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Written by: George Ou 6/21/2008 11:11 AM
I bought an Optiquest Q241WB 24" LCD display after seeing how brilliant the display looked in the store at Fry's Electronics. It was obviously the only 8-bit per color LCD panel on display in the computer monitor section and it looked awesome and it was on sale for a mere $350 with a $50 rebate. I picked one up even though it was an open-box model since there were no notes warning about dead pixels and I could always return it if I didn't like it. Well as it turns out, there were no dead pixels but all the pixels could have been dead as far as I was concerned. To my surprise, the display was NOT the same panel technology being displayed on the show floor at Fry's. This was not the brilliant 8-bit PVA LCD panel being shown but it was a typical ugly 6-bit TN LCD panel yet it came with the same model number. This is a very deceptive practice because it fools reviewers in to giving the display glowing reviews and shoppers get fooled by the beauty of the display in the store. Viewsonic needs to STOP this behavior immediately and Fry's (or any other store) need to warn their customers what what they're showing is not what's in the box. A lot of consumers who wouldn't know any better might have kept the display. This is clearly a case of bait and switch and it's false advertising. See: Difference between LCD panel types
I bought an Optiquest Q241WB 24" LCD display after seeing how brilliant the display looked in the store at Fry's Electronics. It was obviously the only 8-bit per color LCD panel on display in the computer monitor section and it looked awesome and it was on sale for a mere $350 with a $50 rebate. I picked one up even though it was an open-box model since there were no notes warning about dead pixels and I could always return it if I didn't like it.
Well as it turns out, there were no dead pixels but all the pixels could have been dead as far as I was concerned. To my surprise, the display was NOT the same panel technology being displayed on the show floor at Fry's. This was not the brilliant 8-bit PVA LCD panel being shown but it was a typical ugly 6-bit TN LCD panel yet it came with the same model number. This is a very deceptive practice because it fools reviewers in to giving the display glowing reviews and shoppers get fooled by the beauty of the display in the store. Viewsonic needs to STOP this behavior immediately and Fry's (or any other store) need to warn their customers what what they're showing is not what's in the box. A lot of consumers who wouldn't know any better might have kept the display. This is clearly a case of bait and switch and it's false advertising.
See: Difference between LCD panel types
12 comments so far...
Re: WARNING - Optiquest Q241WB 24" LCD is not an 8-bit panel. I couldn't understand a word of what you are trying to day, why do you call it "tech for mortals"?
Re: WARNING - Optiquest Q241WB 24" LCD is not an 8-bit panel.
I couldn't understand a word of what you are trying to day, why do you call it "tech for mortals"?
Strange indeed Granted this is an obscure situation, but is it possible that the reason it was an open box is because some one pulled a bait and switch on Fry's and they didn't bother to check the hardware all the way through. I know this is a bit of a stretch, but I also know of people that try and pull the same crap.
Strange indeed
Granted this is an obscure situation, but is it possible that the reason it was an open box is because some one pulled a bait and switch on Fry's and they didn't bother to check the hardware all the way through. I know this is a bit of a stretch, but I also know of people that try and pull the same crap.
No, I found lots of complaints on Newegg about this model too No, I found lots of complaints on Newegg about this model too. They're all complaining it's a 6-bit panel now.
No, I found lots of complaints on Newegg about this model too
No, I found lots of complaints on Newegg about this model too. They're all complaining it's a 6-bit panel now.
Ghorar, just focus on 8-bit versus 6-bit Ghorar, just focus on 8-bit versus 6-bit. If someone baits you with a nice 8-bit per color display and sell you a 6-bit per color display, how would you feel? This is just a warning to my readers. Sorry it was vague, but if you follow the link at the bottom, I go in to more details on the differences between LCD panel types.
Ghorar, just focus on 8-bit versus 6-bit
Ghorar, just focus on 8-bit versus 6-bit. If someone baits you with a nice 8-bit per color display and sell you a 6-bit per color display, how would you feel? This is just a warning to my readers. Sorry it was vague, but if you follow the link at the bottom, I go in to more details on the differences between LCD panel types.
Nasty business If not for some one trying to pull a bait and switch then obviously you understand why you snagged an open box model. Some one was probably displeased with the screen and returned it. Sounds like a typical gimmick of some store though. Although I don't know if I would buy into ViewSonic. Last I heard their warranties were only good for 1 year in the US, while valid for 3 overseas. That was my experience with the VP models. While I am happy with this display, I don't think I will allow my company changing over to NEC models from here on out. I have been much happier with them anyway.
Nasty business
If not for some one trying to pull a bait and switch then obviously you understand why you snagged an open box model. Some one was probably displeased with the screen and returned it. Sounds like a typical gimmick of some store though. Although I don't know if I would buy into ViewSonic. Last I heard their warranties were only good for 1 year in the US, while valid for 3 overseas. That was my experience with the VP models. While I am happy with this display, I don't think I will allow my company changing over to NEC models from here on out. I have been much happier with them anyway.
