The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Monitor/Video Forum => Topic started by: BobA on November 17, 2006, 08:31:31 pm
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21 inch Cornerstone P1500
Just ordered one of these monitors. Will detail how it works when it arrives.
http://www.canadamonitors.com/ (http://www.canadamonitors.com/)
Offer on front page of web site.
Update: No longer on front page go to 21 inch monitors still available Dec 15/06
BobA
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BobA, I'm definitely interested in hearing your thoughts on this monitor. :cheers:
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Will report when I receive it. 4 to 8 working days via ground so it will be a week or so.
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It's got dual VGA connectors? That's cool. That might come in handy for those with multiple PC's/consoles in their cabinets. I'm also keen on the short neck.
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Update: It is 2pm and the UPS driver shows up with a very large box. Climbing thru snow drifts with a -30 C windchill the monitor has arrived.
Will post pics when my wife returns with the camera later this evening.
The monitor was packed in a single cardboard cube box with spray foam insulation and plastic sheeting all around. The box took some hits but heavy foam protected the monitor completely. It came with a power cord and one VGA cable attached. There is a second VGA connector that can be selected from the front panel.
I let the unit defrost and acclimatize for about 3 hours before powering up. Great looking picture and no problems noted.
It is a short tube and is about 18 inches deep. 20 in diagonal screen in full view. 19.5 wide and 17.5 high. The screen has a slight curvature that will make it look quite natural for an arcade machine. It is almost flat but not quite. Case color is black and it looks brand new with not even dust on it. Cables look clean and never used.
There is a full range of controls selected via OSD. HS HP VS VP TRAP PinC Parallel PinBal Rotate
Screen Menu, OSD Menu, Color Select, Color Menu, DMS, Degaus, OSD exit, Zoom.
It weighs about 50 lbs by my estimate.
In my opinion a good deal.
BobA
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Pics
Side View and comparison to Acer 19 inch LCD
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For those interested: Link to manual
http://web.archive.org/web/20040720165338/www.bigmonitors.com/pdf/manuals/p1600-man.pdf (http://web.archive.org/web/20040720165338/www.bigmonitors.com/pdf/manuals/p1600-man.pdf)
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Well I was planning on getting Randy's new spinner, but after reading your post I might just upgrade my current 19" pc monitor to a 21". I was aware of the sale on these monitors, I just wasn't sure on the quality. Decisions decisions....
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Hey BobA,
I am thinking of getting one of these for my mame cabinet. How do you like it now that you have had it for a few days?
Thanks
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I ended up ordering this monitor yesterday. I'll also leave my impressions once I receive it. My spinner needs will have to wait, again!!
Also, if you intend on ordering this monitor, you might want to do it soon. With my initial inquiry for the monitor, the rep said the sale is only good for 48 hours. Not sure if that is a fact or a sales pressure tactic?
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Got the same info when I ordered my monitor a couple of weeks ago. I think they just keep putting it on sale. 48 hour sale has been on for at least 2 weeks.
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Man, I'm really hoping that these are still around after the holidays when I'll have some funds.
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I might have to get this for my first machine, considering I now am getting a cabinet for free. (Thank you MrTroy)
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Yup, that 48 hour thing is more than likely bs until they sell their stock. I seen the monitors advertised on ebay yesterday at the same price of $89 for a 5 day duration.
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The shortness of the neck is a real draw here... Is that 18 inches deep while in the case, or decased? That thing may actually fit in my cabinet... But then what to I do with my Wells-Gardner 19" open-frame SVGA?
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Those measurements were taken with case on.
BobA
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Did anyone look in the bundles section? You can get a whole computer to go with that monitor cheap! I went ahead and ordered a bundle, the monitor for me and the computer for my daughter (she has an Athlon 1.33 GHz now):
2.0Ghz Intel Pentium 4 Dell GX260 Slim tower/desktop.
1.0GB Ram, 40.0GB Hard Drive, CD-Rom, Network/Ethernet Sound, video.
Windows XP Home COA/Installed, Black case. Mouse + Keyboard.
