Recommendations For 21" Plus Lcd Computer Screen Please

[JustAnotherFarang]

Hi guys

I am looking to buy a new LCD monitor to watch movies and play games when connected to my laptop and if possible to also have the ability to connect UBC to it as well. Anything that is 21 inches plus and within my budget of 15,000 bht would be acceptable and I am more interested in quality than quantity so I would automatically discount no name or low names products in advance

So what would you recommend, how much and where would I buy it please

As always, thanks for you time and sound advice which has always steered me in the right direction

JAF

[Firefoxx]

There are none within your budget that have normal composite/S-video/antenna connections for UBC. You could buy a separate VGA box (they're cheap, around 1,500, I think) to connect UBC later, or you could buy a TV-tuner/AV-in PCI card. Either way, the TV quality isn't good.

Right now the Samsung 226BW is probably the best sold in Thailand (within your specs). Costs around 11,900 - 13,500, depending on where you buy it. The design is nice, the picture quality is good, and it supports HDCP for the future when you get blu-ray/HD-DVD. Keep in mind that it's widescreen, most cheap 21" LCDs are. You can find reviews of it (and others) at newegg.com.

24" screens are still ridiculously priced. I'm thinking it's because they import so few and sell so little (too expensive) and so can't keep up with the strong Thai baht and the lower prices. They should actually cost around 20k baht, but instead cost 40k baht. Many will have the various TV inputs.

Edited June 1, 2007 by Firefoxx

[JustAnotherFarang]

There are none within your budget that have normal composite/S-video/antenna connections for UBC. You could buy a separate VGA box (they're cheap, around 1,500, I think) to connect UBC later, or you could buy a TV-tuner/AV-in PCI card. Either way, the TV quality isn't good.

Right now the Samsung 226BW is probably the best sold in Thailand (within your specs). Costs around 11,900 - 13,500, depending on where you buy it. The design is nice, the picture quality is good, and it supports HDCP for the future when you get blu-ray/HD-DVD. Keep in mind that it's widescreen, most cheap 21" LCDs are. You can find reviews of it (and others) at newegg.com.

24" screens are still ridiculously priced. I'm thinking it's because they import so few and sell so little (too expensive) and so can't keep up with the strong Thai baht and the lower prices. They should actually cost around 20k baht, but instead cost 40k baht. Many will have the various TV inputs.

thank you for that great advice and I appreciate your recommendation, it sure looks the part. I will be buying it online probably but I might consider a trip up to Hua hin and check to see if they have it in Lotus or Big C. Dont suppose you might know where I might pick up this beauty online cheaper thanI might find in the local superstores.......... then again, are the superstores likely to stock it

Cheers

JAF

[Firefoxx]

I've only seen the Acer model and the smaller Samsungs at Lotus. Don't know if they'll stock it. Thanni has it for 12,380 and shop4thai has it for 13,500.

[geoffphuket]

How about an Acer 22' Widescreen for 8,900 Baht: http://www.acer.co.th/acerthai2/index.php?...;method=factory

geoffphuket

[JustAnotherFarang]

How about an Acer 22' Widescreen for 8,900 Baht: http://www.acer.co.th/acerthai2/index.php?...;method=factory

geoffphuket

Price looks good but cannot find any reviews to lean on for advice regarding pros and cons of this LCD. Does anyone own one or know where i might find a review

Cheers

JAF

[A_Traveller]

Acer Product List

Link may help, looks very similar {same panel?} as Benq FP222W @ 9,999 THB.

Regards

PS Note these products 'only' have analogue and DVI connexions.

/edit add PS//

Edited June 1, 2007 by A_Traveller

[Firefoxx]

Like I said, if you want reviews, go to Newegg.com. Reviews on pretty much all the available screens, from normal users. From what I've gathered, the Acers are just OK, and their price reflects that. The Samsungs have the best quality in this price bracket. It's not perfect, and there is silly moaning about different panels, but all around it's excellent.

I can say this because I'm also going to buy a 22" LCD Real Soon Now, and will probably buy the 226BW.

[cali]

I recently did the research and decided 24" widescreen was the way to go, nothing less. With 24" you get the full 1920x1200 resolution and at the ideal "squint free" DPI without needing to introduce any nasty scaling issues. With the exception of NEC, the specs on all the brands are idential so I suspect the panels are identical and all from one source with the same picture quality and just dropped into each vendor's housing & electronics. Last I checked Acer Thailand does not offer 24" LCD's even though they have been out for a year so they are not available for any price domestically. 24" LCD's from Samsung & Acer run about 17K baht in the USA.

I bought the 24" Acer abroad. Since it is wide format, it's not all that big or heavy and easily fits in a suitcase. It's the most beautiful picture I have ever seen on a monitor. Not a single dead pixel or any problem at all. Could not be happier with it. Since the monitor is the one thing you can carry forward as you build new systems in the future, getting a good one is a very good investment for your money and your eyes.

Edited June 1, 2007 by cali

[Firefoxx]

The important phrase here is "in the USA." Yes, you can buy them here (as I've said before), but they cost 40-50k baht. Samsung has several models, even the new ones, available, but they cost way too much, even though "in the USA" they cost less than 20k. Lugging a 24" LCD, even if you were fortunate enough to get a free trip to the USA, isn't something you'd look forward to, even if you'd fit it in a suitcase. There is the issue of baggage handling (it won't fit in your carry-on, that's for sure), and you might end up with a dead monitor on arrival at BKK. Then there's the fact that the Thai representatives won't do warranty work on these monitors.

The good thing about 24" monitors is the resolution. Most also come with a variety of inputs, such as composite, s-video, and component. The bad thing is that many have problems with HD input, scaling it wrong, but that's a small point.

Really, I'd like to get one (I've stated it often enough), but my conclusion is that for most people in Thailand, it's not economical or practical. Get the 22", it's not much different, and actually has bigger pixels (DPI) than a 24". In the future, when importers wisen up and reduce the price of the 24" here, then it'll be worth considering. But not now.

[Eureka]

Although Samsung make excellant LCDs they are not the only high quality offerings available in Thailand.

Viewsonic have been a leading supplier of high quality screens for many years and are still the first choice for most US purchases.

They have recently established a major service centre in Thailand and are pushing for higher sales. Currently they offer good deals through Synnex dealers and are probably the main competition for Samsung in the LCD marketplace.

Google any model number after checking their site www.viewsonic.com and then you can compare apples with apples.