The best 18" LCD under $800 US?

[Jason Dunn]

I'd like some input from you, the smartest readers in the world, on which LCD monitors I should be looking at. Every time I see one I drool, and while I love my Sony G400, pappa needs a brand new bag. I'm looking for something in the 18" realm, and something that has decent performance for games, video, etc. Anyone seem any great deals recently? Any brands or models that you recommend?

[Fattizzi]

Costco has a really nice 17" Flat Screen for around 500. My Dad bought one and it is very nice.

[Big Honkin' Deal]

Any brands or models that you recommend?


I don't know about 18" but I just got a couple ViewSonic VE170b 17-inch LCD Monitors..... Very nice ($700) :roll:

http://www.realtimesoft.com/multimon/gallery_browse.asp?ID=171

[stevew]

I just purchased a Sony SDM-S51 18" for $900 at Best Buy. I've run it through the paces and I haven't found anything I dislike about it. As far as games go, I really only play Microsoft Links 2001 and Nascar 2002 and the performance has been great. This has been my first LCD flat panel so I can't compare it to any other flat panel I've had but I'm more than satisfied with the Sony.

[lawnman]

I've had really good luck with my 17" Samsung flat panel. You can get it for around $700, sometimes less. BTW, all the ooing and ahing about the flat panel that comes with the new iMac. . .guess what? They are made by Samsung 8)

[Rob Borek]

Viewsonic VG175 (http://www.viewsonic.com/products/lcd_vg175.cfm). It's what I have. It's a 17.4" screen (not quite 18", but not as expensive as 18"), it's an MVA screen (160 degree viewing angle), 1280x1024 resolution, a tiltable screen (want to edit long documents? Rotate the screen so you get a nice long document-friendly screen), 220 nits of brightness, 400:1 contrast ratio, etc. It's clear as a bell, great colours, looks amazing. Can't say enough good things about it.

[Foo Fighter]

I have the same CRT as you, the Sony G400. It sucks! Color saturation is gorgeous, but I have never seen so many geometry distortions on a CRT monitor in all my life. The lower right corner of the display bows in, and can't be corrected. The sides of the screen image appear rippled. IT DRIVES ME NUTS!

I don't know of any 18" LCDs that I can recommend, since I haven't looked at them. But for 17"...the Samsung SyncMaster 170T is the way to go. It is beautiful!

One thing that turns me off of 17" LCDs is that the resolution is actually TOO high (1280 x 1024). Icons and text appear too small. I would rather have the standard 1024x768 on the same 17" screen.

My iMac should be arriving within a couple weeks, so I'll get a taste of LCD life soon. CRTs SUCK!!!!

[Foo Fighter]

Here is some user feedback on the 170T posted on CNET:

http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-2295747-418-3707153.html?tag=st.co.2295747-404-3707153.urev.2295747-418-3707153

[daveshih]

This to me is the key to purchase a LCD.

Make sure that it comes with both an Analog input (VGA), and
a Digital input (DVi).

So you can use it now with your existing video card (probably analog),
and later on when you upgrade (which will have a DVI interface).

Hope this helps,

David

[marconelly]

You want to swith Sony G400 for a cheap ass LCD? Better not. There's nothing about LCD monitors right now that excites me. They all still have that terrible ghosting problem when the on-screen action becomes fast, and can't be properly switched to higher/lower resolutions.

I have Sony G200 and have nothing but highest appraisals for it. I do know, however, that some flat screen CRT monitors' geometry simply can't be properly adjusted, and it's not really tied to specific model or a brand. It's more a hardware defect, and should be replaced.

[Tom_Gilheany]

I run a Samsung SyncMaster 170Mp, and have been REALLY happy.

It has a built-in TV tuner and can operate as one of the cheapest flatscreen TV's as well. (With the computer turned off).

I normally run the PIP (Picture-in-Picture) feature, with the Computer display in the main display, and the TV running in the upper right corner. This saved me from buying a TV, and has completely changed how I normally work on my PC.

A little higher than your price-point, but well worth a look.

And if I ever upgrade my display, I can always re-use it as a high-end TV.

-->Tom

[Hurl]

I just picked up a nice Sony SDM-S81 (18.1") from Costco in Everett, WA priced at $799.99 US. I absolutely love it! Keep in mind that you will want to run the monitor at its nativie resolution.

My monitor is .28mm dot pitch and the screen is approx 18.1" on the diagonal. The math works out to a 1280x1024 resolution. That resolution is great for me but if you're 60+ years old with bad eyes it might be too high a res for you to be comfortable with. Other resolutions don't look so hot.

The gaming is incredible on it too. No ghosting at all.

[Kre]

If you want an affordable flat panel with great performance, Samsung is the way to go. The model thats been recommended throughout this thread is a great monitor. Very, very nice.