dell monitors

[ifurlong]

I heard somewhere that some dell monitors are relly sony inside, does anyone know if this is true? B&H sells the 21 sony for 599 but the dell is 299!, thanks, Ian.

[spaceman]

I have a 3 year old 21" Dell monitor (flat screen) that is actually a Sony Trinitron, it just has the Dell name on it.

[Cadwell]

Some of the higher end Dell monitors use Sony Trinitron tubes as a component... that's not quite the same thing as saying that the whole monitor is made by Sony...

The higher end Dell monitors are pretty good and there would be little point in preferring the equivalent Sony over them.

[scottbergerphoto]

I use a Dell 21 inch monitor with a Trinitron tube. It's calibrated with the Spyder/Optical package. My prints are virtually identical to my monitor.
You don't have to pay for the SONY name.
Scott

[Scottes]

I've personally gone through a number of Dell monitors (most of them with Trinitron tubes) and have bought many hundreds for work. Cheaper than Sony, and the support is much better, very few problems. Highly recommended.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Yes,.. the Dell "Aperture grill" monitors (trinitron) are all Sony. They are the same as Sony's "E" and "G" series ("E" is Sony's most affordable,. "G" is there mid level)

Lastly I wll let you in on my biggest secret...

http://www.merkortech.com/


Shhhh don't tell anyoe,. and never say I didn't give you anything.
Be sure and tel them "Jake" sent you.

That Sony G-500 for $319.00 is about the best 21" monitor ever made. (exactly the same tube as the $1,500.00 "Artisan" monitor)

[ifurlong]

wow, thanks Jake, which one is 'the one', there are a couple G500's

[Scottes]

Be aware that the monitors mentioned are "fresh off lease" which means used.

In their defense, you'll know within a couple of hours if the monitor is OK, and if so it will probably last for quite some time. But if it fails after 366 days it's time for the trash.

I also wouldn't want to pay for the shipping to return a 75lb monitor, if necessary.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Indeed these are used.. I have purchased a number of Monitors from them over the years and had great succes. My home system includes a used G-500 and I still have (but don't use any more) two refurb Viewsonics,. a G790 19" and a P-815 21" that was once Viewsonic's top of the line. (both pre-date the "flat screen CRT,. thus there lack of use now)

They offer a 1 year warrnty on there "A" products.

The two that caught my eye were;
G-500
http://www.merkortech.com/details.asp?iid=272

...and the retired SGI!!! (also A sony)http://www.merkortech.com/details.asp?iid=405

They look to have very similar specs,. but the G-500 has the higher resolution. Again,. I would assume given that the tube specs are the same (dot pitch and size) that they have the same tube,. the difference is in the controls, case and electronics. The G-500 has an amazing host of controls.

[Belmondo]

CDS:
I ordered the SGI unit this morning because of the dual VGA inputs. It looks like their website is down right now, so I have not idea when it's going to ship, but if it arrives as advertised, it will be a heck of a deal on a 21" Sony, even if it does say 'SGI' on the front.

Thanks for the tip.

Tom

[ifurlong]

so has anyone had any experianc with this company?

[Belmondo]

It's kind of a mixed bag on resellerratings. Most people with problems eventually get satisfaction, but there a a few disgruntled people who give them low marks. It sounds loke something of a crapshoot, but if CDS says they're good, I believe him.

[Yarin]

so has anyone had any experianc with this company?

B&H is a very reputable company. I was in their store on Sunday looking for some glass. VERY cool place to walk around in. VERY easy to drop loads of money on cool stuff.

Why not just buy an LCD? Remember u lose an inch in viewable area going from an LCD to a CRT. So a 20" LCD = 21" CRT. Just a thought.

[Belmondo]

B&H is a very reputable company. I was in their store on Sunday looking for some glass. VERY cool place to walk around in. VERY easy to drop loads of money on cool stuff.

Why not just buy an LCD? Remember u lose an inch in viewable area going from an LCD to a CRT. So a 20" LCD = 21" CRT. Just a thought.