21" Black Cornerstone P1500(0.22, 1600x1200) Hitachi Pro SVGA
$299+$36 shipping
That $335 is in Canadian currency, so it was $299 US total via PayPal. Should be a decent enough computer for a 12-year old (yeah, I'm gonna put a better video card in it). The computer isn't new, it's off-lease with a 60-day warranty from the seller.
As far as the monitor, I'm not sure if it's gonna end up in my cab or on my desk... :D
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I just threw down my ~$84 USD for one of these. Looks like a good deal, so far the folks have been easy to deal with. Paid via paypal.
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I ordered my monitor Tuesday and received it Friday. Very fast turnaround. Whats more impressive is I already put it in my cabinet. I usually take 6 months or so to put in new parts that I purchase.
Anyway, I am impressed with this monitor. This 21" monitor casing is almost the same size as my 19" monitor. I do not think the monitor was new. It was scratched up a bit on the top of the case. Everything else with the monitor was very clean and looked pretty much in new condition.
The picture is very clear and sharp. I found my previous monitor, a Samsung 950P to be a bit more clearer. The difference is marginal at best. I'm very happy with this monitor and recommend it. I wanted to make this a rotable monitor, maybe in 6 months....
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I already got mine... it's a work of art! Standard used monitor scratches and scuffs, but nothing I'll see in the cab. I'm REALLY tempted to put this on my desk and order another one...
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Had the monitor on as a second monitor on my main PC for a few weeks and it works well. No complaints so far. Was lucky and got one with no scuffs or scratches. Still working up the energy to carry it down to the basement for my next project. I sort of like it for movies etc when I am using my main screen for other things.
BobA
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I very recently did a bunch of ebay looking in this vein.....except I'd need two - one for H games, one for V games. Then I decided, 'hell, I can afford an arcade monitor; and I'd miss out on the experience of native resolutions and such'. Now I'm just hemming between a Betson and a Billabs.
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Has anyone tried decasing these to see if there are good mount points inside?
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Um, obviously I need to read better, cos it explicity says that the arcade vga will give native resolutions with a PC monitor. I haven't purchased a monitor, yet....still, how come none 'o ya hollered at me?
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Tranq - Maybe we did not know what to say. The thread is about a specific 21 inch VGA monitor and you commented on arcade monitors?
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Has anyone tried decasing these to see if there are good mount points inside?
I took the plunge and decased the monitor. It comes apart quite nicely, actually. Four screws attach the back of the case to the bezel. Once that's off, there's a bolt at each corner holding the bezel on, plus two screws at tthe bottom.
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/335468471_8ab80de43c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/celamantia/335468471/)
Once these four bolts and two screws are removed, the back shell and the tube/chassis are no longer connected to each other... my tube immediately started sliding out the front until I reseated it! Looks like you could remove the rear shroud completely and have an open monitor like an arcade monitor, but the insides of monitors make me nervous so I think I'll leave mine on. There are nice mounting ears in each corner.
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/137/335468882_d4ba54173b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/celamantia/335468882/)
Here's a shot of the back showing the power and dual input connectors:
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/129/335468628_2886799971.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/celamantia/335468628/)
The buttons for the monitor adjustments are visible through holes in the metal under the front of the monitor. I was hoping for an easily-detachible control board, but no luck here, so you'll need to stick a pencil or something through the holes to adjust it.
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/91/335469079_191c017e4f.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/celamantia/335469079/)
There's a space for an additional switch that's not implemented... wonder what that was for?
(http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/335468197_b01bd88cf4.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/celamantia/335468197/)
I have the Happ's 19" bezel; it looks like if I cut about halfway into the bezel part it will fit the monitor nicely; as it is the curves don't match and it cuts off about an inch off the diagonal measurement. Since the bezel will be useless to me otherwise, I'm going to give it a run with the Dremel this weekend to see if I can make something useful out of it.
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Thanks for the look inside Chis. Looks like it will make a nice monitor for a mame cab or whatever is being built.