Looking to buy LCD

[alacritous]

Hello everyone once again!

I'm looking to buy an LCD, but have a question of some technology in monitors that I have no (hardly) idea about. Firstly, I'm looking to get a cheap (as cheap as you can) but not a horrible brand that no one has heard of, 19", LCD monitor. Last time I went to a computer store (CircuitCity, etc., whatever they are called) and saw some amazing looking monitors.

The ones that looked amazing to me had "xBRITE Technology" labeled next to it. I suppose this is what it making it look like what it is. My explanation of it is this: it looks like someone laminated an LCD screen... it looks like there is an extra layer of glass or layer of something, kind of "glare-ish". When you think of glare, it's pretty bad, but these screens just like sucked the color out of everything and used that color... it was SO full of color.

I'm curious as to what these monitors are called, because when I search certain places (like CircuitCity.com) they don't come up with that well of results. So, is this actually called xBRITE technology, or what?

Thanks,
alacritous

[dglienna]

Google is your friend:

http://www.sonystyle.com/intershopro...te/xbrite.html

[alacritous]

Hmm... still don't quite understand why I can only find like one monitor online that is labeled xBRITE... I can find hardly any.

Does anyone have any suggestions for brands? Obviously, Sony and Samsung are good... but would it be "safe" to go towards the cheaper brands like Acer, etc.?

[RobDog888]

We sold allot of Acer LCDs, usually the 17", and have had no complaints or RMAs in the past 2+ years. We have been lately selling the KDS ones and have had one RMA over almost a year.

LCDs are getting so cheap now that it really doesnt matter much unless your a graphic artist or something. Most people will use their computers fo business apps and those apps you cant see a difference so why pay the extra dough for a killer LCD when a moderate lesser known LCD brand will suffice.

I am planning on getting 4 - 17" LCDs next month and I will go either AOC, ACER, or KDS. It will only depend on the cheapest price.

[dglienna]

SONY licensed the XBRITE technology. It is twice as bright, and good in direct sunlight. I would save the money, and get a cheap one. LCD's don't last all that long anyways. You could get a good 17" for under $400, which would be more than sufficient for most anything you'd want.

[alacritous]

SONY licensed the XBRITE technology. It is twice as bright, and good in direct sunlight. I would save the money, and get a cheap one. LCD's don't last all that long anyways. You could get a good 17" for under $400, which would be more than sufficient for most anything you'd want.

I don't quite understand you... You mean save the money for a 17" xBRITE technology one?

I'm not sure about online, which would probably be cheaper through NewEgg or the like, but I saw a 19" with xBRITE technology at CircuitCity for a bit less than $400.

This is kind of isn't a serious question, but has anyone ever heard of SCEPTRE for a brand? I see one at NewEgg that is really cheap. It doesn't have xBRITE technology, but it's 19" and has the brightness of 400 cd/m2. This is the same brightness an xBRITE technology one has. Now obviously xBRITE is more than just brightness, but people were describing it as the "glossy" look.

Heh, it's hard to believe that my, either 14" or 15", CRT is still "alive" after 10 years (since 1995). I think it's a brand that isn't known, or it went out of business or something, but man, it still works! It's a piece of crap though, you can't read text all that great at all.

[RobDog888]

Nope, we sell Acer and KDS 17" 'ers for ~$200 bucks. Cheap! Anyone can get a price around there if they shop around, no rebates needed either.

[tr333]

last time i heard about sony lcd, they weren't the best on the market.

Samsung definitely make quality LCD screens that last quite a long time.

[dglienna]

Get a normal one now. In a few years, everyone will have XBRITE. If your office is in direct sunlight, you might consider it now, but if not, just get one that you can afford. Brand name doesn't really matter. Just let it burn in for 48 hours after you buy it. If it doesn't fail, it will probably last a long while.

I do the burn-in test for everything. The power doesn't go off. For a computer, I run a defrag, just to make sure that things keep working. Electronics generally fail within 24 hours because of mechanical difficulty, or not at all.

I've been following this advice for over 20 years, and it hasn't failed me.

EDIT: If it does fail, you can return it before 3 days are up!

[nothingofvalue]

Here's a 19 inch Acer with a free wireless mouse and keyboard for $250

Comp USA

[szlamany]

Careful when you purchase - the "recommended" resolution of a LCD cannot really be changed - so find out what the LCD is "designed" for.\

My current laptop is set to 1600x1200 and I've gotten very used to the real estate I get on the screen - and I'm looking to replace it and having a hard time finding that resolution available.

[RobDog888]

The larger the screen the higher the resolution needed. I have a 18" LCD and it is best viewed at 1280x1024. I can go lower but it doesnt look as goo. I have used 1280 form about 4 years so far and I will only go higher on my next screen. Hopefully at least a 20"

[alacritous]

I've decided to wait on it.

I was browsing online for screens a while a few days ago and trying to find good ones based on specifications and looks, but man, it's sure different. One day, I entered CircuitCity and looked at some monitors that were just pictures, no text. They looked great. Yesterday, I walked in, and they had a Windows desktop up, with text. You could barely read the text. Now I am exaggerating, but it wasn't clear. Now, like you guys said, it may because they didn't set the resolution to the recommended, but who knows, maybe the screen was just bad. This kind of shows that you shouldn't always buy screens online... well, or like I said, it just looked bad because it was on the "wrong" resolution.

But yeah, I have decided to wait until I really need one. I didn't really need one earlier, but it would have been a nice to have. Right now I am using a Samsung 15" LCD, if I havn't mentioned, and would just like a bigger screen.

Thank you guys so much for the help though. I didn't exactly expect what you guys gave me! hehe... but thanks! I'll use it next time I am seriously looking into getting one, like if mine breaks or whatever.

[ducky]

alacritous, you had asked about the sceptre brand. I own a sceptre lcd for my home pc and liked it so much, I bought one of their larger tv lcd's. For me it was a great price for the size and quality for both products. If you do change you mind and get a new lcd, don't be afraid of the sceptre brand.

[DaveBo]

dglienna is right about "burn in".
I worked in the semiconductor industry for 25 yrs, and electronics will typically either fail right away "infant mortality" or die of old age.

Incidentally, why wait for your old monitor to give out? Get a new LCD and go dual-monitor!

[tr333]

samsung are the only brand i know of that will give a "100% hotpix free" guarantee.

[RobDog888]

Well I think there is no need to wait as the prices come down slowly for these. You could get a good 17" or decent 19" for a couple of hundred bucks, use it for a couple of years and then prices will be down enough to afford getting a killer 20"+