Dell UltraSharp 1905FP: Setting the Bar for New 19" LCDs
by Kristopher Kubicki on January 29, 2005 12:35 AM EST- Posted in
- Displays
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.
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hoppa - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link
i hardly see the point in spending so much extra money going from 17" to 19" if you are not going to be afforded any extra resolution.Thermopyle - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link
"It's my personal belief that the transient time between two current generation LCD monitors is practically impossible in real world applications, but everyone has different levels of sensitivity on the matter."This sentence is confusing. I assume by transient time you mean response time, but I don't understand what the "transient time between two LCD monitors" means. Then you say the transient time is "impossible". Huh? What is impossible?
The whole sentence makes me want to cry.
KristopherKubicki - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link
It is 5:4 not 4:3 - this has been updated.Dell did not have any samples of the 2005FPW for us. I am guessing if they don't have samples for PR, they are probably changing something on the monitor.
Hope that helps,
Kristopher
drifter106 - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link
I am somewhat puzzled by this statement...We were not able to get a sample of the 2005FPW in time for this review
I am sitting here looking at one and I know they have been out for some time. I am disappointed that you would make a statement like that. Could a better choice of words been used to substantiate as to why you chose NOT to include the 2005? The last thing I would hope to hear from this site is something that makes me doubt your authenticity.
jd
Fionavar - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link
Thanks for the review. I do want to echo someone earlier - where is the long for and much anticipated review of the 2005FPW? This monitor is clogging others boards with discussions and it would WONDERFUL to have something definitive from AnandTech!REMF - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link
i wouldn't touch a dell box, but i will happily buy their excellent screens.i wouldn't buy any M$ software, but they make bloody good mice.
even bad companies (subjective opinion) can make great products.
Mojo027 - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link
I wish you guys wouldn't rip on the BenQ monitor so much, it's really a great monitor. You should be comparing the FP937 12ms monitor to these models, not the FP931 16ms...However, great article, and I'm sure the Dell models are great.
Gnoad - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link
Why? Dell makes quality LCD screens and cheap basic computers for the average person. Just because we can build our own for the same price with twice the performance does't mean they're a bad company.TwistyKat - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link
I don't care how great it might be - I would never buy anything Dell.Spacecomber - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link
Like #11, I too found the sentence he or she quoted ambiquous.I'm glad to hear, as noted in the review, that there continue to be LCDs affordable monitors being produced that are closing the gap between a LCD that produces a full range of color and LCDs that are fast enough for gaming.
It will be intresting to see if Dell can do a good job of keeping up with the demand for this monitor and resist the temptation to raise the price as its popularity grows. Anandtech's reviews no doubt carry a fair amount of clout when it comes to influencing consumers. I'm sure many others also noticed how quickly the NuTech L921G sold out just about everywhere and how the Viewsonic Q190MB went from being a bargain priced monitor to a premium priced model.
My guess is that someone else is putting together the L921G for Nutech. It would be very interesting to know who this and who else they are providing monitors to.