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19" LCD Monitor Update

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19" LCD Monitor Update

#1

19" LCD Monitor Update

Robert Hutchins

>Just wanted to thank Tom (thinger) for recommending pcconnection.com and the Hanns-G monitor. I ordered it Tuesday in the very early hours and it arrived here this morning. I'm looking at it as I type. IT IS WONDERFUL ! ! ! !

After rebates - $99 plus ~$40 for tax and shipping for the 194D model.

First impresssions:

1) The incremental size is wonderful for these old eyes. I was beginning to have trouble (presbyopia) at the screen distance for my old 17" CRT monitor. This will delay a trip to the optician (and cheaper besides)

2) Overall brightness is much better than the CRT but at the cost of color saturation. I'm sure that I can work on the controls and find a happier medium.

3) There seems to be no loss in sharpness; in fact, the LCD seems to be sharper but that might just be difference in size or brightness - besides the CRT is going on 10+ years old and had a lot of hours on it.

4) Speakers built in is nice. For my desktop, this solves a problem I had with speaker placment.

5) Unit arrived with a DCI cable in the box, which I'm using. Last August when I bought one for the LCD TV, the cable alone cost me $60.

Thanks again to Tom and others who recommended the Hanns-G and pcconnection.com as the source.

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#2

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

Tom

>You're welcome... they ship fast, don't they? Keep the box, there is a 3 yr part/labor warranty. You must live at the North Pole or something, $40 for shipping? Mine was $16, free once when I bought the 17" and 19" together. In the future, when you need cables for anything, try monoprice.com instead of Radioshack or Best Buy.

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#3

Cables ...

Jerry Nicholson

>also Cyberguys.com

Jerry

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#4

Rebate?

Rod Peterson -- Ormond Beach

>Is the rebate an instant one, or do you have to mail it in? I haven't been able to determine it from the site and don't want to complete the sale until I know for sure.

Thanks.

Rod

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#5

Color saturation...

Jason Roehl in Mulberry, IN

>I'd do a Google search for something like "monitor calibration" and see what you come up with. I didn't care for how my 19" LCD looked last summer when I first got it, but then I used a free calibration utility, and now it looks excellent. More often than not, the contrast and brightness are turned up way too high, and the color temperature is set too high as well (NTSC determined 6500K to be daylight white long ago). Anything higher than that causes a serious blue "push".

I hope that helps, Mr. Hutchins!

Jason

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#6

Color saturation...

Jason Roehl in Mulberry, IN

>I'd do a Google search for something like "monitor calibration" and see what you come up with. I didn't care for how my 19" LCD looked last summer when I first got it, but then I used a free calibration utility, and now it looks excellent. More often than not, the contrast and brightness are turned up way too high, and the color temperature is set too high as well (NTSC determined 6500K to be daylight white long ago). Anything higher than that causes a serious blue "push".

I hope that helps, Mr. Hutchins!

Jason

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#7

Argh...net burp...double post...please delete...

Jason Roehl in Mulberry, IN

>

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#8

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

Robert Hutchins

>Hey Tom!

The $40 was shipping and state taxes: shipping ~$15. Didn't want you to think I live in Guam or American Samoa.

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#9

Mail In Rebate - Two of hem, Actually

Robert Hutchins

>

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#10

Re: Color saturation...

Robert Hutchins

>Thanks, Jason ... un MR. ROEHL!

I'll see what I can find for tools. It's always better to calibrate to a standard first then to your own preferences because our brains will adapt pretty quick.

(What's with the 'Mr.' stuff? - though I am older than dirt)

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#11

I'm a real lame brain at this stuff

Don Henthorn

>but my eyes drive me nuts while watching the monitor. Is this a good monitor for just run of the mill computing? The viewing angle and such doesn't matter too much to me because I am always sitting in front of it anyway.

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#12

Re: I'm a real lame brain at this stuff

Robert Hutchins

>Evenin' Don,

Can't really answer your question about the quality of this monitor because I don't know an awful lot about determining that and because I've not had this one but about 10 hours now. This is certainly NOT a high end monitor that a graphics artist would require, but its specs are good for general purpose use including some online, low-end graphics applications.

