Poll: Poll: Should PCM2 buy the EW2420 *VA monitor for the good of the community?

Should I buy one to test?

  • yes

    Votes: 50 89.3%

  • no

    Votes: 6 10.7%
  • Total voters
    56

PCM2

PCM2

PCM2

Soldato
Joined
18 Feb 2010
Posts
6,810
Location
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
[If an admin could insert an appropriate poll for this it would be awesome]

So as per this thread I am very curious indeed (and so are many others) as to how the EW2420, being an LED-backlit *VA monitor at excellent price, fares against similarly priced or even more expensive TN monitors. BenQ's PR department are not able to give me one to test at the moment - so for the greater good of the OcUK community, should I buy one myself and review it properly? :D
 
Haha - but I'm sure they will anyway. ;) As far as I can tell (I am fairly confident this is the case) the VW2420 has thinner bezels at the side than the EW2420 but the actual panel is exactly the same inside. The EW2420 does look a bit more 'solid' in the bezel department I agree, so it may not be ideal for a multi-monitor setup.
 
Haha. Yeah I know it's not exactly pocket change... But I haven't been spending much on "myself" recently. I spent nearly that on upgrading the hosting for my website a few days ago - needed unlimited bandwidth because I have so many visitors now :D. I think that's given me the spending bug. ;)

By the way - the EW2420, which does have VESA mounting, is only 1.51mm wider (with same screen size) than the VW2420. That's 0.755mm either side - obviously the pictures are deceiving.
 
No landslide in poll= no purchase. ;) I think the added weight of the EW2420 is a welcome thing, too. I have found many LED-backlit BenQ monitors seem to have poor build quality because they are so light. They slide about the desk if you just push the power button! The EW2420 is 6kg of monitor so hopefully it will feel a bit better in the build-quality department. :)
 
At the moment I'm using a Samsung FX2490HD which I'm reviewing. When not reviewing I use a Samsung XL24 as my primary monitor and also have a Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 2060u as a reference screen for some reviews I do. There is a reason I am so particular about the image quality of the monitors I review. ;) I also have a Samsung 2032BW on my downstairs PC which is where the BenQ would probably live after it has been reviewed. I'm still waiting for an admin to add a poll!
 
Last edited:
Oh my... Just got back from work and I see you lot have been very busy in my absence ;). I voted yes. But this can run for a bit longer. I am still doing this FX2490HD review and my helpers are on holiday so the very earliest you should expect this review by is probably about 2-3 weeks from now - if I do decide to go for it. I hope this is satisfactory :).
 
Hmm... The user comments on the TrustedReviews review of the VW2420 have put me off somewhat. It sounds as if people are experiencing the kind of issues I have come across with *VA panels in the past. I like the idea somebody had of getting Overclockers to send me one by asking nicely, but they don't stock it.
 
Last edited:
Looking through threads like this coupled with my previous experience though does make me wonder. To be fair I'm in quite a privileged position. The reason most people won't just go out and buy a monitor like this on a whim is because, obviously £160 is quite a lot of money these days. What if they don't like it? They might be stuck with it as their main monitor and that wouldn't be a nice feeling. Maybe they'd end up selling it on eBay for a bit less than they bought it for. Although some of this applies to me if I was 'stuck with it' it would only be on a computer I rarely use and I have a pretty much constant throughflow of review sample monitors to keep me occupied these days. Also I could claim back the VAT and I'd only be using money generated from my website and really this monitor is for my website (and of course you guys :)).
 
Last edited:
I would buy it on the premise of using it as just any other consumer - if I would like to claim it as a business expense and claim back the VAT at a later date that is also a possibility (although sometimes it isn't worth the hassle). I am not confident in the DSR or the whole process. It seems abundantly clear that unless there is a fault with the monitor they only accept "I changed my mind" type returns within 7 days if the product has been unused. I know this seems ridiculous but I have looked at the terms and conditions of several online retailers and, apart from one I can't actually buy from, they echo the same.
 
You are absolutely correct about the DSR CaptainCrash. I had a look through the legislation - http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/general/oft698.pdf

It is made abundantly clear throughout the document that a consumer must be able to try out a product (as they would be allowed during face-to-face sales in a shop).

Paragraph 3.58 in particular -

"Can I insist that consumers who cancel an order within the
cancellation period return the goods as new or in their
original packaging

No. Consumers are under a duty to take reasonable care of the goods
while in their possession as discussed in paragraph 3.44. The DSRs
allow consumers to examine goods they have ordered as they would
in a shop. If that requires opening the packaging and trying out the
goods then they have not breached their duty to take reasonable
care of the goods. In these circumstances you cannot insist that
consumers return the goods as new or in their original packaging.
You may ask consumers to return goods with the original packaging,
but you cannot insist on this."
 
Whilst I won't be testing that specifically I will certainly be looking at gamma shifts and other issues in dark areas that may affect such applications.

P.S. Now I am comfortable with the DSR legislation I have ordered the thing. You can all breath a sigh of relief. As for a timeframe for the review - I'll do my best but given my other duties I'd say expect it no earlier than Guy Fawkes night. Let's hope for some fireworks ;).
 
Yes me too. Either way I think it is for the greater good (*flashback to Hot Fuzz*). I will be as objective as possible and will not introduce any sort of bias to this review and try to force myself to like aspects of the monitor that I don't really like, just because I bought it. It will be standing alongside a high-end CRT and very high-end LCD with coloured LED backlighting so the poor bugger is really going to be in the spotlight.
 
I'm expecting this to arrive tomorrow (with any luck). I will not give you my knee-jerk response but later on in the week I will let you all know how I have found it for gaming in particular.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom