Okay this puppy looks awesome Gateway FPD2185WH (http://www.gateway.com/programs/lcd/index.shtml?cmpid=index*HDLCD21W_specs*tab) .

It's now $799 at FS but I'm sure in the next month, it might be a tad cheaper. It swivels, has HDCP and I think I want it.

Going to check it out in the stores but wonder if anyone here has this monitor or another 20 or 21" behemoth?

Looks like a decent monitor ( 8 ms, 1000 contrast ratio). The pixel pitch is a little bit bigger 0.27 , as opposed to many 20" and 23" where is 0.25. Another thing, you can go for a higher resolution one (1920 x1200 in 23 ") but will cost you double, most likely. The HDPC is nice feature, if you intend to use it as a "TV" direct connection with a DVD/BD/PS3. I don't think will matter for an internal BD, because the drive is not communicating with your monitor directly anyway.

I have a Viewsonic VP201. (20" 1600x1200) It doesn't have near the features the Gateway has though. High res LCD panels are great, much better than the older 1280x1080 pannels. You might want to check for reviews in Google. LCD panel video quality varies a lot, even within brands. Newer panels are usually very good but things like backlight quality can make a difference.

Who manufactures the Gateway FPD2185WH?

I have googled and the reviews seem good. It's $599 in the U.S. and $799 here so I'm going to keep a watch on the price

Now at FS for $719.99

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10069431&catid=22335

Thanks Radical Reg. That's really annoying. I checked yesterday afternoon and it was $799. When I look this morning, the sale is over in-store and it says the sale was yesterday! grrr...

If you went to the store I am sure they would sell it to you for $719.99.
They want the sale !

I just happened upon this topic by accident, because I did a Google for the model number, and was actually looking for a review.

Boy, Futureshop is mean, and sneaky. The price today ( Dec.19, 2005 ) is $799.99 ( not on sale at the moment )

I find FS does this all the time, - you can see something listed for $299 for example with $150 off, then a week later it's only $50 off, or another week it will be $200 off.... it drives me nuts how they can do this within a week period... if you had a friend buy something off ya one week for $50, would you then offer it to somebody else a week later for $25 ? ... eek. They don't seem to understand the fact they are telling clients that they don't care about them I feel.

Anyway this monitor looks amazing. Now that I know it was on sale, I won't be buying it at $799 ..... because if I do, they will drop it by $150 in January ( isn't that always the way :rolleyes: )

I see this monitor also has a USB port on it ( it must be USB 2.0 ) ... the demo shows a memory card being slid into the right side of the monitor.....

I currently have a Samsung 19" monitor that I bought about 3 years ago, and it's amazing, ( it has a DVI port ) which I use. Anything but using DVI on any LCD just results in very inferior text ( for those who don't know ) Perhaps newer LCDs are better today, and can use the regular VGA port ? but I'm pretty sure it's the same. ( somebody can jump in and correct me if I'm wrong )....

Anyway I'm happy with my 19" but it's a normal LCD monitor, and is 4x3 format and I want to go 16x9. 21" is nicer, although in person when you see the 23" models these are the ones that are really impressive. I'll have to go and see this Gateway model in person to see how it feels.

Anyway this Gateway LCD flatpanel looks really nice. Too bad it's not on sale for $699.99 for Christmas ;)

I purchased this monitor for $719, a week ago at the BB friends and family event.

Its very sweet, however, I'm running into some difficulties the last couple of days that may have something to do with the drivers for the monitor. I'm still investigating and hope the problem is unrelated because I really like it.

Hugh

Did you fix your problem and provide us with a mini-review. I will be getting one after Christmas ... I think?

I have been using my old monitor the last few days because the new monitor is going with my new computer so I haven't been able to do more testing.

I'm concerned the EZ tune software might be the issue but can't be sure.

In my limited use, I can only say "wow" but I've only used for everyday puposes. No real gaming or DVD watching.

I just purchased a unit from Futureshop. I connected it to my Dell Inspiron laptop and the difference is huge!. I like this monitor a lot.

Has anyone experimented and successfully connected it to your DVD player via DVI?

I tried using it with my LG player but has been unsuccessful.

Hugh, how do you find the colour "uniformity" for lack of a better word. What's kept me from getting an LCD monitor is that colours are never all that "uniform" across the entire screen. Brighter in the middle, darker on the sides, etc.

Tom's Hardware used to do up really nice reviews showing that stuff, but, haven't seen any in awhile.

Im waiting for FS to put it on for 719 buck, on the website to order, as there isnt any in stock, in either places near me

better yet, for 699 on boxing day or less, but I dont see it happening

Found this VERY lengthy thread discussing this monitor (or it's US equivelant I guess to be more specific). These guys have really done their homework it seems.

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?p=1028732934#post1028732934

To summarize though:

Seems like there's some issues with colour banding that's pretty apparent as it comes right out of the box. Seems like a lot of people there have been able to fix it by manually overriding their video/monitor drivers to change the resolution and more specifically, the refresh rate. Apparently it supports 75, but only gives you the option for 60. But, the banding was noticeably better after overriding it (which, stupidly, the monitor itself still shows as being 60, even after the override).

Also there were some people who found that after awhile, the tilting mechanism wouldn't work quite as well as it did originally.

Also some people having issues with a buzzing sound from the back of it, since the power cord doesn't use a brick, all of it is internal to the monitor, and that apparently is causing a buzzing that some people can hear and obviously don't like.

Seems like for the most part though, most of them are pretty happy with it.

Thinking I might give it a go anyway. Got a few days to give'er and can always take it back if we don't like, right? :)

Cheers

FS got it for 700$, until jan. 2nd
Quantity Remaining: 232

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10069431&catid=22335

Picked it up on Boxing Day sale for $699.99. All I can say is WOW. The picture is great, colors are great. I an very happy with the unit.

hooking their xbox, or hi-def tv box into this monitor? I'd like to know your experience with the picture quality regarding these sources. I had read a comment by someone on another forum that playing dark xbox games was difficult on this monitor. Any information would be greatly appreciated as I'm trying to decide on this monitor and the sale ends on January 2, 2006.

I had read a comment by someone on another forum that playing dark xbox games was difficult on this monitor.

I haven't done either yet, although I have a DVD player beside my monitor to try out.

I read that same thread and frankly some of the criticisms I have not found. No buzzing and I find the monitor very bright. Much brigher than the 17" LG 1750S that I used to use.