What's the best 20"-22" wide LCD Monitor for the value

[kasm]

I'm building a new system (see thread: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=173569) I'd like to add a 20"-22" Wide screen LCD flat panel display. What do you recommend? What minimum requirements should I look for? What brands should I stick with? Stay away from?

Thanks!

[flanzig1]

Look for monitors that don't have built inspeakers/USB ports/sound connections. These tend to drive up the cost. Having a height adjustable stand can handy. Samsung/Dell/Viewsonic/LG are some of the good ones. Haven't really heard of any brand to stay away from.

[SonicVanguard]

Just picked up a Sceptre 20.1" 16:9 for $230 (plus tax and shipping) from Costco.com. $30 rebate brings it to $200. Great specs: DVI, 300cd brightness, 1000:1 contrast, 5ms response time - it looks great. Not a lot of documentation came with it - but then it's a monitor - you don't need a lot of documentation to make a go of things.

BTW, it has built-in speakers - don't sound half bad - nothing to my Klipsch, but I've heard much worse.

[TwoRails]

Sounds good, SV. I don't think (I'm guessing here) that you are a hard core gamer, but have you gamed on it? If so, how is it? I have a good friend looking for a monitor in that size and price range and we have a local Costco :)

[SonicVanguard]

It games very well. I'm no hard-core gamer, but it's done extremely well at every game I've thrown at it.

You should know, local Costco's don't carry it - I guess their website acts as a supplement to their bricks and mortar locations. One nice feature of their website is you don't have to be a member to make a purchse - you just pay 10% as I understand it.

[TwoRails]

It looks good on the site, and the speakers are well hidden, which is nice, too. Thanks for the tip; I'll send my friend the link. (One nice thing having a Costco locally is it makes for easy returns for a "just in case" :) )

[SonicVanguard]

(One nice thing having a Costco locally is it makes for easy returns for a "just in case" :) )
Agreed. You can't beat their return policy.

[glc]

The only thing I do *not* like about Sceptre is the warranty - it's only 1 year. In 22" wides, I recommend Acer or BenQ as being good values.

[TwoRails]

For those who are interested, that monitor is also available at Newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824112006&CMP+KNC-GoogleAdwords&ATT=Monitors), also for $199 after rebates, $14 shipping.

[SonicVanguard]

GLC - Costco extends any and all warrantys under their return policy. Basically, it's an unlimited policy - if in 4 years this monitor breaks down, I can return it. No questions asked. One of the biggest reasons I remain a Costco client.

[princess78]

I just got one of these from Comp USA

http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=srch1&Ntt=kds+22&N=0&Dx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&D=kds+22&Ntk=All&product_code=52555685

[glc]

1 year warranty on the KDS - the company is not even close to what it used to be.

[SonicVanguard]

Honestly, a warranty is only as good as the paper it's written on. A company like Costco backs up any warranty with a return policy no company can match. Shoot, I just returned a bunch of bananas this afternoon because I just didn't like the taste of a few in the bunch. No questions asked, money back. Guy there was returning a 37" LCD his kid messed up - he even told them his kid messed up the screen - didn't matter. They gave him a replacement @ N/C.

[TwoRails]

Yes, they are fantastic. Another example is that a year after I picked up a VCR (remember those?) it started eating tapes. Got the full purchase price for it. The cool part is they had dropped in price and I not only got a better unit, but had change to keep, too :)

[SonicVanguard]

Yes, they are fantastic. Another example is that a year after I picked up a VCR (remember those?) it started eating tapes. Got the full purchase price for it. The cool part is they had dropped in price and I not only got a better unit, but had change to keep, too :)
That's what happened to the guy that returned the 37" LCD - it was a few years old and they didn't have the model. He ended up with a much nicer flat panel and had money coming back. He told them he didn't think it was fair to take that money and they flat out told him that was their policy. And they did it with a smile on their face.

[kstatefan40]

I love the Septre models - we got one for my mom for Christmas. We don't have any Costco's around here, unfortunately... but I did return a flash drive to newegg within a year and they gave me a full refund for it, got a drive 4x the size :)

[hitchface]

Dang...I'm doing my monitor shopping at Costco from now on...wish I knew that before.

[kasm]

Thanks for everyone's input.

Here is the monitor I got ($299 CDN after $100 discount): http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10072654&catid=22559&logon=&langid=EN

Ranked 3rd: http://compreviews.about.com/od/monitors/tp/Wide20inchLCD.htm
Ranked first: http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/06/27/xxl_displays/

19" monitors are the sweet spot for value, but with the discount, this 20" is not much more expsensive.

[TwoRails]

That looks like a good one, kasm. ViewSonic has been a good name. Thanks for posting the review links.