Does anybody think this monitor is good, or just an over-priced piece of crap?

http://www.sharpsystems.com/products/lc ... classifier

I'm going to get a new system after Xmas, so looking into monitors at the moment. I fancy this one, but could just be a waste of money.

Can Windows run well in widescreen or is it just stretched?

Please, let me know what you think...

Actually, it might have been this one I was looking at - anyway, either, whichever is cheaper, comments on both then please

http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?in ... -N&cat=MON

if your after one that size, one brand... illyama.

Hmm, I don't think Sharp makes very good screens... Never had one though, so I can't really tell...

no, they don't tend to do them. A lot of the time its panel by panel basis, my awsome Dell has a brilliant NEC panel, but NEC have put out some crap in the past.

I would refer everyone to illyama again, if your going for a small monitor they are unbeatable.

Other good monitors are KDS, Viewsonic, and of course..Sony.

If I was going to buy a Monitor today I'd buy this one.

http://www.amatteroffax.com/item.asp?IN ... Q%40OJ%40O

I don't know if that's a reputable seller or not. But I'd definitely go Sony over Sharp. I don't like Sharp screens, TV or Monitor.

Damn, you could at least of suggested a cheaper one! I looked at the Iiyamas and the only widescreen one i could find was this one:
http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInf ... uctID=6448
It's ?60 more than the Sharp one and I would really be stretching my budget if I got the Sharp anyway. Now I'm really confused.

Is widescreen really worth the extra cash though? It would be good to be able to use it as a TV so that justifies some of the extra cash, and it'd be nice to watch all my movies on widescreen too. I only have a little TV anyway, a shitty old CRT, so the size won't bother me, and a bigger size is out of the question really.

nope, when ever theres the choice of widescreen I just get a bigger tv

until everything is broadcast in widescreen, I think they are flat out crap for tv viewing. Your better off with a bigger tv, than cropping off your image. You'll get pissed off eventually and just leave it stuck in crop or stretch, and you'll either have everyone looking like a fat bastard or their heads missing.

CRT are still way better than LCD/TFT btw, far better image quality at a far better price.

Agreed.
I actually need a new monitor. I might get this one (with Xmas money...also hoping for a Chip/Mobo/Ram/Case upgrade with the Xmas money too..but we'll see how generous the ol' relatives are)

Though I can still play Half Life 2 at 1024X768, so I shouldn't be complaining about my machine (which is 2 years old).

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 189&depa=0

hmm well thanks for the advice everyone, but I'm not really dissuaded from getting the Sharp! If anyone can think of any more reasons not to get it, I'm 90% sure this is the monitor I will be getting. The Iiyama's are nice, but more expensive. The cheaper option is a KiSS widescreen monitor, but I read a few bad reviews, so I'll steer clear of that one.

And CRT is just not practical for me at the moment with my tiny living space, I can barely fit what i have now in there.

As for the widescreen TV viewing, I reckon there is a lot of stuff broadcast in widescreen now on Freeview ( ), possibly the majority. But let's not get into that argument now. I'm pretty much set on widescreen now anyway. It's just WHICH ONE? I hate these damn buying decisions

Wait til you see the case I want, you lot are gonna rip the piss out of poor little Macboy me. But just be pleased I'm getting a PC!!

Sharp generally get decent reviews, but I really wouldn't by an LCD as a main tv, and I most definitely wouldn't buy a widescreen one

Helpful are we not?

I'm even more helpful, cuz I don't even like Sharp!

You not only get persectuted for your brand name, you get persecuted for your style selection also.

Is there no place that you and your wretched kind can find peace?

Spud, does that mean you wouldn't buy a widescreen TV or you wouldn't buy an LCD widescreen TV?

Neither, both are really crappy for fullscreen / old movies. Most people just leave it on crop or stretch because they're just that pissed off switching between modes to watch tv, at its a mess.

I don't want much tv anymore, but even then i think its just stupid only being able to watch half the stuff right.

Its cheaper and better just to get a bigger tv, and then have letterbox borders. Not only does it always mantain AR, you can get the same visible screen on widescreen.

Although widescreen monitors are more tempting, I still think its a bad idea.