Which LCD flat panel monitor? Samsung or Sony?

S

Sid Post

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I need help deciding which premium LCD flat panel monitor should get my hard earned money. The specs are a little meaningless to me in that I can't attach any real world meaning to them. Is a contrast ration of 600 compared to 500 noticeable or even worthwhile? Is a contrast ratio of 1000 twice as good as 500? What does refresh rate do for me (some makers publish this others don't). Is response time the LCD version of refresh rate?....etc.

I was initially leaning toward the Samsung 910T because of my experience at work with the 712N and the great price on the 910T panel. One thing that keeps me from buying the 910T is the 1280x1024 resolution. I really want a 1600x1200 display. The model from Sony and Samsung are both about ~$800-850 which is within reason compared to the ~$510 for the Samsung 910T.
 
What do you want to use it for? If gaming is part of the equation, then you want to look closely at the pixel response time. 25ms is pretty standard on the more afforable flat panels and will cause streaking on fast action games. The newest stuff gets down in the under 20ms range and is much better for gaming. Also remember that flat panels only look nice and sharp at their native resolution. On a 1600x1200 monitor 19", the text gets pretty small and if you try to change your monitor settings to a lower resolution, the picture goes to hell. 1280x1024 is much friendlier on the eyes in a 19" monitor. Back to gaming, most video cards have a hard time providing acceptable frame rates at 1600 x 1200, another reason that 1280 x 1024 is a better choice in that size. Regarding the contrast ratio, the higher number is better, but won't make that much difference unless you're watching movies on it and are a real videophile.

John
 
I have the Samsung 175v and I am really happy with it. No streaking in games and zero problems.
 
It looks like 1600x1200 is only for 21"+ panels. Still though, it's going to be small text. Unless you really need the desktop space, 1280x1024 is fine and you'll save $300-$400. Personally, I prefer Samsung as they manufacturer fantastic panels for great prices. I'm on a Samsung 191T and I love it!

Do make sure you have a graphics card with DVI connectors! Digital is much better than analog.
 
I'm not a gamer. I might have played Solitaire once or twice in the past 10 years. I might occasionally 'surf to a website I see on the news and play a simplistic game for 10 minutes or so but, that is a rare event.

I watch some video but, I am not a videophile. I don't need a professional video editing level of color rendition but, I do appreciate something in the entry pro-sumer level.

I do a lot of Microsoft Office application work. This includes manipulating pictures that are provided to me. Generally, my picture editing is limited to what I can do with PowerPoint or similar apps. I also write a lot of documents in Word that include Excel spreadsheet plots, pictures, and diagrams.

Finally, I want something competent for 'web' surfing. I want web content to have vibrant colors for pictures, and clear legible text.

Text legibility is the one area where I really won't compromise. Eye fatigue with Black text on a white background is not acceptable. The Samsung 712N's I have at my desk at work are a good reference for text requirements. I cannot use the cheap @#$% HP flat panels (L1935's?) that the computers at work are shipped with.
 
Your requirement for crisp text is another reason to make sure you're using a digital connection to the panel and not analog. My experience with analog panels has been very poor, with noticeable pixel degradation, fuzziness, and flicker. At work I'm using two IBM 18" panels, and my firm provided analog cables only. I bought digital cables paid out of my own pocket so I could get rid of the analog nastiness. :)
 
I have a 19-inch Samsung 193v. Whatever graphic I use as my Desktop wallpaper gets "burned" in after a few days and shows up as a latent ("ghost") image. So do the Desktop shortcut icons. Very annoying (especially on the grey workspace area in Photoshop).

:mad:
 
cockroachfarm said:
I have a 19-inch Samsung 193v. Whatever graphic I use as my Desktop wallpaper gets "burned" in after a few days and shows up as a latent ("ghost") image. So do the Desktop shortcut icons. Very annoying (especially on the grey workspace area in Photoshop).

:mad:
Click to expand...

Are talking about true "burn in" or something that goes away after a few days? Do the pixels just need to calm down from their excited and active state :)
 
I've used many flat panels, between all of them I think the Sony one stend to be some of the best. I've used Viewsonics since they first came out and have had several Samsungs and Sony's but my new Sony SDM-P234 is a thing of beauty.

The response rate is important. 20-25 is standard but you can get down to 15ms and under. As for resolution I highly suggest going all out and getting 1600x1200. Even on a 19" or 20" monitor it is perfectly useable and you will love all the extra realistate. I used 1600x1200 for the past 3 years on a 21" viewsonic proffesional. I just switched to the new sony 23" with a 1920 x 1200 resolution and it's heaven.

Just remeber, a good monitor will last for many years so buy the best you can afford/justify as you will enjoy it every day for a long time.
 
Sid Post said:
Are talking about true "burn in" or something that goes away after a few days? Do the pixels just need to calm down from their excited and active state :)
Click to expand...

I don't really know - and the Samsung tech support was no help. It's also hard to explain to someone without letting them see my monitor. How many DAYS need to pass before these horny little pixels are no longer 'excited'? If I open Photoshop right now, I will see ghost images of all my Desktop icons on the gray background. Very annoying.
 
The Koreas have pretty much got the LCD / TFT thing sewn up. Thats why the Japanese are tying up with them and not trying to go it alone. Korea also pretty much makes the best consumer memory too.

Personally I don't buy Sony anymore because their quality has really slipped.
 
coronelli said:
I've used many flat panels, between all of them I think the Sony one stend to be some of the best. I've used Viewsonics since they first came out and have had several Samsungs and Sony's but my new Sony SDM-P234 is a thing of beauty.

The response rate is important. 20-25 is standard but you can get down to 15ms and under. As for resolution I highly suggest going all out and getting 1600x1200. Even on a 19" or 20" monitor it is perfectly useable and you will love all the extra realistate. I used 1600x1200 for the past 3 years on a 21" viewsonic proffesional. I just switched to the new sony 23" with a 1920 x 1200 resolution and it's heaven.

Just remeber, a good monitor will last for many years so buy the best you can afford/justify as you will enjoy it every day for a long time.
Click to expand...

Under that thinking, I think I am convinced a 20" model like this one from Sony is a good choice. That Sony SDM-P234 is a nice one but, at ~$1650 a little hard to justify being ~$870 more then the 20" model and being only 320 pixels wider.

Any, specific advice on a 20" Sony versus the 21" Samsung which pivots and cost ~$130 more then the Sony, both of which give me the 1600x1200 resolution and similar performance numbers?
 
Temper said:
Personally I don't buy Sony anymore because their quality has really slipped.
Click to expand...

Is this based on personal experience with LCD Flat Panels or another product? Should I totally rule out the Sony SDM-P234 and SONY SDM-S204?
 
Its based on the Sony products that I have bought including a $2500 T.V anda $700 VCR. My dad always bought Sony, I respect his research on stuff and followed suit. Not any more, Sony has blown in for me. I will never buy anything they make again.

They are living on the good name they once had, but cutback and corner cutting have turned around and bit them on their ass.
 
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