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I had a Hannspree 28" monitor. The backlight on the left died. I decided to go with a physically smaller monitor with a similar resolution, and a higher pixel pitch (I've insane eyesight). I settled on an LED-lit 21.5" AOC I saw in CompUSA after researching it a bit. Brought it home, and it looked like someone had smeared car oil onto the screen. I couldn't figure out what it was. I went onto IRC and they told me it was almost certainly dithering artifacts I was seeing.
(I also found that the brightness/color changes from top to bottom of the panel and it has a bright spot in the bottom left, but I didn't notice these things at first because the film was too distracting)
I was recommended a nice Dell Ultrasharp (IPS panel, thus no dithering). I bought one at the same size/res. After powering it up, I discovered that it had the same problem, only many times worse! The color and regularity of the image is stunning, if you look past the layer of CRAP on the screen, though. It's fine when in a game, or in most dark screens... Anyway after having a revelation and searching around, I discovered that it's the damn anti-glare filter they put on monitors these days. I can't fathom why it's necessary - that should be an optional component, not an integral one... Anyway I discovered that most monitors have this.
The alternatives are a glossy anti-glare (not common anymore), and no anti-glare (even less common). Since I've identified that, here's what I'd like from a monitor:
21.5" w/ 1920x1080 resolution (If you identify a 1920x1200 w/ the same pixel pitch, that is fine too)
.248 pixel pitch (comes with the size/res combo ofc - will consider slightly higher)
LED-lit LCD (will consider non-LED, but I love the brightness for my eyes)
IPS panel (will consider TN/etc.)
NO MATTE ANTI GLARE! (glossy or no anti glare at all - non-negotiable)
After searching and searching I've found some options.
ASUS, meets all specs except IPS, if you look at it at bestbuy's site it says "Anti Glare: NO", which sounds good - the original "no bullshit on it" LCD, if it's not lying.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236100
HP, meets all specs except IPS and size/pixel pitch, has "BrightView" which basically means "glossy screen".
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...pe&v1=LED&product_code=WH344AA#ABA&catLevel=2
Unfortunately HP does not carry a 21.5" version of this monitor, or I'd be set. Out of these two the ASUS would be better on the wallet, obviously, and has better pixel pitch, but I am suspicious of the anti-glare being a lie and still being there... Might be specs I'm ignorant of, though, perhaps the HP blows it out of the water in some other capacity? Can anybody verify that the ASUS has no AG (if so I'm all over that)?
Finally, does anybody know of other panels that meet my specs? Specifically ones that are IPS, because after seeing this Dell I don't know if I'll be fully happy with a TN panel (though I'd rather have TN without filth on it than IPS with the filth).
(I also found that the brightness/color changes from top to bottom of the panel and it has a bright spot in the bottom left, but I didn't notice these things at first because the film was too distracting)
I was recommended a nice Dell Ultrasharp (IPS panel, thus no dithering). I bought one at the same size/res. After powering it up, I discovered that it had the same problem, only many times worse! The color and regularity of the image is stunning, if you look past the layer of CRAP on the screen, though. It's fine when in a game, or in most dark screens... Anyway after having a revelation and searching around, I discovered that it's the damn anti-glare filter they put on monitors these days. I can't fathom why it's necessary - that should be an optional component, not an integral one... Anyway I discovered that most monitors have this.
The alternatives are a glossy anti-glare (not common anymore), and no anti-glare (even less common). Since I've identified that, here's what I'd like from a monitor:
21.5" w/ 1920x1080 resolution (If you identify a 1920x1200 w/ the same pixel pitch, that is fine too)
.248 pixel pitch (comes with the size/res combo ofc - will consider slightly higher)
LED-lit LCD (will consider non-LED, but I love the brightness for my eyes)
IPS panel (will consider TN/etc.)
NO MATTE ANTI GLARE! (glossy or no anti glare at all - non-negotiable)
After searching and searching I've found some options.
ASUS, meets all specs except IPS, if you look at it at bestbuy's site it says "Anti Glare: NO", which sounds good - the original "no bullshit on it" LCD, if it's not lying.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236100
HP, meets all specs except IPS and size/pixel pitch, has "BrightView" which basically means "glossy screen".
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...pe&v1=LED&product_code=WH344AA#ABA&catLevel=2
Unfortunately HP does not carry a 21.5" version of this monitor, or I'd be set. Out of these two the ASUS would be better on the wallet, obviously, and has better pixel pitch, but I am suspicious of the anti-glare being a lie and still being there... Might be specs I'm ignorant of, though, perhaps the HP blows it out of the water in some other capacity? Can anybody verify that the ASUS has no AG (if so I'm all over that)?
Finally, does anybody know of other panels that meet my specs? Specifically ones that are IPS, because after seeing this Dell I don't know if I'll be fully happy with a TN panel (though I'd rather have TN without filth on it than IPS with the filth).
