Cost Analysis

When we looked at the pricing of 19" LCD monitors two months ago, most models hovered around the $450 price point. Since then, a lot has changed – BenQ FP931 retails for almost $80 less than it did two months ago! However, price does not mean everything in the world of displays. Even though the BenQ FP931 is the first 19" LCD to hit the sub $350 range after rebate, we still wouldn't recommend it over the better rated models from the roundup.

As one of the newer models, the Dell 1905FP is actually one of the most expensive units in our price category. However, keep in mind that the $669 Samsung 193P and the Dell 1905FP utilize the exact same LCD panel. There are a few fundamental differences between these monitors outside of style; for example, the SyncMaster 193P does not use an exterior user interface. Although both monitors use different signal processors, image quality between the two monitors is very similar.

Most of the other monitors in the 19" range dropped approximately 10% in price since the roundup, with the exception of the Samsung 910V, which actually increased in price since the previous analysis. Since that product is getting closer to its EOL, we would not be surprised if the monitor stops showing up in the retail channel altogether in the very near future.

When we first went to Dell.com to price out the 1905FP, we noticed that the price jumped from $499 to $599 over the course of a few weeks. Shopping around for a third party reseller, we found several vendors selling the monitor for under $499 and one even as low as $469. Dell runs dozens of rebates and promotions at any given time – so if you look hard enough, you should be able to find some extremely promising deals on the 1905FP.


User Interface Quantitative Analysis
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  • Golfxcellence - Friday, February 25, 2005 - link

    I bought this monitor based on the review. This is my first LCD. My photos look wonderful, text is very readable, but any sort of mpg video is very very poor compared to my crt. Is this normal? if it is, it may have to go back.

    Thanks for any comments or suggestions to fixing the problem.

    Garry
  • oasked - Monday, February 21, 2005 - link

    *******
    This monitor has serious ghosting issues.
    Get something else instead.

    Even the cursor blurs. I bought one based on this review - BIG MISTAKE.

    Even my mates 25ms monitor has less ghosting than this.

    It does look good, but its deceptive.
    ******
  • ahc11 - Friday, February 4, 2005 - link

    I am having a problem with this monitor that I cnanot solve:
    Basically, what happens is that the monitor goes into power save mode and turns orange. When I click the OSD button on it, it says "please move mouse/keyboard".

    If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know
  • neurocyb - Thursday, February 3, 2005 - link

    NEC makes an 18 and 20" display
    why have these not been included in reviews??
  • TheDotProduct - Wednesday, February 2, 2005 - link

    rivethead:
    #########################################
    Arrrgh! It shouldn't be this difficult. All I want is a 17" 8-bit panel from a good manufacturer with a response time of 16ms or less.
    #########################################

    Dam straight you are thinking along the exact same lines as me!

    Well common Samsung/Sony/Viewsonic/Benq/Dell give us what we want! We will even pay you for your bother ;-p
  • rivethead - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link

    Good luck in your search for information on the UltraSharp 1704FPV.

    I've tried to get information from every source I can think of (I even tried re-sellers on e-bay).

    I've come to the following conclusion:

    1) No one at Dell knows if their LCDs are 6 or 8-bit.(at least the CSRs and Tech Support people who I've talked to)

    2) If it's this hard to get a simple question answered, I'm not sure I want to buy any Dell product.

    I know that Dell makes a 17" LCD they call the "173". I'm betting it's the same panel that's in the Samsung 173. So after reading this review, now I'm wondering what panel is in the 1704FPV and 1704FPT? Another Samsung product? Which panel?

    Arrrgh! It shouldn't be this difficult. All I want is a 17" 8-bit panel from a good manufacturer with a response time of 16ms or less.

    I will say this: having these Anandtech reviews certainly is a help. Thanks!
  • rivethead - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link

  • Benmohr - Tuesday, February 1, 2005 - link

    Enjoyed reading the article and all the comments. However, having recently bought a new Sony A Series VAIO Laptop with an X Black screen, all I can say is WOW!!!!!! The Dell, and for that matter, most screens dont even come close. Why????

  • Thresher - Monday, January 31, 2005 - link

    Time for a review of the 2005, don't ya think?
  • TheDotProduct - Monday, January 31, 2005 - link

    I too want to know about the 1704FPV. Is it 8 or 6 bit? (sorry about the empty posts by the way)

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