Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
Paula, Dim LCD screen has become a common compaint, and there may be a solution! I have been repairing laptops recently, and they have a small board along the boarder of the LCD screen called the 'inverter'. It can cost as little as $20 in single quantity. According to http://www.inventgeek.com/Projects/shorts/lcdfix.aspx you can install it in as little as 20 minutes. I first looked for one of these six months ago, and the one I needed cost $95, but I searched for the same inverter last month, and found several sources for under $30 and lots of models to choose from! This would indicate that there is a growing market for this type of repair! Save that monitor from the junk heap! - Brian Thank you Brian! I'll check this out and see if I"m capable of doing the repair. Nothing lost except the price of the inverter if it doesn't work , I guess, as the old monitor is going to be recycled when I replace it. Paula IN/USA Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a wonderful day! * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
Paula, Dim LCD screen has become a common compaint, and there may be a solution! I have been repairing laptops recently, and they have a small board along the boarder of the LCD screen called the 'inverter'. It can cost as little as $20 in single quantity. According to http://www.inventgeek.com/Projects/shorts/lcdfix.aspx you can install it in as little as 20 minutes. I first looked for one of these six months ago, and the one I needed cost $95, but I searched for the same inverter last month, and found several sources for under $30 and lots of models to choose from! This would indicate that there is a growing market for this type of repair! Save that monitor from the junk heap! - Brian - Original Message - Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 11:26 PM Subject: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question I bought a new Dell LCD monitor so I could have a dual setup. Now, with both of them side-by-side, I realize that my eyes weren't going bad fastthe older LCD monitor(also a Dell) is very dim and the letters are a bit soft or blurry. I do calibrate my monitors and had been having problems getting it to calibrate well. I thought my eyes were going! This monitor is about 3 1/2 yrs old. Is it normal for lcd's to go bad this quickly? I have t he brightness turned all the way up now and it's still pretty dim, especially compared to the new one.And even with calibrating, the colors are very different between the two. I had planned on keeping my email on the older monitor and Word too. But I can hardly bear to read anything on it now. My eyes won't stay focused and I have to squint to bring the words into focus. If I put it on the new monitor, no problem reading at all. Just wanting to know if this is normal or has it gone bad faster than it should have? I"m not sure I can continue to use it even for things like the tool bars of Photoshop, calendar, iTunes etc because it really bothers my eyes. Thanks! * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
Hmmm, something tells me that I shouldn't wade into this discussion, but what the heck.it's a slow day and I've already been productive enough. I'll deal with the larger screen part, as, to me, having more desk space available is a no-brainer. The original message from you, Tony, said "And I can't imagine a job where a worker with a slightly bigger screen would actually be more productive than one without, all other things being equal." There was no mention of RAM, CPU, etc., in your first message: that came later. But, let's assume you meant it. That leads to two cases, as I see it: 'All other things being equal' to me implies that you have whatever RAM, CPU, etc., you currently have (if talking about one individual getting a bigger screen), or the same RAM, CPU, etc., as your colleagues (if talking about more than one individual, all with the same computer equipment). So, let's take the second case first: where I work, we have standard 2 GB of RAM for all staff and students, and most of the CPUs are within one small clock step of each other (2.4-2.6 GHz, same processor release: we get pretty good discounts from Dell and we upgrade everybody in a work unit at the same time), and all have LCD monitors of the same size (19" widescreen). Note, we are not even discussing the difference between CRT and LCD. One of our students uses ArcGIS, so we got her a large screen (24" widescreen), so she could have the current map being displayed at a decent size, as well as have the various ArcGIS windows open on the side (if you use ArcGIS, you know what I'm talking about, if you don't use ArcGIS, you'll assume I'm blowing smoke and there's nothing I can do to change your mind :) ). Her productivity has certainly gone up, not to mention her mood. She smiles more often, she's not leaning forward with her nose inches from the screen and frowning at it, straining her neck muscles, etc. While the mood part may not be of much importance to you, it certainly is to me: when I ask for something to be done, it is received