Widescreen HD LCD monitors and unhappy user

[vhelp]

I've had it!!

I think I'm going back to a standard VGA monitor--I can't take it any more..these HD widescreen monitors color levels is just not working for me. I can not adjust my black levels or more imortantly, adjust my videos for optimum encoding. Also, my graphics card does not work (in its unique special mode, overlay) like it did in my previous 15" square monitor. With these HD or widescreen next generation monitors the gamma levels is off in some other direction even if i set it according to spec.

I think i will hook my latest Hanspree 23" HF237 to my bedroom's lonely HDTV receiver. Then, I could hook up my LG portable player or WDTV unit to it through HDMI. Course, then there would be no sound I guess, I'll have to figure something out.

Since my older 15" Nec 1555v was in very bad shape at the time (blurry pixels) I can't reconnect it. But, I saw a couple of standard VGA montors though widescreen at a couple of stores. I'm almost certain i'll be picking up one this week, for sure. My work pc at work is a 17" square lcd montir by Dell. Its output is superb and reveals perfect image detail, and gamma is pefect like my home pc when 15" 1555v was connected. I miss the performance it gave me in terms of image detail and black levels, etc.

-vhelp 5180

[ocgw]

While "entry level" LCD monitors have become "cheap", good LCD monitors are still expensive

ocgw

peace

[vhelp]

There's a reason why many people are satisfied with Samsung euipment, and I am starting to believe them. At least this is one example (or should I say, instance) of why.

So, I picked up a new widescreen, this time, a 20" Samsung 2033SW. It was either this or the Dell S2009W model. I was so close, leaning toward it..the Dell model. It took me some 40 minutes or more to finalize on a purchase. I was biased, in favor of the Dell because of my experience with them at work, and I was pretty set on picking up one today. hehe.."The Samsung and the Dell" ..sort of reminds you of a certain movie, doesn't it ? Anyway..

What sold me on the Samsung 2033SW was its image quality. All the other monitors kept showing a halo around images edges--like a ghost about 4 pixels apart and 2 to 4 pixels thick. Thinking it was the VGA cords, I checked each one and then replugged a few others. Same effects, halo's. But the 2033SW was unaffected. Then, I went to the actual computer and played with the resolution settings. I watched each monitor's reaction. Same nonsense..halo's. So, I tossed and turned checking each of the two monitors settings, (becoming familar with the two quickly, after 30 minutes, I was a pro at it) and there were still halo's..Samsung unaffected.

* Both monitors were 1600 x 900 = perfect 1.777778 AR (give or take a few more 7's)
* My previous widescreen monitor, 1680 x 1050 = 1.6 AR, crude and messy, leaving borders.

Then, I learnt that the samsun has some fancy-schmancy color features: MagicBright; MagicColor; and Color Tone; to name a few. I started playing around with those as well, and after another 10 minutes or so, I finally decided on the Samsung 2033SW -- it just had more controls over a few things

. . .

Cons-I see it does not fair well under windows 98 and my current ATi graphics card..it does not support the 1600x900 resolution. I can live with it at 1280x1024 for the time being. On this setup, I have to use a gamma control utility because win98 and my ATi graphics card does not mix well with the monitor. Again, I can live with that also.

Pros-I'm impressed with this brand model. And, I like the gamma range on this. Don't know what it is at the moment, but it definately shows me my images and video detail properly again. Reviewing images and video is fun and exciting again. And watching video/movies on it is truly a good feeling. I"m looking forward to watching a lot of my dvd collections on them as I see fit, and running my many and various video encoding projects as well. Hey, it also comes with a set of DVI (something) cables--that I did not know. And the contols are not so bad. My prev monitor was "touch type" and hidden behind the unit, and it was very hard to make any adjustments. But on this brand model, its easier and quicker. Oh yeah, I can finally see my webpage images again..finally [many example pics to the test] --> https://forum.videohelp.com/topic371251.html

Last-I saw some reviews were not in favor of it. But, then again, I don't go by reviews. I only use them as a gauge in some situations, but then I test for myself and decide. And I decided. And last, at the moment, I am quite comfortable and impressed with the units picture detail, gamma levels and quality.

-vhelp 5191

[rallynavvie]

If you're terribly concerned about color correction why are you not getting an LED-lit LCD and a Huey?

[dphirschler]

When I was shopping for an LCD monitor, I would go into MS Paint and draw a nearly white rectangle on a white background. Then I would fiddle with the controls to make it actually visible. I was amazed at how many monitors could not show that rectangle. And the rectangle did not have to be that bright. If white is 255, then I would say the typical brightest rectangle I could draw that actually showed up (no matter how the monitor settings were adjusted) was around 245.

It was actually this forum that helped me come up with this test. The gray used in the background of posts in the forum (which isn't even that bright) would not show up on my Dell monitor at work. It looked fine on the Viewsonic.

FWIW, I can see the subtlest shades with my current Acer X223w monitor. And not just the whites either.


Darryl

[ocgw]

My Samsung 56" 1080p DLP is great for blu ray's or net surfin', but.............

I have (2) Samsung SyncMaster 955df 19" CRT's w/ 2048x1536 res and .20 dot pitch which only cost me $200USD each and are perfect (w/ full control over every aspect;trapezoid, barrel, pin cushion, etc.....)in every respect w/ the included "Natural Color" Calibration software for picture and video editing

subtle shades of grey, detail in the blacks, spot on colors, razor sharp

Ppl ask me why I still use CRT's?

answer: Because it would take $1000's to replace them w/ LCD's of equal image quality

Samsung FTW!

ocgw

peace

[Wile_E]

When I was shopping for an LCD monitor, I would go into MS Paint and draw a nearly white rectangle on a white background. Then I would fiddle with the controls to make it actually visible. I was amazed at how many monitors could not show that rectangle. And the rectangle did not have to be that bright. If white is 255, then I would say the typical brightest rectangle I could draw that actually showed up (no matter how the monitor settings were adjusted) was around 245.

I have a Samsung 225BW 22" widescreen LCD. It's 16:10 aspect ratio (1680x1050). It's a pretty good monitor, but as you said above, some shades of whites can not be shown unless I turn down the contrast. And I can't get digital 0 black to be black. I think the problem is because it has an 8-bit color panel. I could care less about the black borders it leaves on screen, since it is 16:10. That doesn't bother me. But I have to ask...why do people still use VGA? A video card with DVI is rather cheap these days. VGA is messy and has tendency to ghost, plus you can't ever get the screen exactly centered. VGA gets out of alignment when you change resolutions, and you always have to re-center the screen.

[jollyjohn]

My 19" Chimei 2MS couldn't be better.