Please recommend a 20" + monitor

Flanno

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Am currently without a screen (the 2007FWP was borrowed) and need to buy something fast. Budget of 350 quid and the LCD will be used as my main mulitimedia station - so 50% for browsing/games, the other 50% watching tv/divx/dvd's. Used in bedroom and as I will be sitting in front of it, viewing angles are not THAT important but I don't want artifacts or sparkling so common on TN panels. HDCP support for Vista in the future is probably also desirable. I have ruled out Viewsonic. Took 4 attempts to get a dead pixel free 19" VX922 sometime ago. And I hated the VX2025 with it's backlight bleed in every corner nearly everyone had. And the current 22" looks like a TN panel (I think) and a good few people have dead pixel issues.

I have narrowed down my choice to 4 panels.

Choice 1
Dell 2007FWP which I have been using for some time and enjoy it a lot but would obviously prefer something bigger. The model I had was an A02 and minimal banding in desktop mode, hdcp support and great for everything I want. I can get it new in Ireland for 275 sterling right now inc shipping with 3 year onsite swapout warranty !!

Choice 2
Samsung SM-205BW 20". Slightly more expensive with shipping. No nothing about this. Better response time but the viewing angles of 160 suggest a TN panel which would not be as good for watching tv/dvd etc..

Choice 3
Samsung SM-215TW 21". Read some very positive reviews of this. An extra inch plus component. And not TN either. About 30 quid over budget but I could manage.

Choice 4
Samsung SM-225BW 22". 2 extra inches. Advertised as 16.7m colours but I suspect a TN panel again. Within budget.

So should I save the most money and go the Dell route, or spend a little more for a nice 22" screen which is most likely TN, or settle in the middle with the 215TW - over budget but seems the best quality.
 
I've got the 20" SyncMaster 205bw, it's characteristics are typical for a TN panel, ie restricted viewing angles, but excellent for gaming, If I had my choice from the 3 Samsung models you've listed I would go for the 21" SM-215TW, I suspect it and the Dell are the best choices here. Regarding the 22" Samsung, no one seems to know for sure what type of panel is used, some say it's the new TN, others say it's a Chi Mei Optoelectronics S-MVA panel.
 
Thanks for the reply.

From what I have read so far on the web I agree - the Dell or the 21" SM-215TW sound like the best choices. Taking shipping and conversion to Euro into account, the Samsuing works out as 160 euro more expensive for me.

So the big question is this :

Is it worth paying an extra 160 euro for an extra 1" of desktop space (really 1/2" square I suppose) and better specs (1000:1 contrast and 8ms v 800:1 and 16ms). The component inputs on the Samsung would probably never get used as I have no interest in the Xbox360 and the Wii is non-hidef. So the extra desktop space and better performance would be the only benefits I can see.
 
I made a similar decision on Wednesday. I was considering the Hyundai N91W and the Dell 2007wfp. The Dell was twice as much for an extra inch but had more features and a better panel. I couldn't decide after 5 days so asked on a few other forums for peoples opinions. Half said go for the Dell and the other half said go for the Hyundai. My decision was literally made from the toss of a coin and I'm now happily using a Dell :D

Personally, if I was in your position I would go for the Dell because you've used it previously and know you would be happy with it. You mentioned you wanted a bigger screen but I wouldn't consider a 21" or 22" to be that much of a step up from a 20".

You might want to look here if you're worried about poor video playback. I've not used the features mentioned but they say it improves video quailty.
 
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Went with the Dell 2007WFP in the end. The price was just too good to resist. Hoping for no dead pixels or major backlight bleed.
 
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