Thinking of purchasing a multi-use widescreen monitor.

Basically, I'm looking for something upwards of 21", with DVI, S-Video, and component as a minimum. I am also trying to keep it under $550-$600. I would like a larger screensize/resolution becuase I am a resolution whore, and I do a lot of music editing/scoring, so I need the space. Also, I have nothing to plug consoles into, and when I get the Wii, I'll need something decent to display it on. That's why I need component.

So far, I'm looking at the Gateway FPD2185W, and the Westinghouse LCM-22w2.

They both boast a 1680x1050 resolution, DVI, S-video, Comoposite and Component inputs, and will display 1080i. (I've read a few reviews on each, and they seem to be on level ground with each other).

However, the Gateway has a really awesome Picture-in-Picture feature, which could definately come in handy. The landscape-portrait swivel is also kind of neat, and has some great tilt/adjust abilities. This monitor also supports DHCP.

On the other side, the Westinghouse has an extra inch, but I'm not sure if that will make a huge difference. It also has a faster response time (5ms compared to 8 ms), but there are no standards to measure response time so who knows.

Could you good people please give me your thoughts? Any models you would reccomend? Thanks!

(Also, if you play a game in 4:3 on a 16:10 monitor, do you just get vertical letterboxing?)

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by yuki chan

most wide screen monitors stretch to the entire screen and will not lock the aspect ration when using 4:3 content

Though if you don't want the image stretched you can set that in the newest nvidia drivers (it will stretch to the largest it can with still keeping aspect ratio), for video most media player apps will allow you to stretch or keep the aspect ratio.

Yeah, preserving 4:3 content in it's original resolution is an absolute must for me. I can't stand it when things are out of porportion. While it's good to know that that can be addressed with software, it seems as if there nothing I can do about Component input.

Originally Posted by Arainach

If you can afford to splurge, I cannot speak highly enough about This NEC.

Well, it seems to have roughly the same features as the other ones, but it does have quite a pricetag. Now here's the thing: I'm no photo-editor, and colour-gamut-whateverthefuck isn't a huge deal; I mean, I usualy don't notice these kinds of things. To give you an example, I'm using this monitor (on 1280x1024) right now, and it looks just fine to me.

Originally Posted by yuki chan

also it is a 20 inch panel meaning that it will look sharper than the other two panels in question as the resolution is the same, the dot pitch will be lower.

I thought about that aswell, when looking at 22" monitors. It was also the reason why I bought a 17" instead of a 19". However, on closer inspection (of 19" monitors), the display was actually quite sharp, and didn't appear to be any worse than a 17" (I might not have a trained eye though). So, if that is the case with 20" vs 22", I'd go for the 22", seeing as I'll be using it to watch movies from a distance.
What do you think?

Originally Posted by killmoms

If you can spend $500 or so, why not just get a coupon deal on the Dell 2407? HDCP support for its DVI input, component ins, and 1920 x 1200 (so it supports the full, pixel-for-pixel TRUE HD resolution of 1080i and 1080p). They come down to the mid $500 range all the time.

Really? How do you get a coupon deal? This monitor looks really nice, and the large display + 1920x1200 makes me orgasm.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Arainach

The 2407FPW has had all sorts of banding issues and it's generally a good idea to run far, far away.

As Garret mentioned, shouldn't the A03 revisions be fixed? I've done a bit of research, and it seems that people have found that the banding issues have been resolved.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Render

I like the look of the 2407 and it has some pretty respectable specs. I remember hearing about the banding issues and they were resolved with the new A03 revision.

That's what I've been hearing aswell, and it's looking like this is the monitor I'll want to purchase. However, if Arainach knows something I (we) don't, I'd like to hear it.

Also, killmoms, what is this "Dell Coupon" thing, and how do I get it?

Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Garret

I have spoken to Level 3 Dell Technicians about the 1080 support with the 2407's, and all of them told me that only 1080i is supported, and only through the component input *this was apparently to the disappointment of many who wanted to play the upcoming ps3's through their 2407*. That was with the A02's at the time, although I doubt much has changed with the A03's.

Like I said before:

Originally Posted by Free.User

I'm no photo-editor, and colour-gamut-whateverthefuck isn't a huge deal; I mean, I usualy don't notice these kinds of things. To give you an example, I'm using this monitor (on 1280x1024) right now, and it looks just fine to me.

I know the difference between 1080p and 1080i is progressive scan/interlaced, but to someone like me, would I really notice a difference between the two? (Can a computer output 1080p through the DVI port, and if so, how much better is it to the average user?)

