Need help deciding (Benq 241W)

A

alexthebored

Weaksauce
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Feb 4, 2008
Messages
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I've been looking for a monitor catering to my specific needs for a while. It needs to be
-24IN non TN panel
-more than one DVI/HDMI input
-1:1 pixel mapping on every input
-around $500CAD

Not many options were available, and I've been looking for a while. I would have jumped on the LG 245 deal had it been in Canada as well.

Well NCIX just put out a sale, and in it they have the BenQ241W set at $530. It's discontinued, but they have 3 left.

Should I get this, or avoid it due to the shortage. Apparently BenQ still offers their manufacturing warranty, but NCIX doesn't offer their extended dead pixel coverage on it since there are so few left.

I'm really confused. I want this monitor; I've heard nothing but good things and it fits all my criteria (and then some), but if something goes wrong with it...
 
10e your opinion is greatly appreciated by the way, I saw your review on NCIX so I know you've dealt with them before :)
 
That's funny,

This was the first post I viewed when I logged in to the forums... The FP241W seems to be back (I guess due to high demand). NCIX is getting more of them, and Infonec here in Toronto has many in stock for $515.99.

I am still highly recommending this monitor. The issues with HDMI and PS3 I experienced seem to be (weirdly enough) my ATI card(s). I've since switched back to my 8800GTS and so far, no issues.

The last firmware is awesome. It has the most flexible OSD of any monitor with aspect, full, 1:1 aspect ratios that all work perfectly for DVI, HDMI, Component and VGA.

I have the PC on DVI, the PS3 on HDMI, the 360 on VGA at 1920x1080, and I've tested both the PS3 and Xbox on component, and they worked perfectly with 1:1 or aspect for the PS3 on 720p (the resolution most games are displayed).

Overscan on/off works properly for component and HDMI so no screen cutoff.

I prefer the W over the VW due to the height adjustable stand and slightly smaller width. Also the stand is easier to place on a desk than the VW.

Visually it's a nice panel with not too much anti-glare (so it looks clean), good brightness and contrast controls which seem to be good at reducing the eye searing illumination, and the horizontal viewing angles are better than other VA panels with minimal gamma shift (like my Westinghouse L2410NM).

Now that it seems my issues are behind me on the DVI to HDMI switching front due to the vid card change, I am happy with mine. It works perfectly with everything. I even used a Rogers cable box over component and HDMI and it worked very well and looked phenomenal.

Hope that helps,

10e
 
Awesome. Now, is that Infonec store any good? I was just on the phone with NCIX and BenQ. NCIX said they they have a 30 day store warranty on it, but they can't offer the dead pixel coverage because they have so few. However on the plus side I'm going to Vancouver in a few weeks, so I won't have to pay for shipping.

BenQ said they have a 3 year warranty, but their dead pixel stance is pretty strict (at 7+ dead pixels).

I'm just worried that I'll grab this and it will have some dead pixels, because there will be no way to replace it.

I also have some family heading up from California, and I really want to ask them to check to see if any of those LG 245's are left in stock anywhere. And then another part of me tells me to pay the extra $130+ for the Dell 2408 for the insurance it offers. It's all very confusing :S

It would be perfect if I could get the BenQ with some sort of coverage.
 
I have had good service from Infonec, but nothing I've bought from them has been defective so I can't say how they are concerning that. I've had good experiences with TigerDirect with defective products as well.

Infonec seems to have over 100 available in stock. I'm tempted myself because I always liked the FP241W the most but I think that would lead to marriage dissolution if I tried another monitor.

The only issue with the LG is the warranty if it was brought here. I doubt it would be a problem but you never know, especially if you can't take it back due to dead pixels. I know that I had dead sub pixels with the two I tried last year, though one was off in the corner, so in retrospect, I should have kept it. It's pretty equivalent visually in panel quality to the BenQ.

It does do a bit of overscan on the component, but the VGA worked perfectly for me on 360 at 1920x1080 and the OSD is a bit quicker in response than the BenQ. Also the input lag on the LG is non-existent. Not that the BenQ is laggy, but not quite as fast.

I know the one FP241W I tried last year did have a perfect panel, even if the firmware caused me some issues. Worst comes to worst you can get it from Ncix and if you have to take it back you can try the VW, as I believe they only have December 2007 models now. I did get one from them in January but it was a March 2007 date so I sent it back (which cost me $82.66 from Toronto to Burnaby, ouch), but they were cool about it and did offer to find me a December 2007 model.

At least one thing you can be 100% sure of with the FP241W, is that it IS the September 2007 build date and you will get the latest firmware version, as that's all they have now.

The Dell looks nice, and their service is good, but the input lag, sharpness and rainbow effect they've talked about in the 2408 thread has scared me off a bit. If you can wait for the next revision it might be a good screen. It's definitely a nice panel.

Good luck,

10e


alexthebored said:
Awesome. Now, is that Infonec store any good? I was just on the phone with NCIX and BenQ. NCIX said they they have a 30 day store warranty on it, but they can't offer the dead pixel coverage because they have so few. However on the plus side I'm going to Vancouver in a few weeks, so I won't have to pay for shipping.

BenQ said they have a 3 year warranty, but their dead pixel stance is pretty strict (at 7+ dead pixels).

I'm just worried that I'll grab this and it will have some dead pixels, because there will be no way to replace it.

I also have some family heading up from California, and I really want to ask them to check to see if any of those LG 245's are left in stock anywhere. And then another part of me tells me to pay the extra $130+ for the Dell 2408 for the insurance it offers. It's all very confusing :S

It would be perfect if I could get the BenQ with some sort of coverage.
Click to expand...
 
Haha thanks for the advice, but it turns out that the Dell 2408 is on sale right now for $599

I might end up just doing that :D
 
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