LG Flatron W2243S Monitor. Problems ?

Fountaine

Good afternoon and Happy New Year all !

Just before Christmas I bought one of these from Argos and had to return it as there were damaged pixels right in the centre of the screen like bright stars. When I unpacked it, I felt it was not new and was possibly a returned item, the packaging was not what you would expect from a factory sealed item.

Replacement screen seemed OK, although I had issues with the blackness / quality of type which was pale grey and "ghosty". By adjusting contrast and typeface, it is now bearable but not brilliant. However what I have noticed, is that when screen goes to Windows XP standby, instead of a very black screen which I am used to, (and I am sure the first rejected one was very black) on this one the black background light is uneven and is definitely lighter all over but particularly in round areas along the bottom and in one place at the top. Almost like the start of a sunrise, it that makes sense.

I am again not totally sure that this is a factory packed item and is a possible return as protective film to high gloss front does not look uniformly applied. I have a duff pair of PC speakers to go back to them as well, which again I think have been previously returned as the wires were all tangled and not again as you would expect if they had come from the Wharfedale factory. It was really put me off shopping with Argos. How can you know you are getting something new ?!

Bikertov

You will always find things like mains leads are neatly coiled, and tied with a twisted wrap like a 'sandwich bag tie', and possibly in a plastic zip bag.

Manuals and CD's will often come in plastic bags, sealed with some sticky tape - does this look like it has been opened ?

Screens will always have some form of protective film evenly applied, and often will have marketing stickers, boasting feature & specs. Everyting would have fitted well into the box - try repacking an item and you will see how hard it is to get it back in neatly, just how it was from the factory !

Even the main box itself - this will have one lot of sticky tape sealing it - is the tape broken / resealed / double layered ? All indications that the box has already been opened

All these things are pointers to factory-fesh rather than refurb.

Fountaine

Thanks #2. Everything you say makes me believe both of my monitors and my speakers have been previously returned. How can they do this ? I did not get a reduction for a refurbished or pre-owned item.

It's also the hassle of returning the item and doing battle. I know Argos do sell off pallet loads of untested returns, but how can items find there way back into the store for selling on to an unsuspecting customer ? Thinks like speakers could have been abused and still look new, which I think is the case with my dodgy Wharfedales !

Bikertov

It always pays to inspect packaging at point of purchase, or as soon as possible after, to make sure things are new.

Some retailers (and I 'm not suggesting Argos in general) are happy to re-sell returned items as new, without making it clear or discounting.

fwor

An observation on the not-very-black blacks: I too have an LG Flatron screen, and it too is rather prone to uneven backlight bleed (what you are describing), so I think it may be a characteristic of their screens and not a fault.

Fortunately it's only really noticeable on really dark images, so it's not (for me) a major problem.

Bikertov

fwor wrote: »

An observation on the not-very-black blacks: I too have an LG Flatron screen, and it too is rather prone to uneven backlight bleed (what you are describing), so I think it may be a characteristic of their screens and not a fault.

Fortunately it's only really noticeable on really dark images, so it's not (for me) a major problem.

I'm looking at 2 or 3 22" LG's for monitors / TV Monitors. How have you found them ?

fwor

Bikertov wrote: »

I'm looking at 2 or 3 22" LG's for monitors / TV Monitors. How have you found them ?

Generally very good - the backlight bleed is the main negative point for me, and I hardly ever notice it. The only other thing is that the viewing angle is a little narrow compared to other LCD monitors that I own, but that's only really noticeable because it's being used as a TV display, not a monitor, where you are always going to be directly in front of it.

Fountaine

thanks fwor and all. I was worried it was a fault which could cause my monitor screen to burn out. If I was to return it, still unsure as colour on images is great, could you recommend an alternative 22 or 24" for roughly same price or a bit more ? Paid around £130 I think. I tend to be a Samsung or Sony girl !! Thanks again

computershack

Fountaine wrote: »

Replacement screen seemed OK, although I had issues with the blackness / quality of type which was pale grey and "ghosty".

Thats what you get when you buy one with a low contrast ratio. I see they've gone down the mickey mouse "Dynamic Contrast Ratio" route to hide its true figure.

However what I have noticed, is that when screen goes to Windows XP standby, instead of a very black screen which I am used to, (and I am sure the first rejected one was very black) on this one the black background light is uneven and is definitely lighter all over but particularly in round areas along the bottom and in one place at the top.

Perfectly normal on cheap models but also suggests that Windows XP hasn't set the monitor to standby. The power LED should be yellow if it is. Is it?

Fountaine

#9 hi computershack, sorry - was drafting a Witness Statement for a friend undertaking employment trribunal battle !

Now here I dispell the myth I knew what I was talking about .....

The power LED should be yellow if it is. Is it? How do I check this ? Doh! not sure what you mean thanks x

fwor

If it's like mine, the LG's don't have green/yellow LED power lights, but blue/orange - blue when it is fully powered on, and orange when in standby.

If the LED on the front of your monitor has this colour scheme and the LED stays blue when XP goes into standby then it is failing to put the monitor into standby (power saving mode).