with a smile, not a grumpy look; it is done faster; there are fewer mistakes in the work; she can position things better on the map without having to continually enlarge it then reduce it to see how it looks, etc. The best $700 investment I can think of that I've made recently. Now, let's look at the first case: I had a 24" monitor, and upgraded to a 27". All other things on my computer are the same, including the screen res. I do a lot of programming and report writing. Comparing old and new code side-by-side, or being able to keep open the code, debug and output windows open on the same screen are just two of the things I do while programming. With more real estate and the same font size (not pixel size which would simply enlarge the font on a larger monitor with the same resolution as my old one, but same readable size on screen), I see more of each window. Does this help me? Sure! When writing technical reports, I often keep open the old report (typically last year's) to see what the recommendations were and did we meet them this time around while I'm writing the new one: I don't have to swap between windows, so no need to use either the mouse or Alt-tab, just glance over at the other report and write away on the new one. Does this help me? Yup! (Yes, I could have last year's printed version on my desktop, but that simply slows me down because I have to glance from the screen to the desk, etc., while I'm touch typing away.) When I look at graphs going into the reports, keeping the old and the new side by side helps in comparing the two: I don't have to print them out, yet can tell at a glance what the differences are. When editing photos, I can keep the original in a window on the side, while I can edit a copy and see the changes. Does this help me? You bet! While all these can be done on a smaller monitor, having a large one makes it much easier to spot subtle differences in photo editing. Plus, I don't have to calibrate two side by side monitors separately. I have to ask myself: what price to the business for saving me eyestrain; what price to the business for my ability to do things faster because of the larger monitor; what price to the business that I feel valued? Certainly the price is much smaller than my salary, but it is also much smaller than the extra they would be paying me because it would take me longer to do the job otherwise. So, I'd say that just because *you* "can't imagine a job where a worker with a slightly bigger screen would actually be more productive than one without" doesn't mean that other people cannot imagine it or actually experience it. Maybe you should let your imagination roam freer than it has heretofore! Please don't take refuge in the "slightly bigger screen" and that you meant the difference between 19" and 20", or some such thing. Your response was to Tom's "Replacing a 19-inch CRT with
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
Ah then; you don't need larger/multiple monitors. I, however, am often gathering data from one application window to update another or comparing/analyzing complex, detailed data in multiple windows. Switching windows would be like needing to read from one book, put it down, pick up another, make an entry or change, put it down, ... I used to try to do this with one monitor but spent much time finding and correcting mistakes. It is also true that each successive version of Windows requires at least twice what the previous version required. I do not ignore RAM and know the laptop that replaces this will have more and that more RAM will help. But I would fight first for more display space. Thank you, Mark Snyder -Original Message- I specifically said more RAM might help, which is what you need to have multiple apps running at once. Go ahead and drop your RAM to 512mb and get two 50 inch screens. You will NOT be more productive. I mostly do graphics. I have a macro that runs the 5 apps I need to do this. I do NOT feel the need to be able to SEE any but ONE app at a time. When I need to transfer files I use the taskbar. When I need to switch apps I may also use alt-tab. I suppose we could time the difference between how long it takes you to click a window and work in it, compared to me alt-tabbing to it. I doubt you save 10 seconds a day, if that much. And then there's my point of liking many of these windows maximized, like Photoshop. In that case, you're alt-tabbing also. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
>*I* was asserting that simply increasing a worker's screen size will >NOT increase their productivity. RAM, certainly. CPU speed, maybe. But >"I need a bigger screen so I can be more productive" sounds more like >a whine than a reasoned argument. Even Tom gave up on the theory, >after futilely trying to find some shred of evidence to support it. There are studies linking larger monitors to greater productivity. The reason Tom did not respond to Tony's demand for evidence is Tony's proven inability to read and understand links Tom has provided in the past. Not responding to Tony boosts Tom's productivity. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
