CDsDontBurn

the Samsung 244t-bk or the Dell 2407wfp? they're basically the same monitor. both have the same specs and everything. aside from a few aesthetic differences, they're the same monitor.

also, which company has better customer service? that's a big selling point.

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Necrosis

Tough call looks like the cheaper out the door product may win. I'm quite happy with my Dell though so I'm leaning that way.

CDsDontBurn

yea. that's what i'm thinking. i've seen both in person already, so right now, price-point is becoming a factor. but customer support is also important to me.

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Dyre Straits

I recall reading that Microsoft and Samsung have entered into some kind of partnership. Whether that's anything to consider or not, I don't know. But, thought I'd mention it just the same.

For the most part, I've had very good luck with Samsung products, though.

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Tipstaff

Honestly, CDs, these 2 have the same identical S-PVA panels from AUO, so the differences between them are pretty much shell design, and small brand specific touches.

Samsung's monitor has a slightly higher brightness ratio, but that's it.

Dells has a better stand, better on screen controls, a smarter design layout for the USB ports (Samsungs input and output ports are on the side, while Dell has the output cable and 2 ports on the bottom of the monitor, as well has having 2 on the side), a built in 9in1 card reader, and frankly, a better looking monitor esthetically.

Between the two of them, my money is with Dell. Not only do you get a better all-round monitor, but you get their service too. If the monitor is ever flaky you just call them up directly rather than having to jump through hoops with Newegg... and then eventually Samsung.

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BlueMak

Since you don't live in Greece, then you could go for Dell. (if I was in charge of Dell I would fire the whole Greece part of Dell, they are losing customers every day)
I have a Samsung monitor for a year and a half now and I am very satisfied with it.

I wouldn't buy any of the two monitors though. I would get a monitor that has HDMI connections too.

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The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis
This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm Sic semper tyrannis.

CDsDontBurn

Thanks Tipstaff! this is the kind of info i was looking for .

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kris23

Dell dude that advanced RMA is the best service i seen, well worth it

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CDsDontBurn

didn't know they had that Advanced RMA thing. what is it? cross shipping paid for in advance?

and my other concern is if the monitor will fit on my desk.

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PangingJr

BenQ 24" display is quite very good and it seemed easy on the eyes as i've seen it, eventho it's only short term experienced with it, i seem to like it a lot better than other displays. however, the outside build quality and designs, i mean its outside's looks and feels may not be compared to the above 2 mentioned monitors.
you might want to check it out by yourself.

dipstick

Yup, they offer some of the best rma service ever. They even come to your house to pick up the old one and it's all free!! You can be under house arrest and pull off a complete rma exchange! lol
As for the lcd choice, I would go with the Dell. My 2405 is still like new after two years of brutal use so the quality control is definitely there

CDsDontBurn

sweet!

i know where my money is definately going then! .

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kris23

the Dell online chat is perfect if u like skipping past the annoyances of thick accents......

the advanced RMA is usually shipped with DHL, the replacement you get (usually refurbished) comes with a prepaid shipping label with address already stamped on there, so all u need to do is call DHL and arrange for pick up. its all free!

i liked refurbished items because they are parts that have malfunctioned once and are repaired and retested. they are less likely to mess up than a "new" item at least thats how it was for me and my X50v (now x51v) pda

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CDsDontBurn

i hate refurbs when it comes to electronics. 8/10 refurbs i've had were fubared. i eventually called and bitched enough to the companies that i got a new product

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dipstick

I was told by dell that it depends how long you've had the product that decides if you get a new or refurb. I don't remember exactly but it's either 30 or 90 days. If it dies within that time frame you get a new one; if it's been longer you'll get a refurb. I've seen both and can't really tell the difference, they do a good job. It's rare these days and evident after the evga rma card I received this weekend(top one)

Edit- Forgot to mention that I hate one thing that dell has changed over the years and that is the warranty period. Back when I bought mine all dell monitors came with a three year warranty. Now the base price only includes one year with the two and three year plans costing more. I can kinda understand why they would do that with such service but still..

RaveneR

well good services are hard to come by, the warranty for my dell laptop is expiring in a week's time, not sure if i should extend it...

CDsDontBurn

for lappies, i say go w/the longest warranty possible.

dunno when a back-light is going to fail and you have a dim screen....one week out of warranty

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Tipstaff

And it's always a good idea to do a little more research on a monitor before you buy one. Just because a manufacturer says their monitor comes with a 3 year warranty doesn't mean the whole thing is covered. It could be that the panel is only covered for one year, while everything else is covered for 3. OR the warranty might only apply to a monitor sold, yes sold, in the USA, and not anywhere else, in which case it may only be a one year warranty. Hell, with Samsung, everyone was touting their "Zero Dead Pixel Policy", but what they failed to see is that there are... catches:

All LCD monitors:
Within 14 days of purchase if the monitor has 1 dead pixel or more anywhere on the screen you are entitled to go back to the place of purchase for them (not Samsung) to replace it for you.


