Conference noted::ibmpc-95

Hi,
	I'm in process of buying a new PC and am looking seriously into a
Gateway offer. I want a 17" monitor with system ang the company offers a choise
of two if them:
	- ($410) CrystalScan 700
	- ($525) Vivitron 700

I calculated the price based on the money i can gain if I take a system without
a monitor. I'm looking for comments and suggestions since I have no experience
with monitors. 



There are technical data
===============================================================================
CRYSTALSCAN�700 (15.9" viewable)
VIDEO DISPLAY 

     FEATURES 

         Meets EPA Energy Star guidelines 

         Compatibility with VGA, XGA, SuperVGA, extended VGA, and meets newly
proposed VESA
         ergonomic standards including 800 � 600 at 75 Hz, 1024 � 768 at 75 Hz. 

         17" (15.9" viewable) high contrast picture tube 

         .28mm fine pitch Micro Filter CRT 

         Convenient front controls 

         Microprocessor-based design with OSD controls 

         Automatic selection of 110V/220V operation 

         Meets MPR II emission guidelines. 



     SPECIFICATIONS 

     Specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation. 


       CRT 
                            17" diagonal (15.9" viewable), 0.28mm dot pitch, 90�
deflection, Micro Filter
                            CRT, antistatic coating, anti-reflective coating 
       Resolution 
                            1280 � 1024 
       Display colors 
                            Unlimited 
       Scanning frequency 
                            Horizontal, 30 to 64kHz; Vertical, 50Hz to 120Hz 
       Video bandwidth 
                            80 MHz nominal 
       Input signal (video) 
                            0.7 Vpeak-to-peak analog 75 ohm 
       Input signal (sync) 
                            Separate sync: TTL level 
                            Horizontal sync: positive/negative 
                            Vertical sync: positive/negative 
                            Composite sync: TTL positive/negative 
       Power input 
                            90-264VAC 
       Dimensions incl. base 
                            16.7 x 16.7 x 18.1 inches (W � H � D) 
       Gross weight 
                            45.7 lbs (20.4Kg) 
       Safety standards 
                            UL, CSA, TUV/GS, DHHS 
       EMI standard 
                            FCC Class B, MPR II, CE 
       Connections 
                            15-pin mini D-sub 

================================================================================
VIVITRONTM17
MONITOR 


     FEATURES 

         Meets EPA Energy Star guidelines 

         Compatibility with VGA, XGA, SuperVGA, extended VGA, and meets newly
proposed VESA
         ergonomic standards including 800 � 600 at 72 Hz and 1024 � 768 at 76
Hz 

         17" (15.9" viewable) high contrast flat square picture tube 

         .26mm fine pitch 

         Convenient up-front controls 

         Microprocessor-based design with digital controls adjusts to most video
modes automatically 

         Non-volatile memory with 16 preset and 8 user-definable modes 

         Wide frequency range for high vertical refresh rate, even in
high-resolution modes 

         Horizontal overscanning ability 

         Automatic selection of 110V/220V operation 

         Removable tilt-swivel base 

         Meets MPR II emission guidelines 



     SPECIFICATIONS 

     Specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation. 

       CRT 
                            17" diagonal (15.9" viewable), 0.26mm fine pitch,
90� deflection, non-glare flat
                            screen, tinted glass, medium-short persistence
phosphor 
       Resolution 
                            1280 � 1024 
       Display colors 
                            Unlimited 
       Scanning frequency 
                            Horizontal, 30 to 64 kHz; Vertical, 50 Hz to 100 Hz 
       Display area 
                            295 mm (W) � 215 mm (H) typical 
       video bandwidth 
                            100 MHz minimum (-3dB) 
       Input signal (video) 
                            0.7 Vpeak-to-peak analog 75 ohm 
       Input signal (sync) 
                            Separate sync: TTL level 
                            Horizontal sync: positive/negative 
                            Vertical sync: positive/negative 
                            Composite sync: TTL positive/negative 
       Power input 
                            90-130VAC, 60 Hz, 2.0 A rms 
                            180-260VAC, 50 Hz, 1.0 A rms 
       Power consumption 
                            Operating: 104 Watts maximum 
                            Suspend mode: 18 Watts maximum 
                            VESA off: 5 Watts maximum 
       Dimensions incl. base 
                            16.1 x 16.4 x 17.1 inches (W � H � D) 
       Gross weight 
                            58.4 lbs (26.5Kg) 
       Net weight 
                            49.6 lbs (22.5Kg) 
       Safety standards 
                            UL, CSA, TUV/GS 
       EMI standard 
                            FCC Class B, FTZ, MPR II 
       Connections 
                            15-pin D-sub 

I have the Crystalscan 700 and it works great for me.
It's such a step up from the monitors I've had in the
past that it's hard to imagine wanting more, but I 
suppose it would depend on the applications you'll be
running.

BC

    
    A neighbor bought a (used) IBM 9515 monitor at today's computer show,
    and it doesn't appear to work with her system (or mine). The salesman
    said it was a VGA monitor, but the only info I can find calls it an XGA
    monitor for a PS2 system. Does anyone know if its possible to make this
    work with a standard VGA adapter?
    
    Thanks in advance,
    Larry
    

 The DEC monitor specifications and the Microsoft setup modules describe
 this monitor as limited to 1280x1024.  The Sony specification describes
 this monitor as limited to 1600x1200.  As a quick `sanity check' I
 modified \windows\inf\monitor2.inf to set the Sony to allow up to
 1600x1200; as expected the monitor dropped to about 60Hz vert and
 worked fine.

 Was there some reason that DEC and MS chose 1280x1024 and Sony chose
 1600x1200 for what appears to be the same monitor?

 Bruce

    Maybe because 60 Hz is rather useless? And would be illegal for
    professional use in most of Europe...
    

    While on the general subject.... How about the VRT20-HA. What monitor
    selection should be used for this in W95?
    
    
    
    						/Dave
    

    Re: note I entered .488
    
    I found out the IBM 9515 monitor is an XGA-2 monitor, works only
    on a few VGA adapters that support XGA.... Anybody want to buy
    a (cheap!) IBM 9515?
    
    Larry
    

    I've just bought a Gateway 2000 system [P5-200 MMX] and when I switch
    on the power to the Crystalscan monitor there's a "clang" [like a metal 
    spring that's been stretched length ways and slightly pulled to one
    side before being let go and this is hitting the monitor casing] if you
    can envisage what I mean.
    
    Anyone else experiencing such a noise? 
    
    I'll most likely take the cover off this weekend for a look but it
    would be still good to know if others have the same...
    
    Dave

    I expect that's a side-effect of the power-on  degaussing cycle. 
    
    When I turn on my 21" monitor at work, it clangs like that, and
    metal objects fly across the room and cling to the side of the
    monitor (not quite, but the image in my other monitor jumps, and
    lights dim across town).

re: .494

The VRC16s make a similiar noise when powered on.

Ken....

>   I'll most likely take the cover off this weekend for a look but it
>   would be still good to know if others have the same...

I hope you've had some experience doing this to monitors or TV sets,
before attempting this.

 The `difference' between my hacked monitor2.inf file and the original is
 just these two lines to make the sony/dec/ibm/hp do 1600x1200

************
File USER1:[FILGATE]MONITOR2.INF;1
 1003   AddReg=GDM-17SE1.Add, 1600, DPMS
 1004
******
File USER1:[FILGATE]MONITOR2_INF.ORIGINAL;1
 1003   AddReg=GDM-17SE1.Add, 1280, DPMS
 1004
************
************
File USER1:[FILGATE]MONITOR2.INF;1
 1999   HKR,"MODES\1600,1280,1024",Mode1,,"31.5-82.0,50.0-150.0,+,+"
 2000
******
File USER1:[FILGATE]MONITOR2_INF.ORIGINAL;1
 1999   HKR,"MODES\1280,1024",Mode1,,"31.5-82.0,50.0-150.0,+,+"
 2000
************

Number of difference sections found: 2
Number of difference records found: 2

    re: .495, .496 and .498
    
    Thanks folks - so it's a feature within operating limits.
    
    
    .497
    
    ##I hope you've had some experience doing this to monitors or TV
    ##sets, before attempting this.
      
    Uhhh - what taking the cover off for a looksy - not much technique
    required here!
    
    Nah I'll just leave it plugged in, making sure my hands are nice and
    clean first [that's washing them without properly drying them] then
    I'll poke around with a large screw driver to see what's live and if I
    can generate the clang... I'll make sure I'm well earthed as you can't
    be too careful :-)
    
    If only you had seen what I had to do to my TV to get to 2 resistors
    soldered firmly back in place... and it still worked afterwards.
    
    Dave

    
    Anyone have comments on a Micron Monitor? A local place in Windham has
    .26 dot pitch 17" monitors for $450 and I heard BJ's has KDS 17" .28's
    for $350. Anyone look at either of these types? I don't know if the
    Micron is a Micron computers monitor, but for $450 and .26 dp that is a
    pretty good price for a 17" monitor! It looked pretty good too. Now to
    go to BJ's and take a look at this KDS monitor (be careful, they also
    have .42 dp 17" monitors for probably <$299 which I wouldn't touch with
    a ten foot pole with that dp rating).
    
    

    Got an interesting piece of mail today from:
    
    "Computer Monitor Cases Settlement Administrator"
    
    It claims that there has been a settlement of a class action suit
    involving many companies (Compaq, Gateway and Digital Equipment
    Corporation to name a few... it's a VERY long list).
    
    The suit is supposedly based on advertising monitors to be larger that
    the actual viewable size.  The short version is that they are stating
    that I can get a $6.00 or $13.00 rebate for up to 10 monitors with
    'proof of purchase'.
    
    Anybody else heard of this????
    
    Thanks
    Jim

        yes, there was a notice in either the Sunday Globe or Herald a few
    weeks back.  It was in one of the weekly sections.  I read it somewhat. 
    Seemed like a lot of trouble for a few dollars.  Which I imagine is
    what they are counting on.  We have a Compaq that is eligible for this,
    but I doubt we could even find the required receipts now.

  Got mine in the mail yesterday.  Don't know how I got on the list and you
  are right.  Lot to go through to get a few bucks.  Let's see... in the
  period covered I have purchased how many monitors?  Now what did I do with
  those "proofs of purchase"?

  I just have no class.

  	mikeP

    	The really interesting thing is that if I read things correctly,
    the legal and administration fees are 5.6M and the maximum rebate
    payout is 250K...  Time to shoot all the lawyers I guess.
    
    	On another topic, its strange that DEC who was the very last
    company to accurately call their "17 inch" monitor 16", would be one of
    the guilty parties.
      

http://www.computermonitorcases.com/

You don't need a proof of purchase of your original monitor, but the offer is
good only if you buy a new monitor or system from the same manufacturer.  If
you wait till after 2004, you can get $6 back instead.  Whooppee...

				Steve