Honestly Tony, take a deep breath and accept that you are mistaken this time. Even I have seen articles that say that studies have shown that more screen real estate makes people more productive. And I've switched from a Powerbook to an iMac, so I can attest to this fact. I think Tom didn't bother posting links because he wasn't going to waste his time trying to convince you. Tony B wrote: *I* was asserting that simply increasing a worker's screen size will NOT increase their productivity. RAM, certainly. CPU speed, maybe. But "I need a bigger screen so I can be more productive" sounds more like a whine than a reasoned argument. Even Tom gave up on the theory, after futilely trying to find some shred of evidence to support it. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
I specifically said more RAM might help, which is what you need to have multiple apps running at once. Go ahead and drop your RAM to 512mb and get two 50 inch screens. You will NOT be more productive. I mostly do graphics. I have a macro that runs the 5 apps I need to do this. I do NOT feel the need to be able to SEE any but ONE app at a time. When I need to transfer files I use the taskbar. When I need to switch apps I may also use alt-tab. I suppose we could time the difference between how long it takes you to click a window and work in it, compared to me alt-tabbing to it. I doubt you save 10 seconds a day, if that much. And then there's my point of liking many of these windows maximized, like Photoshop. In that case, you're alt-tabbing also. On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 1:52 PM, Snyder, Mark (IT Civ) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > So, you reject why I find it more productive or am I 'whining' by > claiming I often need more than one application window open at the same > time? What do you do with a computer in your job? > > > Thank you, > > Mark Snyder > -Original Message- > > *I* was asserting that simply increasing a worker's screen size will > NOT increase their productivity. RAM, certainly. CPU speed, maybe. But > "I need a bigger screen so I can be more productive" sounds more like > a whine than a reasoned argument. Even Tom gave up on the theory, > after futilely trying to find some shred of evidence to support it. > > > * > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > * > * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
On Mon, 5 May 2008, Tony B wrote: *I* was asserting that simply increasing a worker's screen size will NOT increase their productivity. RAM, certainly. CPU speed, maybe. But "I need a bigger screen so I can be more productive" sounds more like a whine than a reasoned argument. Even Tom gave up on the theory, after futilely trying to find some shred of evidence to support it. As a programmer, the more code I can see at one glance, the easier it is for me to find the bit of code I'm looking for, and to see the overall structure of the code I'm working on. I already use the smallest font I can. I also had a second monitor, but one of them just died last week and I haven't yet replaced it. A reduced-size image of my work-place desktop is at http://www.steeds.com/vicky/small_desktop.png ... With over a hundred lines of 4 files, I can quickly scan through several methods (functions), and cross-reference between modules. That's what I'd call increased productivity. On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 1:03 PM, Snyder, Mark (IT Civ) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Tony, I use an LCD monitor to add desk space to my laptop's monitor. I keep about 6 icons on the XP's desktop. I use the space to have 8-10 applications and a couple dozen current files open and/or to have a remote server connection on one and an application on the other. I also use as much screen real estate as I can get at home on my Macs. This is definitely more productive for me (a senior engineer). What do you do that does not make this more productive for you? Thank you, Mark Snyder -Original Message- >That's an absurd assumption. Or do you have some shred of evidence >that supports this wacko theory? Why would having empty space on your >desk do anything but give you someplace else to store crap? >And I can't imagine a job where a worker with a slightly bigger screen >would actually be more productive than one without, all other things >being equal. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * -- Vicky Staubly http://www.steeds.com/vicky/[EMAIL PROTECTED] * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
So, you reject why I find it more productive or am I 'whining' by claiming I often need more than one application window open at the same time? What do you do with a computer in your job? Thank you, Mark Snyder -Original Message- *I* was asserting that simply increasing a worker's screen size will NOT increase their productivity. RAM, certainly. CPU speed, maybe. But "I need a bigger screen so I can be more productive" sounds more like a whine than a reasoned argument. Even Tom gave up on the theory, after futilely trying to find some shred of evidence to support it. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
