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prolix · Mar 20, 2002, 11:33 AM

i'm looking into buying an lcd monitor. i have a g4 400mhz so i don't have the adc, instead i have dvi and normal vga connections.

i like the studio 17" but i'd have to shell out another 150 for the adc converter.. the monitor i am looking at right now is the sony sdm-m81, which has dual connections, dvi and vgi and is 18.1". i have read good things about it. sony also has the sdm-s81 which is similar, an 18" lcd but its analog only. about 200bux cheaper though.

so my question is whether there is enough difference between a dvi and vga to justify another 200bux. since lcds are digital i know its more efficient and whatnot to go dvi and the picture should be better, but how much better is it. enough to warrant the cost?

also the other difference is that the sdm-m81 (dvi model) has a contrast ratio of 300:1 while the sdm-s81 (non-dvi) has a contrast ratio of 400:1

i've read every technical doc i could find on the differences and whatnot, but i'd like some real world feedback from people who have actually seen the difference.

thanks!

XPBlows · Mar 20, 2002, 02:15 PM

yes yes yes.... there is a difference between DVI and analog. We have a number of the sonys at work and they are great..... plus you can always get a ati 8500 to use with them as an upgrade path.... spend the extra...

danbrew · Mar 20, 2002, 06:59 PM

no doubt about it - the digitals are much better. imho you have a sharper picture.

fwiw

prolix · Mar 20, 2002, 07:59 PM

yeah i figured dvi was the way to go, it seems a bit backwards to have an analog lcd anyway. the signal from the system is digital, then it goes to analog and back to digital? there has to be some significant signal loss. perhaps thats why the contrast ratio on the sdm-s81 is 400:1, it probably loses a good chuck of that.

i just ordered the sdm-m81 at ecost.com for 888$. one of their countdown sales. plus i get hte 100$ mail in rebate, so its quite the deal. another 35 for the belkin dvi cable though.

can't wait for my lcd to get here now

now i might actually be able to see after i spend my day in front of my system instead of stumbling blindly around my apt.

jsevier14 · Mar 20, 2002, 10:17 PM

I have the m81 hooked up to a 400 Mhz G4 and love it. I would say if
there is a discernable difference in contrast between the two you're
looking at, I'd go with the m81 (the higher priced model). The DVI
connector itself isn't worth the $200 to most people unless they have a
DVI enabled video card and more importantly, the DVI cable to connect, or
you NEED two video connections on the LCD you can switch between. This
would be where you'd have two computers and wanted to alternate between
them with one display.

Admittedly, I do not have a DVI cable to connect but the other posts here seem to verify that its noticeably better. The Apple LCD is certainly impressive, but the Sony's you're looking at are certainly impressive in their own right and are very worthy of the consideration you're giving them. In comparisons at the store, I actually thought the Sony looked better than the Apple, marginally. But better...

prolix · Mar 22, 2002, 11:11 AM

well my 18" sony lcd just came. wow is it amazing. i've used a lot of studio 17" lcds at the university but this sony almost seems better. i've got it hooked up via dvi. its so crisp and clear and bright. really really nice. i might hook it up later with a vga cable just to see what kind of difference there is.

yeah so if anyone is going lcd soon dvi is the way to go and these sony's sure are nice.