I recently purchased two LCD computer monitors. There were two sales that I just could not pass up.
One was at Staples on a 19inch (with speakers) Optiquest LCD monitor for 149 dollars pre tax (with a mail-in rebate).
From what I’ve been seeing out there in LCD monitor prices this was a very good deal.
I have been very disappointed in the prices of LCD monitors. The average cost should have fallen much more than they have. There has to be some price fixing going on within the industry.
The costs of a LCD computer monitor and LCD television set of equal size is almost the same, which just doesn’t seem right. There could be something I’m overlooking, but I don’t think so.
Another reason I think something is wrong is that small computer and computer parts sellers or stores are selling 17 and 19 inch monitors at a cheaper price than the larger chain stores.
The average consumer should no that the average going price for a new 17inch monitor is 179 dollars from small dealers in the area of the country I live in.
Large retail outlets like Office Depot (which still has not mailed me my rebate check while other rebates for various computer parts, including the monitor, have been received), Best Buy and Circuit City are averaging about 219 dollars (sometime with a rebate believe it or not) for a 17-inch LCD monitor. That is about forty dollars higher than the small retailers.
Nowadays the small operations have prices on most things that are higher than the larger chain stores, so I find it strange that the big stores cannot compete with the smaller operators when it concerns LCD monitors.
So, my 19-inch monitor with speakers for 149 dollars was a good deal.
Veiwsonic, which is a decent monitor making company, built the Optiquest monitor, but I decided to sell it to someone who was hunting for an okay priced computer monitor.
I then brought a refurbished Samsung monitor (older model – without speakers) for the same price as the Optiquest which means that it was much less of a good deal, but Samsung is the top (at least it was the top- I’m not sure about now) LCD monitor brand name, so I don’t feel too bad about the purchase (besides I can tilt the screen into landscape or portrait positions, so I do get one perk for the price).
What are my impressions of LCD monitors? Well, they do save a lot of space, but I think the color rendering and sharpness of the picture is still better with a CRT monitor (or maybe I need to buy an even higher quality LCD monitor).
However, I still prefer LCD monitors. There is something to be said for sleek design and space savings. Overall, I am happy with the migration from CRT to LCD.
James Kim: I would be very remiss if I did not mention the passing of someone I use to watch on the now defunct TechTV channel (one program on this channel got me interested in blogging). James Kim perished in the Oregon wilderness from hypothermia while seeking help for his wife and children.
He was the ‘behind-the-scenes’ man on several programs on the Techtv channel. He even did small segments on some of the programs usually demonstrating new electronic products of some sort. His last job was as an editor for the web site Cnet.com.
The Kim family was marooned due to foul weather (rain, sleet, snow and cold) on a rarely traveled road in the Oregon wilderness for almost seven days.
Almost a week into the marooning things were beginning to look critical and James set off into the wilderness to find help. He told his wife he would be back, but he did not return.
Kim’s wife and kids were discovered by rescuers, still stuck in their car on that road. They were rescued and were found to be in pretty good shape considering the ordeal.
James was found in the wilderness, a victim of Mother Nature. And thus an intelligent considerate, and loving human being has left the human family.
Our lose is a gain for the Universe which I am sure with the help of James will come to know the meaning of the words geek and hacker (in the best sense of the words) and human technology.
Music Notes: These songs are all good. I listened to them at this sad time in honor of James Kim although the themes of the songs are varied and in most cases have nothing to do with the passing of a person.
“Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M., “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” by Simon and Garfunkel (live version), “The Rising” by Bruce Springsteen, “Fragile” by Sting, “Mothers Of The Disappeared” by U2, “Sad Eyes” by Ian Gomm “May It Be” by Enya, “The Background” by Thirdeyeblind, “ “Unforgettable” by Natalie and Nat King Cole, “Time” by Alan Parsons Project, “Gone To Soon” by Michael Jackson, “How Am I Suppose To Live Without You” by Michael Bolton, “Ribbon In The Sky” by Steve Wonder, “Love Is In The Air” by John Paul Young, “Waiting On A Friend” by The Rolling Stones, “All At Once” by Whitney Houston, “The Morning After” by Maureen McGovern, “Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin and “Power Of Love, Love Power” by Luther Vandross.