How to choose an LCD Monitor

Continued from page: 2

Friday, January 04, 2008

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ViewSonic VA1703wb

The ViewSonic VA1703wb is one of the older 17” widescreen monitors from ViewSonic which has a resolution of 1440x900 pixels and an 8 ms response time. Looks wise, the monitor has a full black finish and an LED lighted power button at the centre bottom.

What really impressed us was the support stand that came along with it. The circular support stand was large and sturdy and had a click lock for the panel. The LCD has five buttons in the centre front, an LED lighted power button in the centre with navigation/ adjustment button on the right side and the menu, and exit button on the left side.

These buttons were easy to press and not hard unlike some of the other monitors we reviewed this time.

In the Displaymate benchmark the monitor cleared all tests easily, except for a little bit of noise during the Dot Moiré pattern tests and error during the color regeneration test.

Even though the monitor has 8 ms response time, we didn't see any ghosting or streaking during video playback. Working on regular productivity apps on this monitor was again a pleasure, due to the widescreen and 16:10 aspect ratio.

Bottomline: Overall, we feel that this monitor is a great choice for offices, given its performance and the low price.

AOC 177Sa

The beautiful monitor has a glossy pearl black silhouette with a trendy round edge design. The monitor has two speakers placed at the bottom of its bevel, hidden from view. The control buttons are also placed underside the bevel, alongwith an audio in slot for headphones. The base of the monitor has a 'V' shape design providing maximum support and adding to its looks.

The monitor performed spectacularly in all tests. It cleared through the DisplayMate benchmarks easily; even the Dot moiré pattern which is a common problem in most LCD monitors did not pose a problem in this one. Its response time of 5 ms makes it ideal for video, and the HD content playback in this monitor was also smooth. Inbuilt speakers on a monitor are usually for personal listening, but the speakers on this one were surprisingly loud and clear at the same time. The position of the speakers added to the volume, as the sound bounced back from the surface to give a deeper sound effect.

Bottomline: Overall, even though it's not a widescreen, it's a great choice for all types of users.

LG1960TQ

This non widescreen monitor from LG is really stylish. It sports a matte black finish with a piano black stand that can also be wall mounted. Its design allows for cable management at the back as well as tilt adjustment. It has a touch-sensitive power button.

 The adjustment keys are on its side, which gel with the design but are a little inconvenient to use. The display was just super in video playback with excellent blacks and whites, thanks to the 2000: 1 dynamic contrast ratio. Adding to its performance is the 4 ms response time. In the Displaymate benchmark the monitor gave the best results. It only showed a slight error in vertical color regeneration, but it was lesser than all other monitors we tested. The only quirk is that it supports up to 1280x1024 pixels resolution.

Bottomline: This is a great choice for users wanting a non-widescreen monitor that gives excellent performance for all kinds of applicatoins usage.

HP 1910L

The 19” LCD display from HP has the same unique twist support base as its 17” cousin. The power and menu keys were also substantially larger than the other monitors providing ease of use.

Like its 17” counterpart this monitor also has a sleek silver bezel with keys embedded in the front.

It supports a maximum resolution of 1280x1024 pixels and has vivid colors with sharp edges resulting in excellent display output

The LCD worked great in video playback; however it again showed the same problem of pixelization in HD content due to non widescreen resolution.

Otherwise, the videos were crisp and portrayed excellent blacks with enhanced color details. However, in the Displaymate benchmark the monitor suffered color regeneration issues, and ripples were visible in Dot moiré tests.

Bottomline: Overall, this 19” monitor offers the same performance and features as its 17” cousin, and should be considered if you need a larger screen for your office.

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