The Second TV Challenge

While there is no shortage of great TV's for the focal point of the den, the toughest decision is often a plasma or an LCD. Contrast that with the second class treatment that the smaller digital TV's get. You know, the ones that typically end up in the bedrooms.

Getting down to specifics, once we get below 26", the choices narrow considerably. Sure, there are some sets that are 19", but at that size they are just too darn small. In between 20" and 26" there just are too few sets. And of the ones that I find, they are overpriced for the size they're delivering.
One such set is from Samsung. For 23", it's currently $545, which is expensive when I've seen 26 inch sets for less than that price point. Still, Samsung is a respected name in LCD sets, and I am pleased with the one I own already, so I am still tempted to consider paying the price.

Surely, there must be some other choices. Amazon has another 23" set from LG. I've never owned anything from LG, and have never been that impressed with their stuff. While their set is going for a better priced $485, the $31 in shipping brings us within a stone's throw of the Samsung set, so it's hardly compelling to try the unknown.

For the even more adventurous, there is a Sceptre brand set that is a cool $349 with $29 in shipping. Then again, I've not heard of them before, and I don't go for "no name" big ticket items. Also, the set can hardly be described as sleek, and looks more like it came out of a retooled Russian tractor factory. I'm also hardly impressed at a 700:1 contrast ratio (Samsung claims 4000:1) for a current LCD, so if these were directly comparable (they're not, but that's another story) we're somewhere between lackluster and mediocre.


I mentioned this in the recent NudgeCast, and perhaps the best route is to go for a Viewsonic LCD monitor that has a built in TV tuner. I'm finding it for $396, with a more reasonable $7 in shipping. Reportedly, it does have a remote control, and plenty of the right connections, including an HDMI port, as well as composite, component, and S-video inputs. You can get all the stats first hand here.

Now you get the idea of not too many sets in this size point? The point of this is that consider an LCD monitor with a TV tuner as it makes a more compelling deal for the price. Also, you could always use it as a monitor for the computer.

Jonas

The Rest of the Monitor Story

I had first reported that I was having issues with my Acer 19" LCD monitor last month. Over the last few weeks it got worse and worse in general, but it still was an intermittent problem. Before I sent it off (at my dime no less), I wanted to be certain that it would show off it's worst stuff. By the time I sent it, the screen was consistently unusable.

I packed the monitor back in the original packaging. As my request only said "vertical lines" I took the time to write a letter detailing the issue I was having to make sure that the technician would know exactly what I had experienced. I then sent it UPS to Acer service in Texas. I tracked the package via UPS, and half hoped that the monitor would get crushed in the back of some truck and I'd get to collect the $200 I had insured it for so I could go purchase a new LCD and be done with it. The monitor arrived safely on 1/3/08.

After a week's journey there cross country, and the inevitable deluge of broken toys to fix, I didn't expect to see it for at least a month, if not more. I was baffled to see the FedEx guy put this box outside my door yesterday on 1/9. How could it be?

I was further confused to see that the service ticked that it was throughly tested and repaired, but no new parts were required. I was fully preparing to send it right back to them, and I hesitantly hooked it up to my desktop.

I was pleasantly surprised that the monitor worked, but was wondering when the vertical lines would return. For the last two nights at least, they haven't. I reserve final judgment after at least a week, but preliminarily we're in the clear.

Too often companies don't take care of the little guy, but so far it appears that, Acer fixed my monitor, and did it in a timely fashion. While this wasn't the most expensive LCD monitor when I purchased it, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one from this brand.

Now I just wish I knew which screw they turned in case this happens again.

Jonas

Update: One week of use and the monitor works fine. Thanks Acer.