Deal: Dell UltraSharp Monitors (21.5", 23", 27", 30")

[VLSmooth]

Info Link: 25% off coupon for select Dell UltraSharp monitors with free shipping:
http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/41813/d ... isplayport

Summary: 21.5" (~$210 pretax), 23" (~$240 pretax ymmv), 27" (~$850 pretax), 30" ($1202.95 after 7% sales tax)
Models: U2211H, U2311H, U2711, U3011 (these are high-quality displays)

Can use Fatwallet for an additional 2.75% Cashback:
http://www.fatwallet.com/coupons-cash-b ... -Business/

I just ordered a U3011 in case the deal runs out early. The coupons technically last until November 24th, but I can see Dell prematurely ending such a deal, especially for the cheaper monitors.

Edit: s{22"}{21.5"};

[VLSmooth]

Some specifications and statistics.

Output:

Code: Select all

s:\downloads>t.pl
t.pl
$VAR1 = [
          {
            'area_sq_in' => '404.494382022472',
            'inches' => {
                          'diagonal' => 30,
                          'height' => '15.8999682000954',
                          'width' => '25.4399491201526'
                        },
            'model' => 'u3011',
            'other' => {
                         'color_depth_bits' => 10,
                         'portrait_mode' => 'no'
                       },
            'pixel' => {
                         'height' => 1600,
                         'total' => 4096000,
                         'width' => 2560
                       },
            'pixel_per_usd' => '2732.48832555037',
            'ratio' => {
                         'diagonal' => '18.8679622641132',
                         'height' => 10,
                         'width' => 16
                       },
            'retail_usd' => 1499,
            'usd_per_sq_in' => '3.70586111111111'
          },
          {
            'area_sq_in' => '311.501483679525',
            'inches' => {
                          'diagonal' => 27,
                          'height' => '13.2370534700791',
                          'width' => '23.5325395023628'
                        },
            'model' => 'u2711',
            'other' => {
                         'color_depth_bits' => 10,
                         'portrait_mode' => 'no'
                       },
            'pixel' => {
                         'height' => 1440,
                         'total' => 3686400,
                         'width' => 2560
                       },
            'pixel_per_usd' => '3354.32211101001',
            'ratio' => {
                         'diagonal' => '18.3575597506858',
                         'height' => 9,
                         'width' => 16
                       },
            'retail_usd' => 1099,
            'usd_per_sq_in' => '3.52807308337144'
          },
          {
            'area_sq_in' => '226.041543026706',
            'inches' => {
                          'diagonal' => 23,
                          'height' => '11.2760085115489',
                          'width' => '20.0462373538646'
                        },
            'model' => 'u2311h',
            'other' => {
                         'color_depth_bits' => 8,
                         'portrait_mode' => 'yes'
                       },
            'pixel' => {
                         'height' => 1080,
                         'total' => 2073600,
                         'width' => 1920
                       },
            'pixel_per_usd' => '6500.31347962382',
            'ratio' => {
                         'diagonal' => '18.3575597506858',
                         'height' => 9,
                         'width' => 16
                       },
            'retail_usd' => 319,
            'usd_per_sq_in' => '1.4112450115522'
          },
          {
            'area_sq_in' => '197.519287833828',
            'inches' => {
                          'diagonal' => '21.5',
                          'height' => '10.5406166521',
                          'width' => '18.7388740481778'
                        },
            'model' => 'u2211h',
            'other' => {
                         'color_depth_bits' => 8,
                         'portrait_mode' => 'yes'
                       },
            'pixel' => {
                         'height' => 1080,
                         'total' => 2073600,
                         'width' => 1920
                       },
            'pixel_per_usd' => '7432.25806451613',
            'ratio' => {
                         'diagonal' => '18.3575597506858',
                         'height' => 9,
                         'width' => 16
                       },
            'retail_usd' => 279,
            'usd_per_sq_in' => '1.4125202812331'
          }
        ];

Source:

Code: Select all

#!/usr/bin/env perl

use strict;
use warnings;

use Data::Dumper;
$Data::Dumper::Sortkeys = 1;

my @monitors
  = ( { model => 'u3011',
        ratio => { width => 16,
                   height => 10,
                 },
        inches => { diagonal => 30,
                  },
        pixel => { width => 2560,
                   height => 1600,
                 },
        other => { color_depth_bits => 10,
                   portrait_mode => 'no',
                 },
        retail_usd => 1499,
      },
      { model => 'u2711',
        ratio => { width => 16,
                   height => 9,
                 },
        inches => { diagonal => 27,
                  },
        pixel => { width => 2560,
                   height => 1440,
                 },
        other => { color_depth_bits => 10,
                   portrait_mode => 'no',
                 },
        retail_usd => 1099,
      },
      { model => 'u2311h',
        ratio => { width => 16,
                   height => 9,
                 },
        inches => { diagonal => 23,
                  },
        pixel => { width => 1920,
                   height => 1080,
                 },
        other => { color_depth_bits => 8,
                   portrait_mode => 'yes',
                 },
        retail_usd => 319,
      },
      { model => 'u2211h',
        ratio => { width => 16,
                   height => 9,
                 },
        inches => { diagonal => 21.5,
                  },
        pixel => { width => 1920,
                   height => 1080,
                 },
        other => { color_depth_bits => 8,
                   portrait_mode => 'yes',
                 },
        retail_usd => 279,
      },
    );

foreach my $monitor_href ( @monitors ) {
  $monitor_href->{ratio}{diagonal}
    = ( $monitor_href->{ratio}{width} ** 2 +
        $monitor_href->{ratio}{height} ** 2
      ) ** 0.5;
  $monitor_href->{inches}{width}
    = $monitor_href->{inches}{diagonal} *
      ( $monitor_href->{ratio}{width} /
        $monitor_href->{ratio}{diagonal}
      );
  $monitor_href->{inches}{height}
    = $monitor_href->{inches}{diagonal} *
      ( $monitor_href->{ratio}{height} /
        $monitor_href->{ratio}{diagonal}
      );
  $monitor_href->{area_sq_in}
    = $monitor_href->{inches}{width} *
      $monitor_href->{inches}{height};
  $monitor_href->{pixel}{total}
    = $monitor_href->{pixel}{width} *
      $monitor_href->{pixel}{height};
  $monitor_href->{usd_per_sq_in}
    = $monitor_href->{retail_usd} /
      $monitor_href->{area_sq_in};
  $monitor_href->{pixel_per_usd}
    = $monitor_href->{pixel}{total} /
      $monitor_href->{retail_usd};
}

print Dumper \@monitors;

Edit: s{22"}{21.5"};

[Peijen]

I just ordered a U3011 in case the deal runs out early. The coupons technically last until November 24th, but I can see Dell prematurely ending such a deal, especially for the cheaper monitors.

Weren't you complaining about not making enough money?

[VLSmooth]

I can still be efficient with what I have!

I've been eying the u2711/u3011 for many months now. It's one of the three big upcoming purchases I'm planning on. The other two are:

• a new PC (probably Sandy Bridge) to turn my old one into an HTPC
• a NAS, probably an HP MediaSmart, hoping to get one when Vail (next Windows Home Server version) is official

[Jonathan]

I've been eying the 2711. Damn you for making me think about the 3011.

[quantus]

Jonathan: Ummm, get the 3011. 1440 is a weird resolution.

Vinny: Why do you need another NAS? How much stuff are you storing currently? I'm gonna upgrade the drives in my NAS to 3Gb when they come down in price a bit and don't run quite so hot. One of these days I'm gonna get a router with a gigabit switch.

[VLSmooth]

Jonathan: Ummm, get the 3011. 1440 is a weird resolution.

Pretty much everything (worthwhile) supports 16:9 resolutions and the u2711 is great from a head-to-head value proposition (see "Some specifications and statistics"). I justify spending more for less by taking a broader look of what I get for my money beyond those two monitors.

Vinny: Why do you need another NAS? How much stuff are you storing currently? I'm gonna upgrade the drives in my NAS to 3Gb when they come down in price a bit and don't run quite so hot. One of these days I'm gonna get a router with a gigabit switch.

Why: I spend (way) too much time managing content (shuffling it between volumes, freeing up space) and don't have enough "reliable" storage. I only have 2 terabytes of RAID-5 storage (Infrant NV) and negligible amounts of manual duplication. (to pre-empt, I know RAID is not backup). Also, my old NAS is excruciatingly loud and I currently don't have a spare room for it. Fortunately I've juggled content around enough to minimize the amount of time I turn it on. An HP MediaSmart is much quieter, allows me to mod the fans, supports (wake-on LAN)/(scheduling), and has a ton of other features, some of which I'll actually use (backup service, content webserver, etc.)

How much: 6+ terabytes, across an annoying number of volumes, and growing.

Edit: s{enough "reliable" content}{enough "reliable" storage};

[quantus]

How much: 6+ terabytes, across an annoying number of volumes, and growing.

I figured out very quickly that fewer volumes is better. I have one media volume which I organize everything into. I have a volume for backups of laptop drives. The only other volume is for private data like taxes and stuff.

[VLSmooth]

...
Your order... was shipped on 11/17/2010.
...
Estimated Delivery Date: 11/22/2010
...

Woot!
(original estimate was a ship date of 12/10/2010 with 3-5 day delivery)

[VLSmooth]

I figured out very quickly that fewer volumes is better.

Ditto. Unfortunately, I've already exceeded the size of my four largest volumes.

I'm currently using: 2 tb in a 4-drive RAID-5, 2 tb, 1.5tb, 750gb, 320gb, 160gb (ssd). I may have a couple more hard drives with older content as well.