What I can tell you is that the increase in size over my CRT is great. I was straining and getting neck soreness from cocking my head to get the trifocals just right to focus on the monitor. The larger screen somehow makes this easier though I still have fairly high screen resolution set pretty high. But, it's too early for me to tell much about the ergonomics.

Also, when flat screens first came out - before LCD was prevalent and inexpensive - my daughter got one with a new computer and I couldn't stand it. There was too much 'ghosting' and I couldn't get the color and contrast satisfactory. Just the short while I took setting the system up for her nearly drove me nuts. About 8 months ago, HL got a new system with a smaller, 17", Dell LCD monitor. I've liked it since day one.

Her monitor and the LCD TV convinced me that my next monitor would be an LCD. I started shopping prices on 17" models waiting for them to come down then 19" became less expensive. I couldn't resist the price on this one, but it's too early for my experience to be of any value. I relied on advice from Tom and others here figuring that I couldn't go wrong at the price.

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#13

You seem to be...

Jason Roehl in Mulberry, IN

>...a respectable and knowledgable man from the posts of yours I've read, plus I know you've got a number of years on me. And, I couldn't decide whether to address you as Bob or Robert.

I agree on adapting to the changes...I got an LCD/HDTV a couple months ago and am still fiddling with it. Any time I make a major change in the display, I give it a couple days. I'm always amazed at what may have looked bad at first isn't so bad after a couple days of viewing.

Jason

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#14

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

Ken Garlock Collin County Texas

>Hi Robert. I think you will like your new monitor.

When I got my flat screen over a year ago, I was told on another forum to go to the Microsoft site and download their "True Type" add-on. It really made a difference in the sharpness of the type. Before the letters were just a little fuzzy, and now they razor sharp. And True Type is a free download.

Also, if your monitor and computer have DVI plug/jacks, you need to switch over to the Digital Video Interface. You will notice a picture improvement with DVI....

Happy Computing,

Ken

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#15

Thanks, Ken!

Robert Hutchins

>I've already switched over to DVI. A cable came with the monitor and I have a port on my system.

Microsoft no longer offers the TrueType web fonts. They have a link but when you follow it there is a message that they are no longer available for downloading from Microsoft. Wonder if there is another source? Do you know if all TrueType fonts are created equal? The links I read said that they are an Apple creation. Will just any version work on a Windoze box?

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#16

Re: Thanks, Ken!

Tom

>I might be wrong, but he may be talking about clear type. I'm guessing you already have it enabled, but check here:

http://www.theeldergeek.com/activate_cleartype_on_welcome_screen.htm

paraphrased (actually copied directly):

Enable Clear Type for the Current User

[ To enable this setting for All Users it is necessary to use the registry edit listed above ]

Right click on a blank area of the Desktop and choose [Properties]

Click on the Appearance Tab; Click Effects

Check the box: Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts

In the drop down box select: Clear Type

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#17

Re: I'm a real lame brain at this stuff

Don Henthorn

>I hear you, Bob. I have a fifteen inch Sony LCD that is a very good monitor but at 800-600 I still have to up the size a couple of times to read easily. I have ordered one the monitors you bought in hopes that I will have more usable screen. It is a pain when you have to change the screen resolution to get everything in and then can't read what's on the darn screen.

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#18

Right Tom *LINK*

Ken Garlock Collin County Texas

>I had a kgfu, the actual name is ClearType. :-(

Look on your control panel for an Icon called "TrueType Tuning." If you don't have that Icon, you can download the tuning tool from M/S. After installing, just follow the wizard instructions.

Man, I was so sure it was Truetype when I wrote it. I guess I had one of those "senior moments." Sorry....

With a red face and head hung low,

Ken


Tuning Tool

Re: 19" LCD Monitor Update

#19

Thanks, Guys. Clear Type is 'On'

Robert Hutchins

>

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