I'm really new to the HD/1080 stuff (all my life I've been using commodore 64 monitors), so any help would be appreciated.

How ya doing, buddy?

Oh, ok. Thanks.

But can computers output either 1080i or 1080p through DVI, or is that only through component?

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Originally Posted by killmoms

Dell will occasionally run coupon deals. Just sign up for one of those deal sites. I'm most familiar with dealmac.com of course, being a Mac fan, but they keep their eyes on a lot of other manufacturers besides Apple. Just "subscribe" to their listing for the Dell 2407 and you'll get an alert the next time there's a coupon deal. They also list the lowest price ever seen for the item in question and how long it's been since that price, which lets you know whether the latest deal is good and how likely the best one is to occur again. All in all, very convenient.

Thanks for that info. I signed up at Dealnews, but it says that the lowest ever price for the 2407 was $679. Didn't you say that you saw the 2407 in the $500 range? Also, I heard somewhere that you can somehow score a 25% off coupon from Dell. Do you know how to go about getting this?

FELIPE NO

Hmm, I've been doing a bit more research and it turns out that the Dell 2407 may not be the best choice. Appearently, it will stretch a 4:3 to widescreen unless you have a Nvidia card; seeing as I am going to be using an ATI card, this is a huge problem.

I also heard that the quality through the component input is low. Can anyone confirm this? I'll be using the component alot, so it needs to look nice. In addition, is it true that the 2407 will not accept 1080i or 1080p through component?

One last thing: the response time (16ms (black to white), 6ms (gray to gray)) seems rather low. Again, I don't have much experience with high-end displays. Will this be low enough for high-end gaming?

Thanks.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by killmoms

Composite != Component

Oops, sorry, that was a typo on my part. I meant Component

Originally Posted by killmoms

Also, that 4:3 stretching thing is bunk. ATI card are capable of widescreen resolutions just like any other.

Right, but are they capable of preserving 4:3 content on a widescreen monitor, without stretching it?

Originally Posted by killmoms

I'll be getting mine tomorrow or Tuesday. I'll let you know how it looks once it arrives.

Thanks alot, I look forward to hearing from you!

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Hotobu

I've got a Dell 2407 (thanks killmoms) I've had it for over a month. It's easily the best investment I've made in quite a while. Banding issues are nil so that isn't a problem.

Just curious, what revision did you get? Was it a refurbished unit?

Originally Posted by Hotobu

As for the stretching. What are you concerned about the monitor stretching?

Let's say I have a game that does not support a widescreen resolution (Battlefield 2). If I run that game on this 1920x1200 display, while my desktop resolution is set to 1920x1200, will the game stretch the aspect ratio, making things look short and fat, or will there be two black rectangles at each side of the screen? Is there an option to choose (for both VGA and DVI)?

Originally Posted by Hotobu

Images tthat come through imputs are not stretched. I especially like the fact that it tells you what resolution you're getting.

So if hook up a console through component/composite that only supports 4:3, it will not strech the apsect ratio, it will stay in 4:3? It is very important to me that original aspect ratios are preserved, in every situation. Of course, if something supports widescreen, then so be it.

Originally Posted by Hotobu

As for the component quality, I don't know if that's a problem with the monitor, or the fact that it's HD. The common analogy is that putting a low def image on a high def screen is like looking at something under a microscope. You're going to see imperfections. Because this is the only HD screen I own, and I have yet to put anything > 480p into it I couldn't really tell you by comparison. I'd suspect any quality issues are due to what I stated though.

From what you've seen through component, would you say its better or worse than any other display you've seen?

Also, one question I've been hearing so many different answers to is this: Does this monitor support 1080i and 1080p through Component aswell as DVI?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Well, just when I thought I would purchase this monitor, I noticed that Gateway released a monitor (Gateway FPD2485W) with the same specs/features for the same price, but I'm unable to locate a review. If this monitor doesn't have the same pixel mapping problems that the Dell has, I will get this instead.

When I called Dell to buy the 2407, the guy said that the Dell Canada will not be getting in sales, so the monitor price is 899$ CAD. However, he gave me his extension number, and said that I can get 100$ off if I speak to him.

If someone can let me know about the component input pixel ratios on the Gateway, please let me know.

Thanks for your help, everyone.

EDIT:Oh shit son!
I just noticed the BenQ FP241W.... all the features of the previous two monitors, but it has an HDMI port AND it boasts supporting 1080p on all inputs! The price is just a bit higher than the DELL 1407, so I might grab this one later this year. Like the Dell, the BenQ has trouble with 1:1 pixel mapping, but they've said that the problem will be fixed in December. I figure I can wait another month or so. What do you think?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.