Topic: What do you guys know about this monitor brand?

[E_Look]

I saw that Newegg is now selling all sorts of PC components under the brand name of "Rosewill", from mice to monitors, maybe even motherboards.

But does anyone know anything, be it positive or negative about that make or label?

I'd like to get an affordable 17" LCD monitor, for a computer I've built for my younger boy, a gradeschooler.  Of course he plays games... and is on the 'Net.  And, I saw on the Newegg site three 17" LCD monitors branded "Rosewill".  The prices are attractive, but the names I know seem all to cost a bit more.

[Javora]

With a limited amount of time this is the best I could come up with:

http://www.epinions.com/pr-ROSEWILL_R900J_Silver_Black_19_LCD_Monitor_RETAILSpecifications_Panel_Type_TFTNative_Resolution/display_~reviews


From what little I read you get what you paid for.  No DVI connector, 16~25ms responce time, poor speakers, given those limitations they seem to have good picture quality from what I read.  IMHO I wouldn't connect the speakers anyway.  But you know Ed it's like any other product, read the reviews look for reoccurring words and/or phrases patterns and try to make the best decision based on what you read and how much you are willing to spend.  As always I hope this helps.

[E_Look]

Thanks.  I fear... guessed about as much.  But I've heard that the response time spec is misleading, because some companies use a measurement of a black to white transition whereas some might base it from a gray, which takes longer... and from colors, it's more different.  So when I see less eminent brands with cool specs, I just wonder if there's any "spin" doctoring or creative presentation of the data.

So you suggest one with a DVI connection?  They start at somewhat higher prices...

... E_Look the cheap (and poor)

[Javora]

Depends on what the monitor will mainly be used for, does your video card have a DVI connector?  If it doesn't then a DVI connector won't matter.  You have to balance the best product you can get for the money you are willing to spend.  A DVI connector may not be worth the cost to you.  IMHO I wouldn't buy a LCD monitor, I don't think they are currently worth the cost for the amount of games my kids and I play.

[toasty0]

You know E I just picked up a 17" LCD for 200 bucks at Wally World. It's a Balance and is just fine for gaming, PS work, and all around usage.

Jerry

[E_Look]

Hey!  Thanks!  At that price and with your recommendation, it will be considered seriously on my end.

I have seen that brand name somewhere else before...

... anyhow, let me know what you think about this one that I also saw last night on Newegg-

Princeton Graphics' LCD1710  17" 16ms LCD monitor.

Its specs are not superimpressive and I was wondering why it has a normal list price of $264 while competing units are at least $50 less.

[Javora]

Have you taken a look at this:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824009029

Acer is a fairly respected name and the monitor seems to be in the price range and quality that you are looking for.

[E_Look]

Thanks, Jav.  I am considering an Acer model, but did not see that one.  It even has DVI (which is on the video card of the computer it will be used with) for the price.

And hey, Toast!  I actually stopped by Wal-Mart on the way home tonight and checked out the Balance 17" LCD.  It looks fine, it's manufacturer quoted specs appear to be "mainstream" for its size class  (boy, this sounds like spending prestige for a starship or something) and the price is certainly attractive, along with the clean looking housing design... but here right outside of NYC, you were off my 27 cents on the price.


The Princeton model I asked about- does not have the DVI connection, after a $65 rebate is effectively in the same price level, but I think I'll lean in favor of the Acer as of this moment because I haven't seen any real reviews on the Princeton model.

But I've heard on a British site that often LCDs with both DVI and VGA hookups favor the DVI and the display quality suffers if you choose instead the VGA connection and the ones with only VGA analog are supposedly as good in picture quality as a DVI connected one.

Ah, what to choose, what to choose...

[Elvis]

Or this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824168004

[E_Look]

Elvis, that monitor SOUNDS really good, but I've never heard of it; i.e., I couldn't find reviews on it (I don't think Fuji film & camera company has anything to do with it).  Same goes for the Balance monitor at Wal-Mart, which, when I physically saw it, though it was on powered on, looked fairly nice.

I did see that one, the Fuji Plus, but was suspicious of the glowing specs and "new" brand name.

Boy, do I wish I could jet over, look 'em over and then come home and make a decision!

I must admit, though I am familiar with the technology and science behind the device, I have very little familiarity with the players in the field!

[Pestalence_XC]

Look up View Sonic monitors.. they have won several awards for best display for CRT and flatscreen monitors over the last few years.. the number 1 monitor in 2003 was the View Sonic PF-720 Flatscreen (or was it CRT flat face)..

Hopefully they are still on the leading edge..

[E_Look]

They're ALWAYS on the leading edge, or if not, acceptably close.  But their prices reflect it, too, alas.  I know, I know, you normally get what you pay for.  Well, I'll look harder at them, too.

[Javora]

Elvis, that monitor SOUNDS really good, but I've never heard of it; i.e., I couldn't find reviews on it (I don't think Fuji film & camera company has anything to do with it).  Same goes for the Balance monitor at Wal-Mart, which, when I physically saw it, though it was on powered on, looked fairly nice.

I did see that one, the Fuji Plus, but was suspicious of the glowing specs and "new" brand name.

Boy, do I wish I could jet over, look 'em over and then come home and make a decision!

