Monitor advice please

[blackrodd]

I am using a Del dimension 3000, at the moment and the monitor is taking ages to fire up and the on screen is shaky.
Can someone please tell me if the Acer AL176Fs 17" LCD, with vga and power leads and built in speakers will plug in and work please?
I have rather a sad record of computors, My first computor suffered a lightening strike, through the router etc.
The second one caught fire, as I was unable to clean the fluff and usual debris from inside as I was never able to get it apart.
My Daughter usually helps but is ill in hospital, and do not want a bed pan thrown at me, empty or not.
TIA Rodders

 

[Ian down london way]

Hi there. IT amateur here.

The Acer AL176 doesn't appear to be available new any more, so I'm wondering where you getting it from. This place:
http://www.acerdirect.co.uk/Grade_A2_-_ ... ersion.asp
shows refurbished one on sale (without the s on the end of the model name) as beinga VGA monitor, 1280x1024 (normal for a 4:3 aspect ration 17inch monitor). I'm guessing if you have your eyes on an AL176S that it has a sound capbility, unlike this reconditioned one.

Having just bought a new monitor for my mom from PC world (£100) which was driven by HDMI (which is digital and carries sound - VGA is anlogue and does not carry sound), I should warn you that the sound from at least one (!) monitor isn't as good as TV quality sound. Fine for the odd computer feedback bleep, and maybe simple games, but you'd not want to listen to CDs or radio 3 on it.

Depending on your budget, you may do better buying a cheap HD TV, which has VGA & HDMI, and a sound input. That way you will get better speakers, and are more likely to be able to carry it forward to a later PC, if/when you update that. (Current PCs are really not happy with VGA connections any more, and the new micro-PCs are just HDMI). I did that for my workshop monitor, and it has a built in TV tuner, CD player, decent speakers and was about £120 from PC world - about a year ago.

Anyway, as long as the Acer screen you are looking at has a sound input, then you should be fine.

If it doesn't, you will need to spend maybe £25 on some PC speakers.

Good luck !

 

[blackrodd]

Hello Ian, thanks for the reply.
As long as that Acer is is compatible then I hope The Dell will go on for a while yet.
Fed up with some electrical stuff going up in smoke just days after the guarentee runs out!
Thanks and regards Rodders

 

[Ian down london way]

Its clearly a skilled think to design consumer electronics that fails soon after the guarantee runs out - but they do manage it.

 

[Robbo3]

Any monitor with a VGA socket should work.

Those with built in speakers will probably need a separate lead for the sound otherwise you will need external speakers.

Edit: If it has a DVI socket (white) cheap DVI to VGA adapters are available.

 

[devonwoody]

These days I run a 42" tv screen for my monitor, I got a pleasant surprize my PC had the HDMI socket , so perhaps check your PC. in addition to vga. or perhaps you can use your old tv and upgrade the living room one.

42" tvs are cheap as chips these days.

 

[Alex H]

These days I run a 42" tv screen for my monitor, I got a pleasant surprize my PC had the HDMI socket , so perhaps check your PC. in addition to vga. or perhaps you can use your old tv and upgrade the living room one.

42" tvs are cheap as chips these days.

Assuming you've already paid the license fee, of course

 

[devonwoody]

These days I run a 42" tv screen for my monitor, I got a pleasant surprize my PC had the HDMI socket , so perhaps check your PC. in addition to vga. or perhaps you can use your old tv and upgrade the living room one.

42" tvs are cheap as chips these days.

Assuming you've already paid the license fee, of course

Alex I do have a tv license, but one day I reckon they will need a license for each tv in the home.

 

[Alex H]

These days I run a 42" tv screen for my monitor, I got a pleasant surprize my PC had the HDMI socket , so perhaps check your PC. in addition to vga. or perhaps you can use your old tv and upgrade the living room one.

42" tvs are cheap as chips these days.

Assuming you've already paid the license fee, of course

Alex I do have a tv license, but one day I reckon they will need a license for each tv in the home.

You're probably right there - or it could be worse - checkout my post in this thread https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/post945443.html#p945443

 

[blackrodd]

Its clearly a skilled think to design consumer electronics that fails soon after the guarantee runs out - but they do manage it.

I know we all have a turn at bad luck but about 5 years ago our dish washer, washing machine, 'fridge and tumble dryer all packed up from monday to friday, in the same week!
Dish washer and tumble dryer just out of warranty unfortunately.
Regards Rodders

 

[blackrodd]

Well the replacement monitor arrived today, 'Er indoors signed for it and, surprise, surprise.
When I unpacked it the screen is ok but someone in the Parcel force seven a side football team has used this for practice and even snapped off the stand which must have took some doing.
Goodness knows if it still will work, after a belt like that!
Very nice bloke, said not much redress from Parcel force seven a side team as 'Er indoors didn't sign as unchecked
so I'll have him send another and I'll pay the post.
Same as me sending the damaged one back, at my cost.etc
Rodders

 

[devonwoody]

Don't you usually have a 48 hours notice to complain. Parcel force would not like to stand at everydoor whilst every one of their deliveries were opened and checked for any damage?

 

[blackrodd]

Don't you usually have a 48 hours notice to complain. Parcel force would not like to stand at everydoor whilst every one of their deliveries were opened and checked for any damage?

Hello Devon woody, thanks for the reply, I'm not sure about the 48 hours, I'll check that out.
As my old unit is taking up to 4 minutes to come on and then is very badly distorted, and at times difficult to read smaller print, I'm desperate for a new, working monitor, as you can imagine.
This newer thing is working well, as my daughter has connected everything up, and I am now in near monitor heaven as it's working well as it should, everything is ledgible.
So it sits on the shelf, up against the broken stand which I drilled and screwed in place relatively safe, Job done!
Regards Rodders