages.

[imbaczek]

good luck finding a professional artist who uses an LCD (at work at least.) *maybe* the most recent ones are good enough, but CRTs have the edge here.

[Aeon_Illuminate]

I was looking for best monitor for my eye. CRTs and HD LCD were not the option at the time. CRTs cause flickers, HD LCD shoots out sharper rays at user's eyes. Tell me, do you have a suggestion on how to stop this eye strain?

[rattle]

Run the LCD in it's native resolution.

[Peet]

HD LCD shoots out sharper rays at user's eyes.

Oh wow.