Monitor delima part Deux

[Greebe]

Well as some of you have read, with lastweeks whoas dealing with a failed computer (Celeron system, my gateway to the net), VerizonDSL messing up (still not resolved blasted NOROMS), and finally my Cornerstone 50/95 monitor died (tho had worked flawless upto this moment).

Oh when it rains it pours!

Well I ended that post (in TSB) with a smiley and here's why.

When I had the chance (once able to use my DSL connection) I contacted Jim Witkowski (aka GoSharks here on the forums), Chief Hardware Engineer for Cornerstone about my monitor failure.

I spelled out the trouble and symptoms and my particular situation to Jim. To my amazement he replied back later that very day with "I have some good news for you!"

I happen to have a Cornerstone 50/95 in my lab and have talked to the CFO and VP of marketing about your problem. I will be sending it to you for free, including shipping! All I need for you to do is send me your address and it's out the door!

(Jaw drops to the floor, utterly speachless and tickled pink!)


WooHoo I'm back in business and couldn't be happier!


Now considering I had purchased my 21" Cornerstone 50/95 from an online auction as a factory refurbished unit with only a 1 year warranty (and no other warranty upgrade or extension was offered) for a very good price, all I could concievably hope for was possibly some parts or a manual so I could repair. But no Jim takes all that fun out of the picture... NOT!

I have a hard enough time telling friends and visitors of these forums what to buy for mileage varies and don't like recommending any potential headaches. But do believe without any doubt that you simply cannot find a more selfconscientious, quality minded monitor manufacture anywhere!

It's a shame others can't follow their leadership!

For more info on Cornerstone monitors where it has been discussed on this forum before, check this link out.

For more info please visit Cornerstone and their online store
(not limited to just their products).

Cheers,
Mike

[Jammrock]

Uh...I already got one. Well, it's on order and is arriving today. So hopefully I can catch the UPS guy while I'm home for lunch. Anything to get rid of my temp monitor...and OLD 15" that can barely hit 800x600.

Once I get me monitor and play with it for a while I'll post my thoughts on it. It's a p1460 for anyone who cares.

Jammrock

[Joel]

I have the Cornerstone c1025 21" monitor and am very impressed with it's quality.

I had a CTX VL700 17" and was in the market for a new monitor. At first I thought I would have to settle for a 19" because the price of the 21"s was just too much at the time, but Greebe pointed me toward Cornerstone and of course the rest is history. One main thing I like about this monitor more than the other monitors I had looked at, especially the Trinitrons, is that I don't see those silly ass dark lines running across my screen about a thrid of the way from the top and the bottom. Yes I can see them and they do bug the hell out of me.

I paid $615.00 USD for it and that included $20.00 USD for a 3 year Advance Replacement Warranty. Hell Circuit City will offer an extended 2 year warranty for $34.99 USD on a $199.00 USD cable modem. That to me says alot about Cornerstone's confidence in the quality of their products because that $20.00 would not even pay for shipping.

And as a side note Jim is a really good guy. He is one of a dying breed of people that really cares about the products he sells and the people that buy them. I e-mailed him once about how I could get the best quaility image out of this monitor and he sent me the following response that not only explained how to do it but why.

" The majority of the time a simple adjustment to the contrast and brightness will improve any monitors performance. Ambient lighting plays a big role in the apparent focus of the monitor. If you use the monitor in a location where there is high ambient lighting, many people will increase the contrast and brightness to compensate. It is better to reduce the ambient lighting, turn off some lights, close window shades, use indirect lamps like halogen lamps that reflect the light off the ceiling etc. This will allow you to adjust the contrast and brightness to a lower level, while keeping the contrast ratio. This will improve focus also.

The black level control was historically - and misleadingly - labeled Brightness. The brightness control is misleading because you are not changing the apparent brightness of the screen. By adjusting the brightness (black level) you are changing the contrast ratio of your screen or the apparent blackness of the screen. The contrast control increases the total luminance.

Adjusting your monitor
Switch your monitor on, and display a picture that contains as much absolute black as possible. Use a black desktop background pattern, or a screen saver that displays mostly black. If you notice that the displayable central portion of the screen is distinctly lighter than the margins, you need to adjust your displays black level. This may be corrected by adjusting the display's Brightness control. Adjust Black Level (brightness) so that the black region of the picture is as black as possible, but just on the threshold of becoming visible. Avoid setting it too high, which will reduce your contrast ratio and make black characters look gray.

The Contrast control determines the light intensity produced. Once you have set black level, adjust the contrast level to set a comfortable maximum intensity.

Resist the temptation to set your monitor too bright. White should be a pleasant white, it doesn't have to illuminate your room. Operate your monitor only at a comfortable brightness level.

As the luminance intensity increases light will tend to scatter over the face of the screen, because the phosphor dots will bloom or scatter into one another. The higher the brightness of bright areas of the picture, the more light is scattered into the dark areas. This scattered light reduces the contrast ratio. Also operation at high lumanance tends to make the electron beam size larger, resulting in poor focus and loss of sharpness.

Another benefit of running the monitor at lower contrast setting may increase the life of the monitor."

For me the next time I am in the market for a new monitor I will look to Cornerstone first and when someone ask me about monitors I will also point them toward Cornerstone.

Joel

And NO I am not getting paid a dime for this endorsement of Cornerstone monitors.

[Jammrock]

I am currently typing this on my brand spanking new Cornerstone p1460!!! In a word...pretty

This is by far the nicest looking monitor I have ever used, and I have used a lot of monitors. Cornerstone is my hero!

Jammrock

[Greebe]

Now if only Fed Ex would only learn how to deliver and what a doorbell is for and how to use it, I would have my monitor.

*sigh*

To be delivered later today at least.

[Jorden]

Fed Ex application form

Fed Ex application form:

- Can you feel your way up to the door? Y/N

If Yes, you have the job

[Greebe]

Well it's here... Fed Ex had DCC courier service deliver it. Upon arrival the driver immediately pointed me to the HUGE hole in the box (~30cm long) and a noticable, but small crack in it's case.
So I wouldn't allow him to leave until I had fully tested it.

It's all fine and good just like my other one after all

Tho I think I'll mention this Oy! to FedEx




Jord, Jord, Jord

[KvHagedorn]

Mike, are you sure your new house there wasn't built on top of an old Indian burial ground or something?

Hope that's the end of your monitor worries..

People like Jim are a rarity indeed.

[Greebe]

Well if there is Chuck, they must have had the power of the Egyptians, cause there are huge limestone rocks just beneath the surface thwarting my attempts to install a proper earth ground (rod).

Doh! They mustn't like static cling! (Don't do that Greebe!!!