Monitor

[Selina]

Hi - I would like opinion/advice from those with more knowledge than me please.

I am about to buy a new monitor. 

I have the old type huge one at present and now want thinner model.  Whilst I would like something about 17" it seems that 20" is about the smallest normal available from suppliers that I would buy from and I have one in mind of a well known make etc., from a well known department store.

However I know that some people have bought a TV and use it as a monitor.  Is this a good idea?  How do I know that a particular TV is suitable?  Whatever you can tell me would be welcome.

Thanks.

Selina

[downside]

You can buy an Acer X193HQ which is 18.5" from Tesco (£79) and PC World (£109).  Notice the price difference for an identical product!  I think 18.5" is the smallest size stand-alone PC monitor you can buy at the moment.

You can buy PC/TV monitors but they are usually more expensive than just a PC monitor.  A PC monitor does not have a TV receiver so you would have to fit a PC card to you computer to watch TV, hence the reason for the price difference.

[Selina]

Many thanks downside.

I saw the Acer offer in my several local Tescos a while back but not there now!  Rather wish I had bought at the time.  I won't buy from PC World anyway.

Thanks for explaining the difference from just a monitor and TV.

Selina

[downside]

I just had a look at their webite and they have an LG W1943S-PF 18.5" PC Monitor but it costs £89.  Fortunately I bought the Acer monitor back in the spring.

[Nick29]

Since you're a genealogist, a widescreen monitor might be useful, because you can put two A4 images side by side for comparison and transcription.

However, the most important thing is to buy a monitor with the correct connection - many new monitors now only have a DVI connection, which is digital, and the plug has two blocks of pins which are oriented at 90 degrees to each other.  I suspect your old monitor has the old VGA connection, which is a D shaped connector with 15 round pins.  If you buy a DVI only monitor, and your computer does not have a DVI output, you won't be able to use it.  You can still get monitors with VGA only or with both DVI and VGA, which makes them "future proof".

[kiwihalfpint]

Hi Selina,

A few months ago, I decided to get rid of my huge monitor and purchased a thinner 19" monitor and am quite happy with it.

We shopped around for price value ..... then OH  sent  me elsewhere in the store while he negoitated the price

Cheers
KHP

[Selina]

Hi.

Many thanks Nick for that information - I had no idea about DVI and VGA and will make sure I get the correct thing.  Think I have to have VGA from what I can see and will find out more about the HP monitor I am considering.   At any rate I now know I have to be careful!

Your point about screen size is also good, it would be handy to be able to transcribe without having to make both pages as small as I do now.

Kiwi - Glad to hear you are pleased with yours.  Unfortunately I have to do the negotiating!  Last time we got a new car it took me three-quarters of a hour to get the price right.  Not sure that John Lewis barter though!

Best wishes,

Cara

[Selina]

Its been interesting and worthwhile looking into this.

My computer supports and has connections for, VGA, TV and DVI so I am not limited for choice.

The monitor I was thinking about is VGA only.  Before I finally buy one I am going to have another little look around to see what is available now that I know what is what!

Thanks for your help downside, Nick and kiwi

Selina

[kiwihalfpint]

Your point about screen size is also good, it would be handy to be able to transcribe without having to make both pages as small as I do now.

Even with  putting the screen on "Tile Windows Horizontally", I have no problems with my pages when transcribing with the screen size


KHP