Hardware question - monitor

[Crowley]

Out of the blue techie question. Wonder if anyone can help me?

I need an LCD monitor that has a stand that will allow it to be folded down reasonably flat for storage - so it can be put into a desk when it's not needed. This is part of a diabolical plan, that will allow me to have a PC in the front room, rather than tucked away in a grubby tiny room upstairs. A 17" monitor would be best, hovering around the £100-150 mark, which is $180-275.

Hralp? Anyone got any ideas?

[Klilynkun]

have you tried ebay?

[Crowley]

I need to know what I'm looking for before I go looking for it! I need recommendations of a brand that might have that feature. Searching Ebay doesn't bring any clues up though.

[Klilynkun]

there are probably many brands that have that function... why not go to some random manufacturers website and look (u realize i'm not a techie kind of guy huh :P)

[ST185]

My Samsung SyncMaster 172MP can be folded fairly flat. The stand is basically a flat rectangular, or outline of one at least, piece with the monitor mounted the middle. Press a release in the back and the rectangular piece can be rotated 90 degrees so that it is flat against the back of the screen. I do not know if Samsung has changed the design over the years or not though, as this LCD is nearly 3 years old.

http://images.techtree.com/ttimages/story/Samsung-SyncMaster-172MP.jpg

[NERD]

Go to newegg.com, they have LCD monitors categorized by size/color/brand etc.

If you are looking for sub 150 £, then you probably won't get any monitor that is larger than 17". I do know that most LCD monitors won't be folded flat; they just don't make it that way.

[mamba]

suyama 17" lcd. folds pretty flat. £149 from http://www.idealcomputing.co.uk/
its the monitor that came with my pc package and the shop is just round the corner from me.

[Jay]

I had a go at a mate of mine, and this is what he had to say...

[07:51:28 PM] [ ]: Question. What's the best monitor between about 2-300 AUD that can be folded down when not in use?
[07:52:05 PM] Omerta: well, you'd be hard pressed to find a good lcd for that...
[07:52:16 PM] Omerta: and crts don't really fold :P
[07:52:20 PM] [ ]: True.
[07:52:32 PM] [ ]: He wants an LCD. http://www.outpostnine.com/forum/showpost.php?p=190995&postcount=1
[07:54:47 PM] Omerta: well, it says he wants a 17" lcd. i dunno, 19" and up is where lcds get good. all the attention is with 19" because they're just such good value for money these days. thus gamers choice of monitor is usually a 19" 8ms lcd (like me XD). thus, all the research goes in to 19" and above lcds.
[07:55:43 PM] Omerta: and i don't know of any that fold down anyway. mine, the actual panel can detach from the stand...
[07:57:49 PM] [ ]: So he's basically rooted then...
[08:00:01 PM] Omerta: well, i haven't seen any... doesn't mean there isn't any though. but if he wants to game with it, he'd be better of with the contrast and colour quality of the 19"

So, Crowley, you'd be better off saving some more money and going with a 19". Unless you just want one for day-to-day use and are not worried about super-high quality, then have a go at the link Mamba just posted.

[Crowley]

Thanks for the ideas folks. 17" is the limit because that's the amount of space available. It won't be a mega-gaming PC anyway.

A good suggestion that's been given is get a monitor that detaches from its stand, and get a book stand or similar to stand it on. Then just lie it down in the desk when it's not being used and close the lid. Genius.

[Jay]

If it works for you, good stuff. :D