Topic: LCD Monitor disappointment

Tomorrow I'm returning a 22 inch LCD monitor because of a 'gradient' which is, apparently, an inherent problem with a good many LCD Monitors. I was aware of the problem before I purchased the unit but the gradient wasn't obvious, due, I suspect, to the in store lighting...and there was no mention of the gradient in any of the reviews I read on this specific monitor.

Cruising the web the gradient, while obvious, wasn't that distracting but manipulating an image in PS was pure crap. It just didn't work. It's the old story of you get what you pay for. That said... I do wish I'd found this page before I went shopping...so hopefully this will save some of you some frustration if you're considering an LCD and if you have one now.... I think you'll find some solid info on setup and adjustments etc.


http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/

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?It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.? Voltaire

I have Samsung SyncMaster 225bw (22")

I'm not using the default settings but I had problems with "White saturation test" where I could see only the 1. one, "Inversion test" 4a flickered, "Viewing angle and gamma" the text was pretty distinguishable from the background, "Viewing angle and brightness" displayed a little bit of gradient with the first 2 colors. Overall I'm very happy with it. I'm not saying that this would be a good monitor for a professional graphic designer but it's cheap, games and movies look great and I have no particular problems with Photoshop. If you need something really really good for your job then yeah I guess you get what you pay for. Look for reviews and comparisons on the web.

OT:
I use/buy Samsung monitors and tv-s, Logitech mice, computer speakers, game controllers and webcams, Canon cameras, printers and scanners and Apple mp3 players. So far these companies haven't let me down so I'm sticking with them. I generally prefer a little bit of luxury and pride of ownership over a smaller price tag.

Use a Samsung at work, might be the same model as Arthurio's. Doesn't cause me any problems. I don't really rely on my eyes to know whether foo pixels are all the exact same color, however.

I also have a Samsung SyncMaster, but mine is the 204b (20.1").

My biggest problem is vertical viewing angle, but I don't mind it much.

Highlights
Contrast/dark level test: All can be seen (only just) from about 45° vertical viewing angle.
White saturation test: Basically exact opposite of the previous. (-45° viewing angle)
Inversion test: 2a (only flicker), 2b (only slight flicker), 3 (only ghost), 4a (flicker, slight ghost), 4b (slight flicker, ghost), others (no flicker/ghost).
Viewing angle test: Viewing angle and gamma: Shows up blue/green at top and a red at bottom very distinctly.

When I was shopping for this monitor, the reviews were good, but most negatives were the viewing angle, which doesn't bother me much. I'm not a very picky person. When I was just using my CRT I could spot pixels ok, but when I got my new LCD, the pixels were so sharp I wonder how I did it with my blurred/dieing CRT.

Thanks for the information. The monitor went back today and I did see a couple of the Samsung's mentioned but I'm holding off till the next round of price cuts which shouldn't be too long from now.

I'll admit to a certain sense of frustration... this was the first bit of 'new' stuff I'd purchased in eons and to return it in a matter of days was somewhat disappointing.

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?It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.? Voltaire