*I* was asserting that simply increasing a worker's screen size will NOT increase their productivity. RAM, certainly. CPU speed, maybe. But "I need a bigger screen so I can be more productive" sounds more like a whine than a reasoned argument. Even Tom gave up on the theory, after futilely trying to find some shred of evidence to support it. On Mon, May 5, 2008 at 1:03 PM, Snyder, Mark (IT Civ) <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Tony, > > I use an LCD monitor to add desk space to my laptop's monitor. I keep > about 6 icons on the XP's desktop. I use the space to have 8-10 > applications and a couple dozen current files open and/or to have a > remote server connection on one and an application on the other. I also > use as much screen real estate as I can get at home on my Macs. This is > definitely more productive for me (a senior engineer). What do you do > that does not make this more productive for you? > > Thank you, > > Mark Snyder > -Original Message- > >That's an absurd assumption. Or do you have some shred of evidence > >that supports this wacko theory? Why would having empty space on your > >desk do anything but give you someplace else to store crap? > > >And I can't imagine a job where a worker with a slightly bigger screen > >would actually be more productive than one without, all other things > >being equal. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
Tony, I use an LCD monitor to add desk space to my laptop's monitor. I keep about 6 icons on the XP's desktop. I use the space to have 8-10 applications and a couple dozen current files open and/or to have a remote server connection on one and an application on the other. I also use as much screen real estate as I can get at home on my Macs. This is definitely more productive for me (a senior engineer). What do you do that does not make this more productive for you? Thank you, Mark Snyder -Original Message- >That's an absurd assumption. Or do you have some shred of evidence >that supports this wacko theory? Why would having empty space on your >desk do anything but give you someplace else to store crap? >And I can't imagine a job where a worker with a slightly bigger screen >would actually be more productive than one without, all other things >being equal. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
Thanks for the compliment Eric. It's amazing what a little gesture can do to help customer loyalty. And it's equally amazing how few companies understand this and instill (brainwash?) it into their employees. Part of the ultimate answer is where the tech support group is located. It's been my experience (and I call Dell *way* too often for hardware support) that if you get a call center overseas (no offense intended against overseas call centers), they're strictly by the book, following a script (ask me sometime about the 19 year old and her years of experience with servers). However, if you get a US-based call center, they can be a little more flexible... Larry -Original Message- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Eric S. Sande Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 6:06 PM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question >There's a chance the supervisor will agree to repair or replace your >monitor because it's just barely out of warranty. I'd do it, based on this hypothetical. It's at most a $200 item and I buy much more customer loyalty out of the transaction than $200 would get me in advertising. I don't know what Dell policy is or what their management style is, but this one would be an easy call for any front line manager in my company. Or at least I think it would be. I understand that Dell operates on razor-thin profit margins, but hey, nothing ventured nothing gained. Good call, Larry. I realize that most responses to this have been along the lines of "Shizz happens, put on your big girl panties and deal with it." But Larry's approach is creative and proactive. I'd give it a shot. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
Comments inline below... -Original Message- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tony B Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 6:49 PM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question >That's an absurd assumption. Or do you have some shred of evidence >that supports this wacko theory? Why would having empty space on your >desk do anything but give you someplace else to store crap? Wow. Such negativity. I'm getting a really bad vibe here Perhaps you'd fill the empty space with crap, but not everyone does. I have to ask this (but know I shouldn't), what's the big deal? Why do you need a justification? Wait... do you work in Finance or Accounts Payable??? That might explain it... that bottom line, cut the expenses to the core stuff, huh? >And I can't imagine a job where a worker with a slightly bigger screen >would actually be more productive than one without, all other things >being equal. Believe it or not, in a work environment, many people associate "new" (as in new equipment, new desk, etc) as making them feel more "important" to their company. Have you ever worked in a company where people got upset when "someone else" got the new equipment but they didn't? It's things like this, including certificates of awards printed on Laser or Inkjet printers, clocks with the company logo, etc, that make employees feel empowered and important to the company. For example: "Bob surveyed his desk as the IT Department installed his new 19" LCD display and thought to himself... 