Envision's G218a1 22-inch widescreen: Best Buy only

Major chain kingpin Best Buy has teamed up with Envision, makers of illustrious, cheapo displays, to bring you the next step in frugal monitor technology -- the 22-inch G218a1. The widescreen LCD sports a 700:1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time, resolutions up to 1680 x 1050, VGA, D-sub and DVI-D inputs, and a set of built-in stereo speakers. Best Buy is selling the monitor exclusively for the "bargain-basement" price of $279.99, which will undoubtedly have you scratching your head, since you can get monitors of comparable quality for considerably less.

[a ham sandwich @ Aug 1st 2007 10:11AM]

yeah lol. um....no sense?!

[Rob @ Aug 1st 2007 10:18AM]

700:1 contrast ratio? That's awful.
For almost $300, I don't think it'd be a great deal.

[MacGuru @ Aug 1st 2007 10:34AM]

Yes that is pathetic. But then again, who goes to Best Buy for their best buys? Not me. I found a CHEAPER monitor at TigerDirect.com:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2604167&CatId=2775

and it has 1200:1 contrast ratio and HDMI..

eat that Best Buy

[schlomo @ Aug 1st 2007 10:32AM]

$280 will be the price for the average joe that comes in off the street and just thinks Best Buy has the best prices on everything.

The price for those of us that know the real values are in the Sunday newspaper-ad specials that Best Buy and Circuit City hold so dear, we'll end up scoring the $100-150 rebates at the right time and end up getting a decent 22-incher for under 200 bucks.

[tphil9 @ Aug 1st 2007 11:25AM]

yeah, that sceptre monitor from tiger direct has some GREAT reviews doesnt it?

[producerism @ Aug 1st 2007 11:03AM]

I got an amazing samsung 226bw 22 inch monitor with 3000:1 "dynamic" contrast ratio (700:1 in reality?). I believe it was less than $300, and it's amazing.

[shelterpaw @ Aug 1st 2007 12:37PM]

Nice to see all the Best Buy posts, but I'm on a Best Buy boycott after the whole online vs in-store bait and switch scandal.

[Alexander The Best @ Aug 1st 2007 6:25PM]

If you understood the circumstances... LOL but than again, if you don't work for the company and deal with the same software and terminals....you would not understand why stores don't participate in online exclusive offers...and that for certain sales stores DO sell for the same amount as what's posted online. It depends on the product, and on the timing of current sales. A newbie to a bestbuy job would easily misunderstand something and then convay a misunderstanding of the current situation to make the customer think 'conspiracy (scary ghost noises)'.

[shelterpaw @ Aug 1st 2007 6:58PM]

Well all I can say is I've read in many places and there's no excuse why Best Buy can't get their act together.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/25/best-buy-sued-over-shady-intranet-site/

and then there's this

http://consumerist.com/consumer/microsoft/best-buy-attorney-admits-to-falsifying-emails-in-racketeering-case-266395.php

Regardless if it's a employee mistake or a corporate one, the managers should have some clue to what's on sale and what is not.

[Ghen @ Aug 1st 2007 3:57PM]

tphil9:

You want a monitor with good reviews?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001083

Why anyone would buy an Envision is beyond me.

[SD @ Aug 1st 2007 6:52PM]

The Acer X221W which I also bought at Best Buy has better specs and costs $10 less...

[Vanguard @ Oct 24th 2007 3:27PM]

Whine, whine, and more whine about Best Buy. Who gives a gnat's fart about the reviewers whining about the store. Users go searching for articles to find reviews on the PRODUCT - and not one of them reviewed the actual product. Oooh, 700:1 contrast ration, yeah, like that so bad but the bozos forget to inform the reader that they are are comparing the DYNAMIC contrast (DC) setting of 3000:1 which is bogus. It is not the raw or actual contrast available. It overdrives contrast so that you don't have any. Toolbars that were slightly different shades all become white. Yeah, makes flower pictures look great but reeks on the normal display. I had a Samsung 932BW 19" widescreen but wanted a bigger screen. I then compared the Acer, LG, and Envision 22" models side by side. The Acer was too washed out but had no gamma setting. The LG was darker but it did have a gamma setting. This Envision was identical in appearance to the LG but for $25 less. Gee, why do users buy from stores for LCD monitors? Because online vendors, like newegg, have a return policy on LCD monitors that won't let you exchange if you have 8 or less dead pixels. Just 1 dead pixel is too many and Best Buy will exchange the LCD monitor for just 1 dead pixel up to the 30 day return period. Pixels don't go bad later (but you might get a vertical line for loss on that whole column) or the tube dies. Yes, I paid the $30 premium getting from Best Buy to, one, get the monitor NOW (because my CRT died and obviously I need a monitor now and not a week later from newegg) and, two, I can return the monitor for just 1 dead pixel. Doesn't matter what the history is at newegg or other vendors regarding different brands and models for dead pixels. The policy for online vendors is way too high for me to suffer should I be the one that got stuck with a unit with 7 dead pixels. Oh, by the way, prices at Best Buy weren't too far from what newegg charges (after including the shipping cost) so who knows what back alley these guys were buying, and, yeah, like anyone that is setting up a computer or replacing a dead monitor can wait around until a rebate is available.