[Noyb]

I’m running dual Samsung 204B, 20.1 inch, monitors.
In the last several days, I’ve noticed these monitors seem to take a long time to wake up in the morning and come up to full Brightness … a few minutes longer than it takes windows to boot.
Kinda reminds me of a very old CRT TV

This morning, I had the monitors turned off .. Booted the computer, waited about 5 minutes, then turned the monitors on.
Same problem, so I’m sure it’s not the computer.

The oldest (slowest) monitor is about 3 years old .. and they’re normally running about 12 hours a day.
I really love these monitors, And I should be able to handle the repairs if I knew where to get the parts.

Suggestions/Comments ???

[~Candy~]

With the price of LCDs falling like a rock, I'm sure it wouldn't be cost effective to even think about repairing them....IF they can be repaired.

[Noyb]

I understand … but the problem is ..
I not particularly a big fan of wide screens …You have to look father to see the less of it.
Guess I’m spoiled with dual monitors.
And these 20.1 inchers are very rare in that they are the true 4:3 aspect ratio ..
so they are not distorted with the usual display settings .. like 1024x768.
I got a little tired of looking at true circles that looked like eggs.

I’ve found some websites that advertize CCFL replacements for under $20, but they don’t list one for my 204Bs.
If this is the problem, they’re worth a $20 gamble to see If I can fix them.

The other part of my question … Is this all the longer a LCD lasts ??
Then the prices better be dropping like a rock.

[~Candy~]

You know what, I didn't even notice that YOU started this thread, I just started typing.

My oldest LCD is about 5 years old, I'd say.

I'd say it would be worth betting $20 on a fix....for sure.

[Noyb]

My Monitor was really getting slow to warm up, wasn't sure how much longer it'd last
So I fixed it.
I got a new backlight, stretched the screen about 3% taller and 23% wider and changed the name tag.

The Dell name tag was sorta expensive .. BestBuys wasn't all that happy doing a price match.
http://www.staples.com/office/suppli...P2000:CL142219

This was the only one I could find without a Fat Glossy Bezel that would be looking back at me.
The new backlight really made a difference.

[~Candy~]

Sounds good

I've been out of town, glad to see things turned out somewhat ok

[Noyb]

The news might be a little better.
I took one Monitor apart .. and it looks a little too complicated to try to repair.

I got on Samsungs web site .. To see if I could send it in for repair.
Where I found out it's only 2 years old and still in warranty.

Monitor #1 is on its way to Samsung ... (no charge) .. Waiting to see what happens.

If this one gets fixed (at least at a reasonable price) .. Monitor #2 will head back to Samsung.

The big question right now .. Only two years old and the backlights are dying ??

[~Candy~]

Well, that is sounding even better. Keep us posted.

I agree, that after only 2 years nothing should be dying. Except my router yesterday

[BG-0]

In case the repair fails, here's a 19" 4:3 LCD monitor I'm planning to get... http://www.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...97&modelmenu=1 Hope it will be repaired, thou. GL.

[Noyb]

Originally Posted by BG-0

In case the repair fails, here's a 19" 4:3 LCD monitor .....

If I read right, those are 5:4 ratio ... not 4:3
If driven from a 4:3 Driver, the width will be displayed 6% narrower than it should be.

[BG-0]

Hunh? The place where I'm getting this says it has 1280x1024 resolution. Might be false, but I see no reference to the 5:4... Neither 4:3.. Oh, right, 1280x1024 is 5:4.. Just thought of TV res's... 4:3 and 16:9... Forgot PC is 5:4 and 16:10-.- My bad.

However, it ain't widescreen. That's my real point, not the ratio. There also seems to be a 20.1" model, regular screen(unwide), but it looks kinda expensive to me.

[Noyb]

1280/1024 = 1.25 ... 1.25 as a fraction is 5:4 ... 5/4 = 1.25

I don't understand why 99% of the non wide screens are 5:4 ratio and the most popular driver settings are 4:3 ...
(800x600 & 1024x768)

That's why I love these Samsung 204B's ... They're the real 4:3 ratio.

I'm betting that most people don't know that their true circles are being displayed as Eggs.

The attached is a perfect Circle/Square ... How's it look ??

[~Candy~]

I see a perfect circle inside of a blue square

Is that the right answer?

[Noyb]

YES ... And it helps to display it full screen.

A funny story …
I have a computer buddy who fits the stereotype of a Dumb Blond perfectly.
She got a new WS 24 inch monitor and invited me over to see it.
At first glance, I could tell she hadn’t changed her driver settings and was running it at 1024x768.
I started to say how bad it looked … and was promptly informed how good it looked.
So, I bit my tongue, endured the pain and changed the subject.

I’ll bet if she ever saw a picture of herself, 20% fatter .. She might agree with me

[~Candy~]

A picture of a dumb blonde 20% fatter? I hope that's a typo