'I'm important. They're taking away my 2 year old 19" CRT display and giving me a brand spanking new, 19" LCD display. THIS is THE latest technology! This is so COOL! The boss/company must think I'M doing SOMETHING GOOD to deserve this. I can't wait to let the guys know about this. Larry > Space and space. Replacing a 19-inch CRT with a 24-inch LCD gains space: > 1) Added screen space boosts productivity > 2) Added desk space boosts productivity. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
Don't worry about not actually owning a Dell Computer. You can say you bought the Dell monitor based on Dell's reputation for (cough cough) stellar products, service and support. (Whew...I actually said that with a straight face too!) Tell them you're a Mac person but you bought the monitor because of the reviews it got *but* if the monitor will only last 3 1/2 years, you're going to have to rethink about getting anything from Dell. Larry -Original Message- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paula Minor Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2008 7:23 PM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question > "Too bad, your warranty's > expired", ask to speak to a supervisor and explain you bought the > monitor based on the reviews you'd read and how you thought a Dell > product would last far, far longer. (If any of your systems are Dell, > say that). Go for the "Loyal Customer" angle who's disappointed to > only > get 3 years out of a monitor. While you're doing this, stress your > now-doubting belief that Dell makes a good product and how you'll I may give it a try. I'm strictly a Mac person now but I do have a Dell system sitting here beside me,unplugged, so I DO have their products around. Paula IN/USA Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a wonderful day! * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
Why would you replace a proven technology that still works with a newer technology that apparently has a shorter lifespan? Business reason please. I switched because the lcd's are easier on my eyesat least when they are working well. My CRT monitors were really causing my eyes to hurt. Paula IN/USA Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a wonderful day! * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
"Too bad, your warranty's expired", ask to speak to a supervisor and explain you bought the monitor based on the reviews you'd read and how you thought a Dell product would last far, far longer. (If any of your systems are Dell, say that). Go for the "Loyal Customer" angle who's disappointed to only get 3 years out of a monitor. While you're doing this, stress your now-doubting belief that Dell makes a good product and how you'll I may give it a try. I'm strictly a Mac person now but I do have a Dell system sitting here beside me,unplugged, so I DO have their products around. Paula IN/USA Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a wonderful day! * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
At 06:58 PM 5/3/2008, Eric S. Sande wrote: Why would you replace a proven technology that still works with a newer technology that apparently has a shorter lifespan? Business reason please. Electricity use. (Energy star doesn't save you anything if you're working on the computer.) Heating and air-conditioning. Recover desk space, which makes it easier to use peper reference materials, reports, etc. Possibly get a larger monitor, which is easier to see (eyes deteriorate with age). It also works better for graphic applications. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
>And I can't imagine a job where a worker with a slightly bigger screen >would actually be more productive than one without, all other things >being equal. Plenty of studies contradict your view of the world as does actual use. No I am not going to give you links. That would be futile. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
At 04:21 PM 5/3/2008, Tom Piwowar wrote: >Has anyone seen a non-Apple LCD with LED backlights? How does one tell what sort of backlight technology an LCD monitor has? Can one tell from the appearance of it? If one goes to the trouble of hunting down the detailed specifications of the monitor, is it likely to be listed? Fred Holmes * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
That's an absurd assumption. Or do you have some shred of evidence that supports this wacko theory? Why would having empty space on your desk do anything but give you someplace else to store crap? And I can't imagine a job where a worker with a slightly bigger screen would actually be more productive than one without, all other things being equal. On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 9:29 PM, Tom Piwowar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Space and space. Replacing a 19-inch CRT with a 24-inch LCD gains space: > 1) Added screen space boosts productivity > 2) Added desk space boosts productivity. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
