RCA J27530

[wbassett]

Anyone use or is familiar with this monitor?

It accepts PC input and does up to 800x600 resolution, and it also has AV inputs as well.  I'm eying this because I am thinking about maybe adding a PS2 to my cab to play PS2 and PS1 light games, and maybe even a Wii.  Seems like this monitor would allow me to connect my MAME PC as well as other consoles.

I did a search and it looks like these monitors are still out there forsale.  The price I am seeing them for is right around $600.

Weight- 80lbs
Height: 23 1/8"
Width: 25 5/8"
Depth: 18 3/4"



Oh, it also has an option to automatically turn on when power is applied.

[qrz]

seems a bit pricey . bear in mind this is a commercial unit  ( and that doesn't always mean better ).
a cheaper consumer version is likely available .  RCA 's have chassis families, so knowing the chassis number will help in that regard ......


qrz

[wbassett]

Depends...

Compared to a 27" TV then yes it's a bit pricey, but depending on how much shipping is, a Wells Gardner is $450 plus $100 shipping (the places I've seen them) and the RCA will do the same resolutions plus it has A/V input jacks as well.

Anyway, I was curious if anyone has used one of these.  I've also seen some 27" CRT HDTVs that have a PC input too.  I hooked my PC up to one of my TV's via SVideo and I guess the Mame games looked okay, but Windows and text looked pretty bad to me.  If I was only going to be playing Mame games exclusively then I could probably live with it, but there are a few PC games I want to play too, as well as possibly hooking up a PS2 or Wii.

I'm still looking around for 27" monitors, but for now the 21" Trinitron is okay until I make a decision.   

[Ummon]

A multisync (WG, etc) will do native as well as PC resolutions. These monitors like RCA, Gateway, etc, ONLY do VGA AND SVGA. Plus, most of these places that say they have them are 1) likely full of it, they're just old listings, 2) are deluded in thinking they'll get anything for them, let alone hundreds of dollars. Look in CL and especially ebay. Look at the thread below where I posted an ebay link about just this.

[wbassett]

What link?  I would be interested in reading anything anyone has on various options like these.

I am currently using a Dell Trinitron 21" PC monitor and it performs very well to my liking, just that it's a bit small looking in my cab.

Some pros and cons I have been thinking of though are things like Defender looks pretty good on the 21" monitor, but I can see how on a 27" it may lose a lot of that 'original arcade' feel.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti or pro anything right now.  I called Wells Gardner and am interested in their newest 27" monitor, but the RCA as well as a couple of HDTV monitors caught my eye as well.

I spent a year playing with Mame on a 720p LCD HDTV/monitor and I am aware of some of the pros and cons with these types of displays.  For starters, I personally do not want a 16:9 display but some people don't mind that in their cab.  Me?  I want a 4:3 display, and I also want to occasionally play some PC games as well as possibly add a PS2 or Wii to the system.  That's pretty broad I know, and something I don't think the Wells or other arcade monitors will accommodate that well.

Everything is a bit of a trade off isn't it? 

Perhaps if the new Topgun drivers are as good as the recent claims are, the desire for a CRT monitor may change.  Everything is going LCD and bigger VGA compatible monitors are getting harder and harder to find.  Eventually we all may have no choice when our CRT's break but to go with LCD or similar technology.

Trust me, when I am ready to buy a bigger monitor, I don't want to spend around $750 on one if I don't have to.  The WG will of course be slightly less expensive, but not as versatile. 

As far as the sites saying they have a particular unit and whether they actually have it or not, that I can't speak for.  I realize these types of displays will be limited inventory.  The question is, has anyone actually used one?  It's easy to say something won't work if it hasn't been tried.  I'm intersted in hearing from anyone that has actual experience with a monitor like this or a 4:3 HDTV that has a PC input. 

Another possible option would be if something like a video converter like the one  I have on my one monitor upstairs... it takes composite and SVid and allows it to be displayed on a VGA monitor.  I send my cable and HD DVD player feed to it and my HDTV as well as having my PC connected to my HDTV in the bedroom.  That way I can flip back and forth between the monitors and run the PC on either or watch TV or movies on either.  I know both work well for Mame.  What I don't know is if a light gun that syncs on composite or SVid will work through the converter box.  If not, then I'm back to looking at something like the RCA mentioned here.

And I don't consider anyone deluded.  If there is a market and a demand for something and it's a bit rare, then yes the price will be a bit more.  I'd love to find one of these for $100 because CRT is becoming obsolete, but I won't hold my breath on that.

Again, my interest is if anyone has actually used this monitor or similar ones and if so how does it perform?  Ummon I respect your opinion, but I also know of people that are perfectly happy with a 27" TV, but they probably don't play any newer games or higher res PC games.  Before I spend $500 plus on a CGA or VGA PC monitor I want to check out all the options.  Make sense?

[wbassett]

A multisync (WG, etc) will do native as well as PC resolutions. These monitors like RCA, Gateway, etc, ONLY do VGA AND SVGA. Plus, most of these places that say they have them are 1) likely full of it, they're just old listings, 2) are deluded in thinking they'll get anything for them, let alone hundreds of dollars. Look in CL and especially ebay. Look at the thread below where I posted an ebay link about just this.

This link?
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=76834.0

If so, I did read that thread.  How much do those monitors cost and how easy/hard are they to find?  Also how easy is it to connect a PC to one of them?

[Ummon]

You didn't initially say anything about light guns. In any case, nope, this thread. Some going soon, too.

[wbassett]

Yeah saw that thread too!

I check eBay and Craigs List all the time too.

[Ummon]

I forgot to mention that you'll have to ask AVforsale if they can skip the case and box it. Then it'll be a bit cheaper. Also, you might try an account with Fedex, as they've done me better then UPS.