No, I think all the recent boxes are this bad No, I think all the recent boxes are this bad. I'm reading the forums on the Internet and they're all complaining about it. Most people won't know any better and they'll just live with it.
No, I think all the recent boxes are this bad
No, I think all the recent boxes are this bad. I'm reading the forums on the Internet and they're all complaining about it. Most people won't know any better and they'll just live with it.
Re: WARNING - Optiquest Q241WB 24" LCD is not an 8-bit panel. I've heard this bait and switch is quite common in the flat panel business...After initial market introduction, manufacturers will start doing "cost-down" versions to improve their bottom line return and it usually involves finding "comparably" performing/featured components to replace more costly ones. Now what exactly is "comparable" is subjective and dictated by the manufacturer and the lowest bidding supplier/vendor.
I've heard this bait and switch is quite common in the flat panel business...After initial market introduction, manufacturers will start doing "cost-down" versions to improve their bottom line return and it usually involves finding "comparably" performing/featured components to replace more costly ones. Now what exactly is "comparable" is subjective and dictated by the manufacturer and the lowest bidding supplier/vendor.
Re: WARNING - Optiquest Q241WB 24" LCD is not an 8-bit panel. George, this is a big-time confusing area. It's one of those bizarrely hard problems that you seem to specialize in clarifying. I've just started learning about it. Let's say I want a LCD monitor and I want true color (8-bit), so that I can show millions of colors on the screen at one time. Should I just buy an LCD TV with a DVI port? I really resent that I have bought and recommended lots of LCD flat panel screens, and the photography enthusiasts are stuck displaying 262,000 colors on the screen at one time. It's just not right.
George, this is a big-time confusing area. It's one of those bizarrely hard problems that you seem to specialize in clarifying. I've just started learning about it. Let's say I want a LCD monitor and I want true color (8-bit), so that I can show millions of colors on the screen at one time. Should I just buy an LCD TV with a DVI port? I really resent that I have bought and recommended lots of LCD flat panel screens, and the photography enthusiasts are stuck displaying 262,000 colors on the screen at one time. It's just not right.
Quasar, all HDTVs beyond a certain size are IPS Quasar, all HDTVs beyond a certain size are IPS panels which are 8-bit per color. However, they're typically a lot more expensive and they're often lower resolution unless you get a 1920x1080 40+ inch model for $900 or more.But there is a cheap 24" MVA 8-bit panel from Soyo being sold at Officemax for around $300. Dell sells their 24" PVA 8-bit panel for aroudn $700.
Quasar, all HDTVs beyond a certain size are IPS
Quasar, all HDTVs beyond a certain size are IPS panels which are 8-bit per color. However, they're typically a lot more expensive and they're often lower resolution unless you get a 1920x1080 40+ inch model for $900 or more.But there is a cheap 24" MVA 8-bit panel from Soyo being sold at Officemax for around $300. Dell sells their 24" PVA 8-bit panel for aroudn $700.
Re: WARNING - Optiquest Q241WB 24" LCD is not an 8-bit panel. George, how do we know if a LCD uses 8-bit panel or 6-bit panel? They didn't say it in the spec.
George, how do we know if a LCD uses 8-bit panel or 6-bit panel? They didn't say it in the spec.
It's usually not advertised. You have to search the web for answers. It's usually not advertised. You have to search the web for answers and sometimes, the manufacturers do a switch and bait.
It's usually not advertised. You have to search the web for answers.
It's usually not advertised. You have to search the web for answers and sometimes, the manufacturers do a switch and bait.
Re: WARNING - Optiquest Q241WB 24" LCD is not an 8-bit panel. http://www.flatpanels.dk/panels.phpAnd the huge LCD thread on Anandtech forum.Sidenote: George, where do all those misinformed yet stubborn readers come from? I don't remember seeing them on your ZDnet blog.I've just been reading a few posts on the front page and the comment box in each like this one and they are normally filled with people trying to argue pointless sh*t against you. And your patience with them, wow!I know it's 'For Mortals', but I didn't expect to find a lot of people reading this site to be extremely-mortal (and some very stubborn as mentioned earlier). ;)Hi from XCPUS
http://www.flatpanels.dk/panels.phpAnd the huge LCD thread on Anandtech forum.Sidenote: George, where do all those misinformed yet stubborn readers come from? I don't remember seeing them on your ZDnet blog.I've just been reading a few posts on the front page and the comment box in each like this one and they are normally filled with people trying to argue pointless sh*t against you. And your patience with them, wow!I know it's 'For Mortals', but I didn't expect to find a lot of people reading this site to be extremely-mortal (and some very stubborn as mentioned earlier). ;)Hi from XCPUS
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