>Why would you replace a proven technology that still works with a >newer technology that apparently has a shorter lifespan? > >Business reason please. Space and space. Replacing a 19-inch CRT with a 24-inch LCD gains space: 1) Added screen space boosts productivity 2) Added desk space boosts productivity. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
Lower Power consumption, less waste heat, smaller foot print on desk, easier to place on wall, better esthetically in some design way I'm saying all these make fiscal sense but they are all reasons I have heard. On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 6:58 PM, Eric S. Sande <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Are you referring to CRT monitors? > > > > I wasn't, not specifically, but ten years out of a CRT isn't uncommon. > > Plenty of NECs amd Sonys are still in service. Lots aren't. > > > > > It really pains me to be discarding so many 10 year old monitors that were > working just fine and replacing them with LCDs that seem to like to die at > an early age. > > > > Why would you replace a proven technology that still works with a > newer technology that apparently has a shorter lifespan? > > Business reason please. > > > > > * > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > * > -- John Duncan Yoyo ---o) * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
Are you referring to CRT monitors? I wasn't, not specifically, but ten years out of a CRT isn't uncommon. Plenty of NECs amd Sonys are still in service. Lots aren't. It really pains me to be discarding so many 10 year old monitors that were working just fine and replacing them with LCDs that seem to like to die at an early age. Why would you replace a proven technology that still works with a newer technology that apparently has a shorter lifespan? Business reason please. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
I know samsung has some. Mike On Sat, May 3, 2008 at 1:21 PM, Tom Piwowar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >My experience is that 3+ years is pushing it as far as backlights > >are concerned. That's the most common failure mode as far as > >I can tell. At that point the monitor can be repaired but it's > >cheaper to replace it, IMHO. > > All of Apple's backlights are now LEDs, which should run a long time and > not run hot. I have not noticed how quickly other brands are switching to > LEDs. > > Has anyone seen a non-Apple LCD with LED backlights? > > > * > ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** > ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** > * > * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
>My experience is that 3+ years is pushing it as far as backlights >are concerned. That's the most common failure mode as far as >I can tell. At that point the monitor can be repaired but it's >cheaper to replace it, IMHO. All of Apple's backlights are now LEDs, which should run a long time and not run hot. I have not noticed how quickly other brands are switching to LEDs. Has anyone seen a non-Apple LCD with LED backlights? * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
>Well, I agree with you in principle. Some things DO last "almost >forever." Or have a service life that is is measured in many decades. Are you referring to CRT monitors? It really pains me to be discarding so many 10 year old monitors that were working just fine and replacing them with LCDs that seem to like to die at an early age. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
There's a chance the supervisor will agree to repair or replace your monitor because it's just barely out of warranty. I'd do it, based on this hypothetical. It's at most a $200 item and I buy much more customer loyalty out of the transaction than $200 would get me in advertising. I don't know what Dell policy is or what their management style is, but this one would be an easy call for any front line manager in my company. Or at least I think it would be. I understand that Dell operates on razor-thin profit margins, but hey, nothing ventured nothing gained. Good call, Larry. I realize that most responses to this have been along the lines of "Shizz happens, put on your big girl panties and deal with it." But Larry's approach is creative and proactive. I'd give it a shot. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