The Acer monitor has a better Brightness and contrast ratio but the Fuji has a better pixel pitch.  They both have the same return policy.  So I don't know, like you said too bad you can't view these monitors in person.  I don't think I have ever bought a monitor sight unseen.  Even when I bought that Dell I looked at the monitors at work before I bought one.  I don't envy the position you are in there E.

[E_Look]

Now, I'm not too savvy about how the eye-mind-object looked at interfaces work, but the difference from 0.264 mm to 0.26 mm, if taken at face value is four thousandths of a millimeter, or four millionths of a meter, or four microns.

Of course, the value is reported with two digits precision rather than three (0.260) so, the difference might even turn out to be negligible.  Oh, I hope you guys don't think I'm getting wise here... and yes, the Acer IS brighter but boy the low discounted price on the Fuji Plus!

I went with the Acer, but the 8 ms response time model, as it has DVI out as well, and had FREE shipping at Newegg, keeping the total at $245.

The one you suggested, Javora, was cheaper (and I'm always on the lookout for that) at $219.99, but it had a shipping charge of $10, making it $230.  I figured, for $15 more, I get a faster one that has DVI with the same brightness and contrast ratio.

I truly appreciate all the input from all of you.  The Fuji Plus DID look good, Elvis.  If I was any tighter on money, I probably would have jumped on it without even posting to ask you guys.

And, Toasty, I was disappointed that Wal-Mart did not have one of those Balance 17 inchers hooked up and running so I could see it.  But the unpowered one sitting out was all black (what I would have most liked for any LCD monitor's case) and designed with clean lines; easy to look at.

[Javora]

You did really well E, I didn't even take in to account the shipping charges.  Good job.  IMHO that 8ms response time is the most important factor, it will make a difference when it comes to game playing.  Let us know how it turns out.

[E_Look]

Yeah, in a couple of months, when it's given to him, I (try to remember to) post my, uh, his experiences with it.  Thanks again, all!

[E_Look]

Javora, Elvis, Toasty, and anyone else reading,

I got the monitor delivered yesterday (I think a day earlier than predicted from Newegg via FedEx) and as soon as the little guy zonked, I pulled his newly built computer out of hiding and tested the Acer 17" LCD (model 1715 smd-8) and hooked it up and booted up.

The thing is beautiful to look at!

The image quality is fine and NO DEAD PIXELS at all (at least not yet) upon delivery.  I was going to rave about it from that yet to be presented computer and Acer LCD monitor, but our favorite site was down all night (wasn't it?  Or was it only MY connection last night??) so I'm doing it now.

I played one of these movie trailers on the MSN site (the Netscape and others need all these plugins a virgin system doesn't yet have and I was too lazy to d/l them... not that I'd want RealPlayer or Real anything on any comp in my house, being the suspected spyware source that it is... and it was just a shorty, but I didn't notice any ghosting and so far, the colors look fine.  Brightness is good, if factory preset to be a bit too bright.  I played with the brightness and contrast until I liked it, which was easy to do from the front panel.

BUT the one IMPRESSIVE thing was that they, Acer, INCLUDED THE DVI CONNECTOR NEED FOR DIGITAL MONITOR I/O!! Kudos to them.  (It wasn't in the picture on the Newegg site.)  But, the dinky li'l speakers that came built in sounded... awful ('60's Japanese transistor radios, anyone?), double but- who cares?  I'll just have him use his great external speakers he's got already.

So, all in all, I'm quite happy and to sum up, Newegg sent it shipping free, a day earlier than expected, came in perfect, pristine condition, with all the goodies included by Acer to fully and properly use the monitor.   As I said, kudos to Acer for that...

... and like all the hip, young folk that buy from Newegg, I'll add my voice to the chorus, "Newegg rocks!"

(MORAL:  Go with reputable folks when buying online (or anywhere, really) and when they have a special, even a little one like free shipping, it's great!)

P.S., Of course, all this is qualified by Jav's very honest statement that still, nothing really beats the picture quality of a CRT, which is what I would have actually gotten him, but the wife said they were too much of a pain to dust [dust??  Comps are SUPPOSED to be dirty!] and insisted and paying more for an equivalent LCD!

[Javora]

Sounds good E, have you played any games yet?  Hope your kid enjoys it as much as you did.   

[E_Look]

Games?  Nah.  It's going to be his, so I'm loath to take everything back out of the boxes and styrofoam padding I've repacked them into, until he opens it for himself.  He's probably going to head straight for Gunbound.  I can't stand it, but kids seem to love it.  In fact, I'm not much of an Internet gamer... come to think of it, I'm not much of a gamer at all.  I'm still playing SFC standalone.  My brother in law laughs at me; he's a REAL gamer.  But as to the computer, I'm also hoping the glitz of the glowy blue LEDs and see-through side panel will get him to use the word processor and spreadsheet, too, in addition to the browser and any installed games.  I wonder what Zoo Tycoon will look like on that monitor.

Of course, his older brother may get hot and jealous, but hey, he broke a rather nice KDS 17" CRT and his uncs got him a 21" Viewsonic CRT (like, wow, man!... and he's still only a kid!!) and has had his own rig for over a year, so I better not see anybody turning green.

Again, you all gave great advice.