Hi.

I'm looking into buying a flat screen monitor with my Birthday money from last Thursday, does anyone know any good sites/shops other than the likes of Dixons et al where I could get a good 17 or 19" one for sub £200?!

Looked on Ebuyer.com and seen a good one on Comet's web site but I'm after other recommendations please.

For starters.....

Dabs (http://www.dabs.co.uk).
Novatech (http://www.novatech.co.uk).
Dealtime (http://www.dealtime.co.uk).

Avoid Dixons etc... if you can.

Originally posted by Lurch
For starters.....

Dabs (http://www.dabs.co.uk).
Novatech (http://www.novatech.co.uk).
Dealtime (http://www.dealtime.co.uk).

Avoid Dixons etc... if you can.

Dabs is quite expensive when I looked last night, I'll have a look at the other links though, ta for posting :)

If you're just after cheap, try this one (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?TFT-NOV17D) from Novatech.

Originally posted by Lurch
If you're just after cheap, try this one (http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?TFT-NOV17D) from Novatech.

Thanks but having thought about it I'd rather buy from a shop, even if that means going through the likes of Dixons/PC World et al, then I've the piece of mind of being able to take it back if anything should go wrong with it.. Trouble with buying off the net is that it's a lot of messing about to send anything back if you need to and costs you a fortune in postage.

I got mine for The Computer Shop in Meadowhall retail park. It's 19" and cost £250, they had quite a few to choose from.

From personal experience you're more likely to need to take it back if you get it from Dixons\PC World. I've used Ebuyer, Dabs and Novatech quite a few times before and never had a problem.

Each to their own....

I wouldn't get a 19", they have the same (1280*1024) native resolution as a 17".

Originally posted by Lurch
From personal experience you're more likely to need to take it back if you get it from Dixons\PC World. I've used Ebuyer, Dabs and Novatech quite a few times before and never had a problem.

Each to their own....

Another thing with ordering bulky items such as monitors off the net is that you have to ensure that you're going to be in when the delivery man comes knocking... Which isn't always easy unless they specify a time and day, but they usually don't, it's usually "oh we'll deliver on Tuesday between 1 and 5" so you end up waiting in all afternoon and they don't turn up till like 10 to 5 or summat daft..

How about this (http://uk.insight.com/apps/productpresentation/index.php?product_id=IMXME17C) .
You wouldn't have to worry about postage costs in the unlikely event it was faulty on arrival as Insight would collect for you. Remember when you are buying an LCD screen that it could have defective sub-pixels that wouldn't necessarily class the screen as faulty (unless there are so many).

Originally posted by Meaks
How about this (http://uk.insight.com/apps/productpresentation/index.php?product_id=IMXME17C) .
You wouldn't have to worry about postage costs in the unlikely event it was faulty on arrival as Insight would collect for you. Remember when you are buying an LCD screen that it could have defective sub-pixels that wouldn't necessarily class the screen as faulty (unless there are so many).

Hmm, price is reasonable I guess.. And I take Jamie's point about 19" being only as good as 17" as well.

Just found mine here http://www.thecomputershop.co.uk/show_prod.php?prodid=12762
It say its £500 but it was only £250 in the shop which is a big difference.

Just found this aswell 17" and only £155

http://accessories.euro.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=uk&l=en&s=dhs&cs=ukdhs1&sku=19488&category_id=4058

Trouble with buying off the net is that it's a lot of messing about to send anything back if you need to and costs you a fortune in postage.

Sorry, but none of that is true. You are covered by the distance selling regulations when you buy anything over the 'net, phone or (interactive) TV.

You have a seven day cooling off period where you can return the goods for ANY reason. Not only that but you only have to make the goods available for collection from your premises for a refund. It is up to the retailer to collect it from you (ie: send parcel force or whoever).

I got mine from http://www.aria.co.uk

It's the 17" Digimate L-1715 TFT Monitor for £138.65

I've had no problems with it so far.

Originally posted by Meaks
Remember when you are buying an LCD screen that it could have defective sub-pixels that wouldn't necessarily class the screen as faulty (unless there are so many).

Why is that though? Clearly they're defects, why shouldn't they be classed as making the product sub-standard quality? I've even seen some sites offering to check to ensure the monitor has no defective pixels before they send it, for an additional fee. That's outrageous! It's like saying "we'll send you a hard drive but it might not work - pay an extra £10 and we'll actually send you a working one". How can they get away with it with monitors?

Originally posted by t020
Why is that though? Clearly they're defects, why shouldn't they be classed as making the product sub-standard quality? I've even seen some sites offering to check to ensure the monitor has no defective pixels before they send it, for an additional fee. That's outrageous! It's like saying "we'll send you a hard drive but it might not work - pay an extra £10 and we'll actually send you a working one". How can they get away with it with monitors?

For once I am in total agreement with you :shocked:

Originally posted by t020
How can they get away with it with monitors?

I agree ... it stinks ... whatever happened to consumer protection?

Here (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/showthread.php?postid=364998#post364998) punk seems to think that you can return any item ordered over the internet within 7 days and it's their responsibility to collect. So assuming he has his facts right ...

Why not simply return a display (with dead pixels) on the grounds of 'you don't like the colour / shape' etc?

It is correct about the distance selling regulations.

There's a good reason that lcd's may have defects and that this is considered acceptable.
If it wasn't, in the early days of making the screens then the discard rate would have been at ridiculous levels. This would either mean pricing being increased to compensate, or the manufacturers not bothering to make the screens.

Hi Cyclone,

If the distance selling regulations are correct, what's to stop someone returning a display because they don't like the colour or design or some other reason not related to the dead pixel count?

Originally posted by Jamie
Hi Cyclone,

If the distance selling regulations are correct, what's to stop someone returning a display because they don't like the colour or design or some other reason not related to the dead pixel count?

nothing at all.
If purchasing from a shop there is also nothing stopping you asking to see the one you will buy working, you can then assure yourself that it's all fine.
I would also return a screen using distance selling regs if I found a dead pixel. They really aren't that common these days though, and CTX I believe offers a 0 dead pixel guarantee on all it's screens.

Have just come back from Comet at Wadsley Bridge having bought an Acer 19" LCD monitor.

So seeing as the matter is closed, the Mods may as well lock this thread now, unless other people want to discuss monitors etc?