Octopus Overlords

As usual, gift certificate/card to MicroCenter from the ones who love me most for Christmas...

Anyway, I'm thinking of stepping into the LCD realm for the first time on a monitor. Here's the specs:


19" monitor
16 ms response time
.294 dot pitch
16.7 million color support
250 cd/m2 image brightness
450:1 image contrast ratio
1280x1024 native resolution

I'm not sure what some of those things are. I assume the larger the ratio on contrast, the better?

Not sure on the image brightness, either.

I know the 16ms response time is very good.

Now, for the reason it's in my price range: analog connection only, no dvi. I have never had problems with image distortion with my 19" CRT, and my vid card is a 6800GT. From every resource I can find on the internet, apparently unless you've got super-sharp photographer's eyes (I most assuredly don't), you'll never notice the difference between dvi and analog on a modern vidcard. Anyone with experience on this?

Anyone see any other red flags?

Thanks in advance!

I think there is a HUGE difference between the DVI and analog connections. I have both options available on my LCD and have two computers hooked up to it. Flipping back and forth there is a noticable difference in sharpness, especially the fonts in WinXP.


I don't have the best eyes and couldn't offer a scientific analysis, I just think it "looks more gooder".

Interesting, thanks Smoov.

Well, for about $125 more I can get Sony's SDMHS94P. 12ms response, and dvi/analog support. The only problem with it (in otherwise glowing reviews) is that it has backlighting problems that show black as a dullish dark grey instead.

I think I might be able to live with that, since that would be mostly a problem with dvd's that letterbox (I rarely watch dvd's on my desktop computer) and with photoshopping (which I'm too stupid to do). Maybe I'll go that direction instead...

Don't forget the $100 reabte on the Sony. If I may ask, where did you find the reviews on the Sony? I was considering buying an LCD and had it narrowed down to the Sony or the more expensive Viewsonic VP912b, but I had a hard time tracking down reviews on them.

and yet......although the DVI connection on mine is indeed sharper, I actually prefer the softer look that the analog connection gives.

To each their own.

One potential drawback - native res of 1280x1024 means no 1600x1200 gaming for you.

Potential, because for non-gaming use 16x12 is tough to read...