Online or Instore purchase?

[Chromedbustop]

The last component i need for my computer is a monitor. In the past i've always shopped for tv's and monitors and such in store, but thats because I never really bothered to make purchases online.
There is also the advantage of seeing the monitor in person and not just going by specs. The problem is that choices are somewhat limited.

I did see a Dell s2209w in Best Buy that looked rather nice, but again there wasn't really that much to compare it to.

Im curious as to any suggestion people might have for effectively shopping for monitors online. I will most likely go with the Dell, but such knowledge would be beneficial in the future.

 

[Guest]

As you assess a monitor visually (and I would ask to check the actual model you're buying in case of dead pixels) I don't see how a distance purchase makes any sense.

 

[RoyJonesJr]

The last component i need for my computer is a monitor. In the past i've always shopped for tv's and monitors and such in store, but thats because I never really bothered to make purchases online.
There is also the advantage of seeing the monitor in person and not just going by specs. The problem is that choices are somewhat limited.

I did see a Dell s2209w in Best Buy that looked rather nice, but again there wasn't really that much to compare it to.

Im curious as to any suggestion people might have for effectively shopping for monitors online. I will most likely go with the Dell, but such knowledge would be beneficial in the future.

I was recently in the same boat as you, put together a new system. Locally the selection is limited but I didnt want a monitor with dead pixels or to deal with shipping if there was a defect so shopped around locally. I was looking at a 24" Asus online but found that the model they had at Best Buy but after comparing the specs it seemed to be an older model. I have read good things about the Dells but mostly about their higher end displays. I ended up checking Staples on a whim and found a 24" Acer H243H with similar specs to the ones I was looking at online and it was on sale for 199$ so got that. Had a slight problem with the first one with color off in one of the corners and exchanged it with no hassles so glad I ended up buying locally.

 

[Chromedbustop]

I was recently in the same boat as you, put together a new system. Locally the selection is limited but I didnt want a monitor with dead pixels or to deal with shipping if there was a defect so shopped around locally. I was looking at a 24" Asus online but found that the model they had at Best Buy but after comparing the specs it seemed to be an older model. I have read good things about the Dells but mostly about their higher end displays. I ended up checking Staples on a whim and found a 24" Acer H243H with similar specs to the ones I was looking at online and it was on sale for 199$ so got that. Had a slight problem with the first one with color off in one of the corners and exchanged it with no hassles so glad I ended up buying locally.

Of course, Stalpes! I totally forgot that there was one near me as well. I'm going to go check them out, see what sort of selection they have. At the very least I hope it will give me larger options. How are the Asus' by the way?

 

[Chromedbustop]

Best answer selected by chromedbustop.