Is this the best MAME monitor? (from what I've listed)

[XtraSmiley]

Is this the monitor that was reviewed on Retroblast for use in MAME?

http://www.betson.com/products/IMP-44-4070-RT

I've heard the WG are crap now (the 9400) and I need a monitor for my new MAME machine.  Seeing how this Betson has not been updated in 3 years, is it still the best choice?

I'm looking to drive the monitor with an AVGA card and also run some Windows games.  Is this my best bet?  Is there a reason it's currently $100 off?  Are they phasing it out for a better monitor and are clearing old stock?  Any input from anyone would be appreciated.

Also, I am NOT interested in using a TV, PC monitor or a flatscreen CRT or LCD.  I like the authentic look of a curved CRT for my MAME machines.

Thanks a ton BYOACF!

[Scottk]

Hi.

I bought that monitor a month or 2 ago now, also while it was on sale.
I also bought the AVGA PCI Express video card at the same time.

I am completely happy and satified with both things.

When (and if) you end up buying the monitor, you *will* need to set aside
a couple hours aside for "tweaking" each video mode.
(ie, Horizontal/Veritical/pincushion, etc)

I would *highly* recommend following the retroblast review, when it comes to using that Nokia Monitor program, as it really helps you find your needed adjustments very fast.

The end result, at least for me, is a *perfect* look of all the old games!
Pacman, Donkey Kong, etc all look *exactly* like they did when I was a kid!

Scott

[XtraSmiley]

Thanks a ton Scott.

So, after each adjustment is made, they are saved for that game right?

What if a game is vertical (pacman) then I go with another vertical game (1942).  Do I basically set one setting for them both, or because they are different Hz do they get two each?

I'm willing to hear any answers from others about my question of a possible future Betson upgrade.

[ahofle]

I got that same monitor a month ago too.  I am very satisfied with it also.  About my only complaint is that I get a little bit of 'squishing' on the extreme edges of the screen in certain modes.  It's not horrible, but noticable.  And yes, once you setup a resolution it remembers for any other games using that same resolution.  I am mostly blown away by how good the vertical games look on it.  And do what Scottk said and follow the retroblast article closely. 

The $369 price is excellent for this monitor.  Just remember that shipping (at least in my case) was around $110.    If you can pick it up, that would be the best option even if you had to drive an hour or two, depending on your car's gas mileage.

Oh, here are some pictures I took of the Betson in action recently:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=66102.0

[shorthair]

If it's still on sale, buy it. It's what you want, and a good price for it.

On video modes: actually, with the avga you only select resolutions, as the card will automatically set refresh. (You could also just use Soft-15khz for free...and AdvanceMame is also an option, but DOS experience is required to get it running right.) Another thing is, not all vertical (or horizontal) games are the same resolution, so you will have to find one for each that will fill the screen - or as much as possible and then using the H and V controls in the OSD to size the image to the screen.

(related) On orientation: if you keep your monitor in horizontal orientation, then of course you can only use so much of the screen for vertical games if you want them to look like they originally did - thin and tall. Now, let's say you set Pac-Man to 'auto' for resolution, and 'default' for orientation. Mame happens to be able to find the right resolution that it fits right, top to bottom. Same if you change the orientation to 'vertical'. It automatically sizes it just right. But some games (again, thinking horizontal orientation with vertical games) require you to find a resolution cos Mame doesn't select the right one. You will then size it via the OSD controls. However, again, if you change the orientation to vertical, the monitor settings have not changed. So you have to resize the image. In some cases, the resolution may not give you enough to resize in vertical orientation, so you have to find another one for that, then resize if needed.

Got it?

[XtraSmiley]

I got it.  So,

Is the one I linked at the OP the correct one?

Is direct from Betson the best way to buy these things?

[shorthair]

You could look for a local or semi-local distributor. They might charge more, but the shipping could be less. Or nothing if you're within pick-up distance.

[Scottk]

Yes, this is the "correct" one.
Even tho its labeled "RAW THRLS", its just the standard Betson/Kortek monitor thats in the Retroblast review.

As others have mentioned, it saves each "mode" after you set it.
But since there seems to be 10-15 different 15/25Khz modes, it takes awhile to get every one adjusted. =)

Yes, you can order it right from their web site.

For me, I am in Minnesota, and the closest distro location was Chicago.
Thats just too far too drive, so I had to eat the shipping costs.

It shipped "freight" from Chicago, and arrived the next day.
My shipping ran about 110 bucks as well. (UGH!)

