3 Affordable Full-HD LCD Monitors

Prices of LCD monitors have been steadily crashing. Sizes such as 20" and 22" are rapidly approaching mass-market status and this has resulted in full-HD monitors (24" and above) becoming affordable. These 24" inch monitors are not only full-HD compliant but also offer significantly more working area. Another market that such monitors have found surprising success in is next-gen consoles. Full-HD monitors come at a fraction of the price of a comparable TV that would normally be required to enjoy these consoles' native resolution.

Keeping in mind that Blu-ray has now effectively won the HD war and that prices for these drives are already dropping below the 10K mark, we decided to shop around for three 24-inch monitors that can be had for a relatively low price. Here's what we found:
AOC 416V

The brand name AOC may not ring any bells for most readers, since the company is virtually unknown in our part of the world. However, in Europe and many parts of Asia, the company has decent brand recognition since it's been in the PC business for a while.

AOC's monitor range has been available in India for some time though. The 416V is the flagship 24" model, with a native resolution of 1920x1200 p, 5ms response time (gray to gray), a dynamic contrast ratio of 3000:1, and 160/160 horizontal/vertical viewing angles. Though it lacks HDMI, it does have full support for HDCP via its DVI connectors and also has a D-Sub connector.

It is available for roughly Rs 23,000 (prices vary as per regional availability, so it could be anywhere between Rs 19,500 and Rs 24,200). For a detailed specification chart, please check this link.

BenQ G2400W

BenQ is not one a newcomer to this space; its previous model (the FP241W) was one of the best in its generation with a wide variety of connectors, including HDMI/DVI/D-Sub. It recently introduced the G2400W, which differs from other monitors in this range as it is the only one that offers an HDMI connector.

As expected, the G2400W comes with a native resolution of 1920x1200, 5ms response time (gray to gray), a contrast ratio of 1000:1, and 160/160 horizontal/vertical viewing angles. It offers HDMI with full support for HDCP. It has a single DVI connector on board, and also a D-Sub connector.

The G2400W is available for Rs 24,000 + taxes. Detailed specifications can be found here.

Dell E248WFP

Widely regarded as the leader in this space, Dell continues to offer excellent VFM monitors that have established a sterling reputation for display quality and finish. The E248WFP is Dell's entry-level monitor and has a native resolution of 1920x1200, 5ms response time, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 160/160 viewing angles, DVI-D with HDCP support, and a D-Sub connector.

Prices start at Rs 19,100, and factoring in taxes will peg it at around Rs 23,000. This is open to a bit of bargaining, but remember that Dell only takes orders through its website and over the phone. Some discreet negotiation while placing your order just might get you significant savings of around Rs 3000.

Head here for further details.