Actually, I think we're talking about Merkortech, and not B&H.

Color fidelity is much better with CRT's than it is with LCD's. I find the colors on most flat panels entirely too over-saturated, and not at all representative of what the final print is going to look like.

[CyberDyneSystems]

CDS:
I ordered the SGI unit this morning because of the dual VGA inputs. It looks like their website is down right now, so I have not idea when it's going to ship, but if it arrives as advertised, it will be a heck of a deal on a 21" Sony, even if it does say 'SGI' on the front.

Thanks for the tip.

Tom

Cool,.

Give them a call @ 866.637.5678
I'm pretty sure I allways dealt with them over the phone. Usually you can ask about the condition of a "batch" of monitors too.

[ifurlong]

so has anyone had any experianc with this company?

B&H is a very reputable company. I was in their store on Sunday looking for some glass. VERY cool place to walk around in. VERY easy to drop loads of money on cool stuff.

Why not just buy an LCD? Remember u lose an inch in viewable area going from an LCD to a CRT. So a 20" LCD = 21" CRT. Just a thought.

Im not talking about B&H, by the way , yes B&H is a great store, I ge all my stuff there, but from what I have heard LCD monitors are terrible with respect to a demanding photographer.

[defordphoto]

So far there is not an LCD on the planet that will provide an aficionado with the proper color/resolution correctness that we all require to process our photos. The Apple/MAC Cinema/whatever-they-it comes close.

[CyberDyneSystems]

CRT All the way!!!!!

[Belmondo]

Lastly I wll let you in on my biggest secret...

http://www.merkortech.com/


CDS:
As you know, I ordered a monitor from these folks a few days ago, and I haven't received an email confirmation yet. I checked the online status of my order, and it says 'Order Pending.'

I decided to call them just a few minutes ago, and got hold of a man who spoke very broken English. He said they were 'moving,' and that if I wanted the monitor, I'd have to send them a money order. I asked him if this was a problem with my credit card, are just a problem they were having with credit cards in general. Because of the language difficulty, I didn’t understand his answer, but got the impression that it was on their end. (Believe me, there is nothing wrong with my credit card---just ask B&H.)

Anyway, I asked him to cancel my order, and he said there would be no problem.

I should add that he never asked my name or my order number. As far as I can tell, he had no idea who he was talking to or what I had ordered. I think I’ll try to email them or something just to confirm the cancellation of my order.

Sounds like a company in trouble.They’re really scary---I’ll just pay full price and get a new one from a reputable dealer when I can afford it.

[ifurlong]

S***, I wish I had read this last night, I decided to order one, I just called them and the sales guy is out to lunch (to be fair it is 12:30 in Ohio right now), Iv never had anything go south with an onlin purchess, what happens if it does? can my bank cancell the order or what? thanks, Ian

[ifurlong]

well I just called and the guy said that they were out of stock on that monitor(even though the web says they have 7), so I asked to cancel the order and the guy hapily did so,seems like a nice guy, sounded like a very small buisness, which is fine, but I dont like there way of doing buis. sorry CDS

[CyberDyneSystems]

Whoa,. that is a bummer,. :(

I got my first monitor from them I'd say about 6 or 7 years ago.. :(

I had no Idea thye had taken such a downword turn. The last time I dealt with them was approx 16 months ago... a friend of mine and I each got our spiffy G-500 Sonys.

Sorry they have gone all screwy folks :(

I do hope everything works out.

[Belmondo]

Stop the presses!!

Breaking news!!

Sometime this afternoon, Fedex delivered a very large box from.......

TaDa (trumpet fanfare)

Merkortech.

These are the same people who told me I'd have to send a money order if I wanted the monitor. Moreover, they told me I wouldn't have to cancel my order because it had never been processed in the first place. (confirmed on their online order status checker).

Now I have a 60 lb. monster carton sitting out in the side yard, and I have to figure out what to do with it. Do I bring it in, open it, and hope these whackos actually sent me a working monitor, or do I wait till Monday, call them up, and try to figure out what they put in their water.