The way I look at it (justify it), was that the "sale" paid for the shipping costs. 

Scott

[eclypse]

Hurry up and buy 1 as i was told from a nice sales lady "Nicole" that its on sale untill 5/31/07. She also told me that she could extend the price for a couple of days if i needed to.

 She quoted me $131 for shipping from there Bensenville, Illinois warehouse to me in Michigan. I dont yet know what the real cost of shipping is yet though.

I placed an order 2 days ago on Monday and i got a call from fedex freight that its coming tomorrow!

[Scottk]

Yup Nicole helped me as well.

She sure got that puppy shipped out fast to me.
I placed the order at like noon, the order shipped that day, and arrived by freight the next day at 10AM.

Also, she said they normally ship COD.

Since I got it delivered to my work, I didn't want to deal with that hassle,
so I asked if she could just charge it to my CC, and she said that was no problem.

Scott

[eclypse]

Yup Nicole helped me as well.

She sure got that puppy shipped out fast to me.
I placed the order at like noon, the order shipped that day, and arrived by freight the next day at 10AM.

Also, she said they normally ship COD.

Since I got it delivered to my work, I didn't want to deal with that hassle,
so I asked if she could just charge it to my CC, and she said that was no problem.

Scott

Oh man.. Dont even tell me its COD. She didnt mention anything like that to me. I guess i better get an email out to her right away hehe.

[shorthair]

Who the ---fudgesicle--- does COD, anymore? And that shipping quote is expensive...a raping for a couple-few hundred miles. I'm thinkin what scott said about the 'sale'.

[eclypse]

No its not COD.. i talked to her again and she said they "used to take COD".

What i'm pissed about right now is the fact that i had to help take the monitor off the truck! No liftgate on the truck.. I asked the guy from FedEx.. "You dont have a liftgate?" He says "No.. that would cost you more!"  ?

$131 and change and i had to help carry it off on the pallet and all.. I wanted it up at the front door but he insisted that we drop it off at the garage. Now cause of that i'm gona have to ask someone for help to carry it all the way around the condo building to the front door as theres no handles on the box.

I dont understand it.. If there expecting someone to help carry it off the truck then they should of said so when they called the day before delivery asking questions.

What the hell would they of done if i was'nt home and it was my wife???

[XtraSmiley]

Arggh, I live in TX, 3 hours away from Dallas and they want about $120 to deliver PLUS $30 in taxes.  Give me a break.  I guess I'm stuck with the taxes, but I'm going to do a pick up myself in June.

Can anyone provide the dimensions of the box?  I'd like to bring it back with me and keep it for transport later if I could, I just need to know if it will fit.

[eclypse]

Arggh, I live in TX, 3 hours away from Dallas and they want about $120 to deliver PLUS $30 in taxes.  Give me a break.  I guess I'm stuck with the taxes, but I'm going to do a pick up myself in June.

Can anyone provide the dimensions of the box?  I'd like to bring it back with me and keep it for transport later if I could, I just need to know if it will fit.

Its 25 3/4" Wide x 22 3/4" Tall x 23 3/4" Deep

Thats without the pallet though which i'm sure you'll take off if your putting it in your car.

Just encase they did'nt tell you, the sale ends this month on the 30th.. So if you want to get it in June, i hope they let you pay for it now.

[XtraSmiley]

Thanks a ton duder.  Yeah he told me, the 31st is the last day so I will probably buy ahead of time.  But sadly now, it looks like I will also have to pay to ship it as they are not open on the weekends and I can only go to get it during a weekend.  DAMN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[eclypse]

heheh your screwed man. well atleast its on sale or it would be another $100. Ships fast! You'll have to set up a time for delivery with FedEx.. and they will charge you more if they have to hold it over 24 hours.

[Scottk]

Or, if you can, get it delivered to your work.

My work has a dock, so getting it delivered there was cake.

They plop it on the dock and leave, and I just backed my truck
up to the dock, and pushed. =)

But I will admit, it was a pain to move upstairs, once I got it home.

The monitor is *very* well packed, so I actually just softly "rolled" it up my stairs,
while still in the box.
This worked very well.   

Scott

[shorthair]

Yeah, if you can do what scottk did, that'll work. Look on ebay. I've seen some pretty decent deals on new monitors from arcade operators. For those of you not familiar with vendors here who have FAR better deals on Happ stuff than getting it straight from Happ, it's likely the case with monitors, too.