>From what I've read, these monitors came with a 3 year warranty from Dell. You said it's about 3 1/2 years old. You could take a chance and call Dell and go through their (oh so wonderful) tech support group to diagnose the problem. There's a chance Dell might be nice and do a warranty repair on it - even though it's out of warranty. (Ok... you can stop laughing now)... While Dell hasn't exactly had the best service reputation (if you want to hear some amusing stories, let me know), they're trying to reclaim lost market share. There's a chance they'll step up to the plate. If you do call and the first tech says "Too bad, your warranty's expired", ask to speak to a supervisor and explain you bought the monitor based on the reviews you'd read and how you thought a Dell product would last far, far longer. (If any of your systems are Dell, say that). Go for the "Loyal Customer" angle who's disappointed to only get 3 years out of a monitor. While you're doing this, stress your now-doubting belief that Dell makes a good product and how you'll have to reconsider buying anything from Dell again. But don't raise your voice, talk calmly to them and ask for their help. There's a chance the supervisor will agree to repair or replace your monitor because it's just barely out of warranty. The worst possible outcome is for them to say "Sorry, there's nothing we can do" and it'll only have cost you some time on the phone. Larry -Original Message- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paula Minor Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2008 6:08 PM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question > What model monitor is your old one? > > Larry > Larry, it's the Dell 2001FP and was a fantastic monitor. A few months ago I noticed I was having trouble calibrating it and found it was more difficult to read pages on it. I thought my vision was going...I'm 61! What a relief to know it's not me. Thanks to you all who answered. Looks like I"ll be watching for a good price on a second monitor now if I still want to run 2 of them. I will say I also have/had an iMac G5 that is about 3 yrs old and it still has a great monitor on it but now that my son has it, it isn't on 24/7 like my MacPro is. My monitors do shut down tho after an hour of no use and I turn those off at night. I guess I'm just one of those people who thinks everything should last forever. Paula IN/USA Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a wonderful day! * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
I guess I'm just one of those people who thinks everything should last forever. Well, I agree with you in principle. Some things DO last "almost forever." Or have a service life that is is measured in many decades. Or even centuries. Or more. Computer equipment doesn't tend to be among these things. I mean, what were the ancient Egyptians, the Mayans, the Stonehenge guys thinking about? Planned obsolescence was not part of their agenda. They weren't thinking along the lines of next quarter profit when they built their supercomputers. Now you can argue that those constructions weren't computers in the modern sense. But they were calculating devices, for sure. And vast projects, for sure. I mean, isn't the abacus a perfect laptop? It has never become obsolete. It's eminently portable, uses no wall wart, lasts almost forever, and coupled with a clay tablet offers long term permanent storage of data. The paperless office, 1000 BC. Of course humping those clay tablets around would have been a challenge, and you really had to trust the guys who made the data backups. But thise data backups are readable today, in some cases. Now THATS a warranty! * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
What model monitor is your old one? Larry Larry, it's the Dell 2001FP and was a fantastic monitor. A few months ago I noticed I was having trouble calibrating it and found it was more difficult to read pages on it. I thought my vision was going...I'm 61! What a relief to know it's not me. Thanks to you all who answered. Looks like I"ll be watching for a good price on a second monitor now if I still want to run 2 of them. I will say I also have/had an iMac G5 that is about 3 yrs old and it still has a great monitor on it but now that my son has it, it isn't on 24/7 like my MacPro is. My monitors do shut down tho after an hour of no use and I turn those off at night. I guess I'm just one of those people who thinks everything should last forever. Paula IN/USA Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a wonderful day! * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
3 1/2 years could be "normal" (whatever that is of course). Part of it is there's *lots* of cheap (quality, not necessarily price) on the market. Not that I'm a huge Dell fan (as I type this at work on my Optiplex GX620, surrounded by oodles of other Dells), but they've been known - as have other manufacturers - of using cheap(er) parts. What model monitor is your old one? Larry -Original Message- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paula Minor Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 8:27 PM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question I bought a new Dell LCD monitor so I could have a dual setup. Now, with both of them side-by-side, I realize that my eyes weren't going bad fastthe older LCD monitor(also a Dell) is very dim and the letters are a bit soft or blurry. I do calibrate my monitors and had been having problems getting it to calibrate well. I thought my eyes were going! This monitor is about 3 1/2 yrs old. Is