Pah-lease! Samsung does not, and cannot dictate a stores policy anymore than I can dictate when and where I have travellers diarrhea. If a store says "Unopened returns only, after that you deal with the manufacturer" then that's the way it is, just as if they said, "You bought it, you deal with it".


15/17" LCD monitors:
Outside the 14 days of purchase, if there is 1 dead pixel within an 8cm x 8cm squared box in the middle of the monitor we will replace it under the warranty. Outside the 8cm x 8cm squared box there needs to be 3 or more dead pixels before we can replace the monitor.

That means that if it's staring you right in the face, and it's bothering you, we will replace it, but if it's off to the side (sorta out of the way) we can replace it for you... just that it's not covered by the warranty. Hence the catch.


19/21/24" LCD monitors:
Outside the 14 days of purchase if you have 1 or more dead pixels anywhere on the screen we will replace it for you under warranty.


"There's a dead pixel on your screen, and it's been more than 14 days? Sorry.. you'll have to live with it... or just trying ignoring it. I mean.. we do that all the time with people like you."


So, even though it sounds like a great idea, Samsungs "Zero Dead Pixel Policy" is one big pile of convulted dung.

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kris23

well, Dell refurbs look REAL nice compared to other refurbs like lets say.....a refurb toshiba laptop from some little computer store in a plaza sort of thing. the ONLY way i could tell my new thing was a refurbished item was the little sticker in the back, the screen of the pda looked brand new( even had a protective plastic cover like on new ones), there was not one blemish on the casing (until i dropped it and it skidded across the floor) when i pulled it out of the nicely packed box.

i say if u buy a Dell you're set they are relatively cheap and their stuff is pretty nice quality..... i just hate people who diss companies like dell just because....

they really planned out this service well.... they put the convienence of the customer as far forward as i can think possible, they give about a week normally (10 days with 3 days for shipping back) as the time frame where you need to send the item back, but you can email them to extend it

though i have gotten away with 2+ weeks with them not noticing, then they emailed me sometime during the 3rd week nicely asking me to return the pda or else id be billed for it

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Tipstaff

If I had to choose one right now, and I could afford an extra $200, I'd pick the Benq FP241W @ $800. I've been using one for the last week (it's going to a customer of mine), and man.. I want this thing as the image quality is better on this than either of the 2 mentioend here, and the backlighting is flawless (no bleeding at all). Hell.. I'd take one just for the HDCP compliant HDMI. Mind you, $850-$900 is a lotta money for a monitor... at least to me.

However, all wasn't right with this monitor at first. Originally I had the pixel issue that people have been talking about, but thanks to Benq's forthought in allowing firmware upgrades it was a simple flash of the new firmware to correct the issue. Plus there is still the issue with stretching component images, but again, the next firmware should fix that issue (if they haven't already).

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kris23

300 or so more dolllars and he can get the dell 30" beast

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CDsDontBurn

that's a good example of the type of customer service i'm NOT looking for. from reading on here, Dell's customer service is much better than Samsung's.

and those other monitors you guys are talking about. yea they are much nicer, but i don't want to spend an arm and a leg. i'm already spending too much (i feel at least) on whichever monitor i choose (going to dell so far).

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PangingJr

BenQ has just cut down prices on their smaller size wide screen LCD monitors quite a bit, the 22" ones include the newer version, the "222W H" that has HDMI on it are now have their retail prices quite lower than many of the well-known brands likes Samsung's, Viewsonic's and Acers's. i don't know in detail about the monitors spec and all, but from looking at BenQ display itself, imo, Its quite an impressive quality.
as for the 24" wide models, there are now few models has been added to its product line, the first model was "FP241W" (which is the one i used to have an experience with), now they have FP241W Z, FP241VW and may be FP241W P is included as i have seen this model name before on a preview in a non-English magazine.
anyway, as of today i can buy the 19"-22" ones with the same models that are on newegg's at quite a lower price. and i'm expecting to see the retail price of the FP241W will drop down quite a bit from whatever it's now sometime very soon.

Tipstaff

Hopefully not before I sell this one. Now afterwards.... that's a whole different story.

BTW, thanks for reminding me, Panging. I should have clarified that this was FP241W (which uses an MVA panel), and not the Z version (which uses a PVA panel) that I'm working on. While both panels are good, quite frankly, the FP241W seems to be better. The Z variant lost huge points with me, because the features that it has are kinda counter productive. What might be great in one environment (say when watching movies) totally blows chunks when doing anything else. As such you are constantly going into the OSD to turn on and off features, and going in to adjust brightness and such whenever you switch between watching a movie, playing a game, doing text work, internet browsing, or editing of any kind. 1, or 2 adjustments I can live with, but that's not the case with the Z variant. With the FP241W, though, it's pretty much set it up, and leave it.

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