Is the difference in specs worth the extra $100?

[neospy1]

There are two monitors that i am particularly interested in. The price difference is $100 and am looking to purchase 4 of them. What I want to know is the extra $400 i will be spending worth it? Here are the specs below (i am NOT looking for a widscreen). Any help is greatly appreciated.

#1 - The cheaper one
Screen size: 20"
•600:1 contrast ratio
•300cd/m2 brightness
•1440 x 1050 resolution
•8-millisecond response
•Built-in speakers

#2
Screen Size: 20.1"
800:1 contrast ratio
300cd/m2 brightness
1600 x 1200 resolution
5-millisecond Response time
No built in speakers

 

[Hose]

There are two monitors that i am particularly interested in. The price difference is $100 and am looking to purchase 4 of them. What I want to know is the extra $400 i will be spending worth it? Here are the specs below (i am NOT looking for a widscreen). Any help is greatly appreciated.

#1 - The cheaper one
Screen size: 20"
•600:1 contrast ratio
•300cd/m2 brightness
•1440 x 1050 resolution
•8-millisecond response
•Built-in speakers

#2
Screen Size: 20.1"
800:1 contrast ratio
300cd/m2 brightness
1600 x 1200 resolution
5-millisecond Response time
No built in speakers

#1 IS widescreen and probably has a TN panel.

#2 Will display more data, and probably has a better screen than TN panel... unless of course, it's a Samsung 204B.

Curious, why didn't you mention the brand and model? Is your primary interest gaming?

 

[neospy1]

The #1 Monitor (the cheaper one) is a Acer 20” Monitor (AL2017BMD)
The #2 Monitor (the $100 more one) is a Samsung SyncMaster 20" Monitor (204B)

Neither of the monitors above are widescreen. These monitors will be mainly for work but as I will be sitting in front of the montiors for close to 10 hours a day, it is worth it to me to have very good monitors, within reason...

By the way, what do you have against the Samsung? And what is a TN panel? Thanks.

 

[Hose]

The #1 Monitor (the cheaper one) is a Acer 20” Monitor (AL2017BMD)
The #2 Monitor (the $100 more one) is a Samsung SyncMaster 20" Monitor (204B)

Neither of the monitors above are widescreen. These monitors will be mainly for work but as I will be sitting in front of the montiors for close to 10 hours a day, it is worth it to me to have very good monitors, within reason...

By the way, what do you have against the Samsung? And what is a TN panel? Thanks.

Sorry, I read too quickly... when I saw "1440", I thought 1440x900, which is widescreen.

The 1440x1050 is a bit of an oddball resolution. If I were in your shoes, I definitely would NOT buy it just for that reason. Also, the pixel size is much greater (.292mm) than conventional UXGA (.255mm). The .255mm ones should provide sharper and crisper images.

I have nothing against Samsung. They are one of my favored makers, and the 204B is the only(?) UXGA with a TN panel. (The 204B provides the advantages of UXGA resolution without the usual costs. This effort has apparently been successful, as it is very popular.)

Given the choice between these two, I'd definitely go with the Samsung. However, I suggest you check out the Planar PL2010M. It has a higher quality PVA panel for about the same cost at Newegg. (Planar is a high quality maker and another of my favorites... I also like NEC, FWIW.)

TN panel is Twisted Nematic.... a type of LCD panel with fast response time... favored for gaming applications. It's cheaper than the higher quality ones, but is not as good at color, contrast, nor viewing angle.