[quantus]

You should be able to upgrade to 6 or 9 tb RAID5 though in the system you have... Just phase in 2 (or 3tb when they come out) drives.

[VLSmooth]

By system, do you mean my 4-bay Infrant NV? (since you mentioned RAID-5)

That NAS currently has a 1x1.5tb and 3x750gb drives installed and is still excruciatingly loud. Furthermore, I'm not sure that NAS will support 3tb drives since such drives use "advance format" (anandtech).

[George]

Fah. Real men build their own NAS!

I've got 5 drives in my server (1, 1.5, 3x2). I still have one unused SATA connection, which will probably get a 2TB plugged into it in the next couple months. The 3TB drives still command enough of a premium that I'm not willing to move to them. Actually, it might be easier to just add a second server.

All five are separate volumes. I was thinking of writing a Samba plugin to make them appear as one to the Windows clients, but it turned out to be unnecessary. Windows Media Center and Media Browser (my current players of choice) display everything in one list, regardless of where they're stored. I just have to point the players at each volume once, and they remember it after that.

I've been generally pleased by the low-speed Samsung 2TB drives. I've got one full-speed Hitachi 2TB in the mix. It's noticeably faster when ripping, but the speed is useless the rest of the time. It is much louder. I've also got an older WD green drive, but it's not noticeably different from the Samsungs.

[quantus]

I have a Netgear ReadyNAS NV+ which automatically uses RAID.

All five are separate volumes.

That seems to be like you have no redundancy at all, which is not good. When of those drives dies, and one will eventually, we'll be here to tell you "we told you so". I decided to get my NAS after my wife lost a laptop drive without ever backing stuff up on her portable external drive. She just used the portable drive as extra storage instead.

[quantus]

The HighPoint adapter uses a Marvell 88SE9025 6Gbps SATA controller

Ok people, buy these up!

UPDATE (November 12, 2010): sparc-based ReadyNAS now fully supports 4K sector drives with RAIDiator firmware 4.1.7+. See RAIDiator 4.1.7 Release Notes.
Added support for 4K sector drives. Keep in mind that 4K sector support will require that you factory default your ReadyNAS, so make sure to backup your data before checking this. The expected outcome is that your performance with 4K sector drives should be no worse than with 512-byte sector drives.

This should mean that they're on their way to supporting >2TB drives... I'll have to get an extra USB drive though to backup my data to before doing this due to the factory reset :-\

[George]

That seems to be like you have no redundancy at all, which is not good. When of those drives dies, and one will eventually, we'll be here to tell you "we told you so".

Hahahahaha.

I thought I posted about my ridiculously paranoid backup scheme before. Each server drive has two complete mirrors. The mirrors are never connected directly to the server; I put them in a hot-swappable bay in a different PC running a different operating system and format them with a different file system. Neither computer has straightforward write access to the other. At any given time, one set of mirrors is in a safe deposit box. I have checksums of every file, and the checksums themselves are stored in several different places.

A dedicated adversary, four simultaneous failures in unconnected (and in at least two cases unpowered) hardware, or a good sized meteorite (equivalently a tsunami, nuke, war, or anything else that wipes out local civilization) could cause irrecoverable data loss. At that point, you may say "we told you so". Though in all such cases, I propose that RAID would do no better.

[quantus]

Yeah, that's ridiculously paranoid. I think you did mention something like that before, but I don't remember it being that involved. The most I worry about currently is power outage events. I have a battery backup with line conditioning connected to the NAS and a USB connection between them to know when the battery is running low and the NAS should shut itself down cleanly.

I guess someone could break in and take it which would be annoying. I'm actually considering setting up an rsync between my NAS and a friend's NAS to get remote backup protection. If there's ever an EMP, I guess my data would be gone, but yours wouldn't... But you have a lot more work to get that little bit of added protection. Unfortunately, I think the friend lives close enough that a single EMP could probably take us both out. I was also considering setting another NAS up in NY at my brother's business to rsync to, but I'm gonna make him buy it since I'll be providing remote storage for his business files as well.

[VLSmooth]

Potentially Bad News: There's already a better deal with stackable coupons (an extra 10% = ~$120) off

Dell UltraSharp LCD Monitors: 21.5" U2211H eIPS 1080p $188, U2711 27" S-IPS 2560x1440 $742, U3011 30" S-IPS 2560x1600 $1012 + Free Shipping
http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/42003

Good News:
I already have mine (delivered ~6 pm today), and I'm using it now, it's freaking gorgeous except still too bright imho at 0 brightness.

Going to try calling them up and attempt a pricematch. Any other suggestions are welcome!

[Peijen]

Buy another one and sell it on ebay.

[VLSmooth]

The 25% coupon (P?XSB2$8XSH3M3) no longer appears to be work (logged out of my Dell account and tried the codes individually) ~_~

The thread comments also suggest that the deal is dead. (will probably be marked expired within the day).

Edit: Updated with more specific information.