I finally FINALLY got a Wii (thanks wiitracker.com, f*** off scalpers)... but I have no TV. The dusty 13" in the closet and the old 22" hand-me-down don't count.

I'm considering replacing my 8 year old Nokia 445Xpro 21" CRT with a Dell 2707WFP 27" widescreen LCD monitor. The 2707 will give me component and composite input for the Wii, and the 1920x1200 resolution to natively view Wii's 1080p. But I'm not sure it's worth it.

The 2707 would give me an extra 2" high by 7" wide of viewing space. But that's so wide, I'd have to turn my head left or right to see the full 23" screen width. Ok, resolve that by pushing the LCD further away from my face (instead of 16" away like the CRT). But that negates the extra size (height, at least), like having an 80" TV that you sit 20 feet away from. It's all relative.

I do like it's 1920x1200. I've been running 1600x1200 for 8 years and can accept no less. Having that resolution at 27" instead of 24" (like the 2407WFP) means bigger pixels, thus bigger screen contents. Pushing the LCD further away negates that too.

Maybe 27" would make DVDs look better (or remain hurt by the Pioneer DVDR drive), make Wii 1080 more enjoyable, and make my upcoming foray into Half Life 2 (once I get a new computer) look stunning at full resolution. But my 445Xpro still looks great (though lost ~15% brightness over the years). I could try to play Wii through my computer using the Adaptec GameBridge that I bought (cheap, discontinued), if I can hack USB2 into my 6 year old machine (my last attempt failed).

But honestly, the cost per use on a monitor makes the purchase a no brainer. The 445Xpro cost $800 and lasted 8 years, so make the $1000 2707 last ten years. Buy the best and stick with it; quality not quantity.

Any opinions are welcome. I'm just trying to hash this out. Maybe it's just separation anxiety from the CRT I've used for so long.

Pick up a nice $200 22" LCD and use the leftover cash for more travel abroad!

Come on, you deserve it!

You're suggestion has allready been considered. Still, I need the 1200+ pixel height, or this upgrade would be a downgrade.

I'm already saving up for the next meet. Maybe visit Italy or Sweden (go Volvo!!) while I'm there.

Yeah, but do you need widescreen? If not, then get a 4:3 1600x1200 panel. Newegg has a Samsung one for $310.

Well, if your hope was to live for 8-10 years with the new purchase, that means that you are willing to spend 6-8 years with lower-than-bleeding-edge size/resolution (because in 2 years time better gear will be available for the same price). And the screen will definitely be dimmer for the latter half of its full lifetime.

So.. the plan I would suggest, is to step down one tier in size, resolution and price. Buy the best you can find at half the price of the 27" monitor, and plan to replace it 2-3 years later with the same strategy again.

Your overall cost will be less, and you'll always have a nice bright screen, and more cash in hand.

Cheers

For UK readers going this route.. how a about a nice 24" for £199+vat.

PVA (or PVA-like) screen: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17806175

You can also get a 24" widescreen display with 1920x1200 native resolution for far less than $1000. The picture will be 11¾" tall, which is probably about the height of your current 21" CRT's picture, and it will be just under 21" wide. So it'll still be an upgrade in both 2D picture size and in resolution, but it won't break the bank.

Everything is pointing to the 2707WFP (or I simply can't be convinced to be practical).

I couldn't do the Dell E248WFP because it doesn't have the component/composite inputs needed for Wii; the main reason for the upgrade.

The 2407WFP is nice, I've used one at work, but the display gains only width over my current 12" tall viewable CRT. But portrait rotating that beast is SO cool.

So I'll spring the extra $375 for the 2707WFP. It gives me component input, 1200 pixel height, bigger pixels which should be easier on my eyes, and widescreen for DVD viewing.

So it will be replaced by OLED backlit panels, but won't they debut at 15" and take years to cost-effectively reach the 1200 pixel height?

And my current 21" CRT won't go to waste. It will replace my sister's sad sad 15" CRT, the only thing which fits her ~20 year old desk which once held a Tandy 3000HL. An hour with the Sawzall should fix that restriction.

Thanks again for trying to talk some sense into me. I'll still give a second look for a 4:3 panel of comparable size.


PS, did you ever notice that the 3rd and 4th numbers in the Dell monitors are the year in which they were released. 1905 = 2005, 2407 = 2007. Perhaps the 8 in E248 is for 2008?