it normal for lcd's to go bad this quickly? I have t he brightness turned all the way up now and it's still pretty dim, especially compared to the new one.And even with calibrating, the colors are very different between the two. I had planned on keeping my email on the older monitor and Word too. But I can hardly bear to read anything on it now. My eyes won't stay focused and I have to squint to bring the words into focus. If I put it on the new monitor, no problem reading at all. Just wanting to know if this is normal or has it gone bad faster than it should have? I"m not sure I can continue to use it even for things like the tool bars of Photoshop, calendar, iTunes etc because it really bothers my eyes. Thanks! Paula IN/USA Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a wonderful day! * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
This monitor is about 3 1/2 yrs old. Is it normal for lcd's to go bad this quickly? Depends on the monitor and the failure mode. Usually in my experience (ViewSonic VP930bs) they will either run or not run. I had a unit fail a few days ago which had run fine for about two years. This one will go back under the three-year warranty. Trouble is, I also had one which failed out of the box and went back twice. So I can't say that my success rate with ViewSonic has been all that great. I'm running three of them (two now) 24x7, so the warranty is the big difference. In my cases, so far, the panels and backlights have been fine as far as I can tell but the onboard power supplies have been shizz. I have the brightness turned all the way up now and it's still pretty dim, especially compared to the new one. That sounds like a backlight issue if all the pixels are still hot. My experience is that 3+ years is pushing it as far as backlights are concerned. That's the most common failure mode as far as I can tell. At that point the monitor can be repaired but it's cheaper to replace it, IMHO. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] LCD monitor question
My 20 inch iMac G5 will be 3 years old in 2 months. The LCD picture is very sharp (1680 x 1050, millions of colors), and I've kept the brightness as far down as it will go, ever since I purchased it. Just to experiment, I turned the brightness all of the way up, and it hurt my eyes. Some very small characters are composed of line widths that are only 1 pixel wide (as seen with a magnifying glass). The characters are tiny, but very sharp and readable without the magnifying glass. Alvin On Apr 30, 2008, at 11:26 PM, Paula Minor wrote: I bought a new Dell LCD monitor so I could have a dual setup. Now, with both of them side-by-side, I realize that my eyes weren't going bad fastthe older LCD monitor(also a Dell) is very dim and the letters are a bit soft or blurry. I do calibrate my monitors and had been having problems getting it to calibrate well. I thought my eyes were going! This monitor is about 3 1/2 yrs old. Is it normal for lcd's to go bad this quickly? I have t he brightness turned all the way up now and it's still pretty dim, especially compared to the new one.And even with calibrating, the colors are very different between the two. I had planned on keeping my email on the older monitor and Word too. But I can hardly bear to read anything on it now. My eyes won't stay focused and I have to squint to bring the words into focus. If I put it on the new monitor, no problem reading at all. Just wanting to know if this is normal or has it gone bad faster than it should have? I"m not sure I can continue to use it even for things like the tool bars of Photoshop, calendar, iTunes etc because it really bothers my eyes. Thanks! Paula IN/USA Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a wonderful day! * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http:// www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
[CGUYS] LCD monitor question
I bought a new Dell LCD monitor so I could have a dual setup. Now, with both of them side-by-side, I realize that my eyes weren't going bad fastthe older LCD monitor(also a Dell) is very dim and the letters are a bit soft or blurry. I do calibrate my monitors and had been having problems getting it to calibrate well. I thought my eyes were going! This monitor is about 3 1/2 yrs old. Is it normal for lcd's to go bad this quickly? I have t he brightness turned all the way up now and it's still pretty dim, especially compared to the new one.And even with calibrating, the colors are very different between the two. I had planned on keeping my email on the older monitor and Word too. But I can hardly bear to read anything on it now. My eyes won't stay focused and I have to squint to bring the words into focus. If I put it on the new monitor, no problem reading at all. Just wanting to know if this is normal or has it gone bad faster than it should have? I"m not sure I can continue to use it even for things like the tool bars of Photoshop, calendar, iTunes etc because it really bothers my eyes. Thanks! Paula IN/USA Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a wonderful day! * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
