Monitor Choice

[ricards009]

I am looking for a monitor for a system which I am going to buy in the beginning of next year. I don't need anything expensive and too fancy. Actually what I am looking for is the cheapest possible monitor but so that it is not complete crap either...
First of all I'd like to know if it's even worth considering 4:3 aspect ratio monitor nowadays? I guess that the difference in price between a 16:9 monitor isn't so huge that it's worth losing the capability of viewing HD content properly.

I would mostly use it for browsing web and doing all the standard tasks. I would also do some gaming. I might do some video editing and website designing on photoshop so I guess that would require a HD monitor otherwise others won't be able to view the content I have made on my oldschool monitor properly.

Secondly, is there a huge difference between 1680x1050 and 1920x1080 / 1600x900 apart from one being 16:10 and other 16:9? I have heard people say that 1650x1080 is actually better in some cases.

 

[MagicPants]

Two things to consider:

1) Almost no one makes 4:3 monitors anymore and when they do they are very expensive. 16:9 is usually the cheapest aspect ratio. (There are a few cheap 4:3s on newegg but they look like "complete crap")

2) Go 1920x1080 if you can, its a very standard resolution as they use it on HDTV. It should be future proof.

If I were you, I'd look at Asus's product line. (I were me, which I am, I'd stick to dell and hp)

 

[ricards009]

Two things to consider:

1) Almost no one makes 4:3 monitors anymore and when they do they are very expensive. 16:9 is usually the cheapest aspect ratio. (There are a few cheap 4:3s on newegg but they look like "complete crap")

2) Go 1920x1080 if you can, its a very standard resolution as they use it on HDTV. It should be future proof.

If I were you, I'd look at Asus's product line. (I were me, which I am, I'd stick to dell and hp)

Thanks. I noticed that as well, 4:3 cost almost as much ar 16:9.
Also, which would be the best place to buy it from? (I am located in the UK)
I was considering amazon.co.uk because the prices are reasonable. Is ebay worth to consider? From trusted sellers & new of course.

 

[MagicPants]

I'm not from the UK, but as long as it's in a sealed box and it has a manufacturer's warranty, it doesn't matter so much. If you're going for dirt cheap, it's not going to have a great warranty anyway.

Amazon, and trusted sellers sounds like a good plan to me. Personally, I'd invest in a good monitor, but I understand the utility of cheap.

Since you're in the UK, I hear decent things about Hazro monitors. We don't have them here, but I hear they make good cheap stuff.

Thanks. I noticed that as well, 4:3 cost almost as much ar 16:9.
Also, which would be the best place to buy it from? (I am located in the UK)
I was considering amazon.co.uk because the prices are reasonable. Is ebay worth to consider? From trusted sellers & new of course.

 

[ricards009]

I'm not from the UK, but as long as it's in a sealed box and it has a manufacturer's warranty, it doesn't matter so much. If you're going for dirt cheap, it's not going to have a great warranty anyway.

Amazon, and trusted sellers sounds like a good plan to me. Personally, I'd invest in a good monitor, but I understand the utility of cheap.

Since you're in the UK, I hear decent things about Hazro monitors. We don't have them here, but I hear they make good cheap stuff.

Hazro cost 200 - 500 pounds and I actually hadn't heard about them before.

What about 1366x768 resolution? Is it any good?
This BenQ 18.5" looks quite good and very cheap but is quite a low resolution.
I have used a BenQ monitor @ that size and resolution and it was quite good and the picture was clear, I didn't try gaming or anything like that on it though. But for what I'd use it for it looks quite good.
I also found an LG 21.5" @ 1920x1080 on amazon for 15 pounds more so I highly doubt it is worth getting the BenQ one over the LG.

 

[MagicPants]

Benq is generally good (they used to be very good). LG is okay, but they can have issues with things like backlight bleed, etc...

If you can't get 1080p, then just try not to go below 1280x720.

Here's my quick assessment of decent monitor brands:

NEC > APPLE > DELL > HP > SAMSUNG > ASUS > BENQ > LG > VIEWSONIC > ACER

 

[ricards009]

Benq is generally good (they used to be very good). LG is okay, but they can have issues with things like backlight bleed, etc...

If you can't get 1080p, then just try not to go below 1280x720.

Here's my quick assessment of decent monitor brands:

NEC > APPLE > DELL > HP > SAMSUNG > ASUS > BENQ > LG > VIEWSONIC > ACER

Do apple even make monitors apart from iMac which is basicly an All-In-One computer?
I used to have a 21.5" (full hd) BenQ before, but I had to leave it because I moved to UK.
It's not that I can't get a 1920x1080 for 15 extra quid, I'm just wondering if it is necessary as I don't know a lot about monitors myself.

What about this Dell one
I guess it would look okay since it's 1600x900 on 20 inches.

 

[MagicPants]

Dells are fine, though I have gotten dead pixels on their regular lone (not ultra sharp).

(in fact I can see one now)

 

[ricards009]

Dells are fine, though I have gotten dead pixels on their regular lone (not ultra sharp).

(in fact I can see one now)

There are chances of dead pixels on every monitor.
Isn't there an application which fixes it? I am pretty sure I have seen it on YouTube.

 

[MagicPants]

Not really, I've tried it before and it hasn't worked for me. It's like those weight loss ads your see on TV (result may vary)

There are chances of dead pixels on every monitor.
Isn't there an application which fixes it? I am pretty sure I have seen it on YouTube.