I was planning on getting the Samsung 226bw (22") monitor over the summer from play.com

To start off with, they didn't specify which panel they were selling. Then they said it was the S panel, but that has since been removed, which leads me to believe that they're no longer selling just S panels.

Anyway the controversy is that there are 3 panels: S, A and C. From what I can gather, the S is the best, A is close behind but C is by far the worst.

I'm not forking out that money to end up with a C panel. If I'm forking out that money, I want to be sure that I get the best quality one.

So, does anyone know any UK sites that sell the Samsung 226bw, specifically the S panel?

I've also read that you can tell the panel type by looking at the serial number on the box, but that's only useful when not buying on the internet.

Edit: Also, play.com has added £10 to the price (although it's still quite cheap compared to most places).

Find a real life store that sells it.

Real life store means more expensive, which I don't want.

PC World has it but the discount on the price is for online orders only, so if I wanted to see which panel I was buying, I'd have to go in store, and pay more.

Hmm. Pretty.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-050-SA&tool=3

Hey, that's the monitor I got! I had a tough time getting it aswell since it was out of stock everywhere for the longest time.
But when I bought mine I never saw any mentioning of panels anywhere. Might be something they added later since I got mine shortly after they where released.

Anyway, It's a great monitor though and well worth the trouble. Good luck :p

Edit: According to the sticker on the back I got a S panel. Yay.

PC World has it but the discount on the price is for online orders only, so if I wanted to see which panel I was buying, I'd have to go in store, and pay more.

Can't you ask them what model are they selling online, tell them that you have to go, and buy it online if it's the one you need?

Can't we just scientifically assume based on my experience that if it doesn't say, then it's a s-panel?

Can't we just scientifically assume based on my experience that if it doesn't say, then it's a s-panel?Nope, because a lot of places seem to be selling c panels instead. I'd settle for an a panel - from what I can gather, they're just about as good as the s panel, but they just need calibration.

If I'm paying £240 for a monitor, I want to make sure that it's the one that I want.

Oh and I wouldn't expect anyone at PC World to know that different panels exist, but I'll give it a try.

Here's a good article on the difference between panels;
http://www.behardware.com/articles/673-1/samsung-syncmaster-226bw-c.html

But yeah, ask if you can send it back if it's a C :p

Here's a good article on the difference between panels;
http://www.behardware.com/articles/673-1/samsung-syncmaster-226bw-c.html

But yeah, ask if you can send it back if it's a C :p

Sending it back costs money out of my pocket, probably about £10-20 at a time.

I went ahead and got it. However I can't find how to find out what panel it is, although I don't think it's a C panel. I think it may be an A panel as the colours don't seem spot on.

Edit: The images on behardware show the A panel was made in a country beginning with S and the S panel made in a country beginning with T. After checking the box, mine is made in Slovakia so it looks like I probably got an A panel.

This is the only indication I found of what panel I have. Check the sticker that's under the panel right beside the power cord. Apperently mine was made in Slovakia aswell :O

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/4938/cimg0406mw9.th.jpg (http://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg0406mw9.jpg)

My Mum was made in Slovakia too :eek: :rolleyes:

This is the only indication I found of what panel I have. Check the sticker that's under the panel right beside the power cord. Apperently mine was made in Slovakia aswell :O

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/4938/cimg0406mw9.th.jpg (http://img398.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg0406mw9.jpg)The problem is that they've got rid of the S, A and C there so it's just blank there instead. I tried looking at the menu, but the sneaky little way to find out has been removed.

Ah well.. The important part is weather you like the monitor or not. If you think it performs great then you might be better off not knowing what panel it is ;)

My Mum was made in Slovakia too :eek: :rolleyes:

Mine was in Spain... does it make them both A class monitors? I feel so proud of mine then...

Mine was in Spain... does it make them both A class monitors? I feel so proud of mine then...Did she look anything like this?

http://www.curvecomm.com/teletubbies/laalaa.gif