This is a very strange company.

Tom

[CyberDyneSystems]

Did they charge your CC?????

Wow,... I can't believe this is the same place I got all my monitors from for so many years.. :(

weird man.....


....maybe they were taken over by Al Quieda?

DON"T OPEN THE BOX!

[Belmondo]

Curiosity compels me...........

I must, I must.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Tom

[CyberDyneSystems]

Fingers crossed 8)

Don't throw your back out getting it onto your computer desk!!!!

[Belmondo]

Fingers crossed 8)

Don't throw your back out getting it onto your computer desk!!!!

I'm doing it in stages....

Last night I got the thing into the garage. That was easy using the hand truck.

I got the box open. That wasn't quite as easy because I was wearing a flack jacket, oven mitts, and a crash helmet with a full face mask.

I got the monitor out of the box. That was very difficult because of my ancient, creaking back and all the protective gear.

It is now sitting in the middle of the garage floor. Before bringing it indoors, I have to do some work in the office, including raising the bottom shelf above the current monitor so this monster will fit.

Then I'll be ready to lug it up the short flight of steps into the house and onto the desk. I thoroughly expect to have a hernia before this is over. Since my wife is unable to assist, this is going to be a solo enterprise from which I expect to emerge with a minimum of the aforementioned hernia and a badly damaged back.

If the monitor is anything worthwhile, the sacrifice will not have been in vain. On the other hand, if it's less than anticipated, I'll have to reverse the process, and that may be more than I can bear, physically or emotionally. It’s not inconceivable that if the monitor has to be returned to Merkortech, it may arrive in pieces, have been rendered to that state by my trusty Husqvarna chainsaw.

More to follow.

Tom

[mjordan]

Tom, it would be easier to bring the computer out to the garage. Less weight to haul and if it doesn't work out, you only have to shove it back into the box, tape it up and call UPS. :D

Mike

[Belmondo]

I actually thought about that, but other than the shear physical exertion it might avoid, that would be a huge pain in the neck. It would probably take a month to figure out how to hook everything back up again. Besides, my doctore tells me I should get more exercise....I'm not sure this is what she has in mind, but what the heck.

Pray for me.

Tom

[Belmondo]

The monitor is in, connected, and performing brilliantly. My voice is now about three octaves higher, and I'm a candidate for the soprano section of the Vienna Boy's Choir.

Like any piece of equipment that comes without a manual, there's going to be a fair amount of experimentation with this, but I'm optimistic that I'll figure it out. I'm doing a couple test prints right now to see how the calibration is.

All in all, this has been quite an adventure. I don't know what happened to the communication at Merkortech, but ultimately, they came through despite the apparent confusion.

Thanks to CDS for the (ultimately) valuable tip.

Tom

[CyberDyneSystems]

You have no Idea how relieved I am,..(well actually you do,,... as I am sure your relief was a tad more due to actual cash outlay! :)

...Anyway,. I was very distressed that I may have steered you wrong..

Knocking on wood and crossing fingers.. for the last few days.. I am soooo glad that it arrived in good working condition!!!!!! 8)

Now,. Aint it sweet! :)
I have the G-500 and an FW900 at home.. the G-500 I did no color correction on,. merely tweeked the contrast and brightness a bit (tuned the contrast DOWN in fact) The FW900 which s by the costlier model,. that one I had to tweek a lot to get as nice as the G-500 (it had a greenish hue that was tough to get rid of)

I have not yet tried to do a real calibration to mathc my printer... I'm a little scared to go down that raod yet.. I think I want to get a "puck" first.

[Belmondo]

CDS.

My sense of the monitor is that it isn't as bright as the Viewsonic I'm replacing, but that really isn't all that critical. The first print I tried after installing the new monitor was very washed out. I attribute that to the monitor having been set rather dark when it arrived. I've repeted the experiment with the brightness cranked up (and the contrast down a little), and the results were much better.

I would also like to get a puck, but think I'd best let the credit card cool off a little.

Again, thanks for the tip.

Tom