Monitor Reviews

I compared lot of 15" & 17" LCD at the market, here's some of my suggestions:
1. Don't settle anything less than 400:1 contrast ratio (higher the better)
2. Look for the response time, range is vary, the lower the better
3. NEC & Viewsonic will be my choice...Samsung's quality is not that impressive as some websites described
4. Dead pixel(s), more than 3 is unacceptable, but I will say one is more than enough...(Look at the return policy before you buy) If you can't live with it, you better shop at the local dealers so you can test it before you buy.
5. The quality of this LCD is good for daliy use, you won't disappointed.

I bought the NEC MultiSync 1560 about 7 months ago. I happen to have the white/gray one, not black. This LCD is the best, and a great value. The 15" format is perfectly fine for me.
I am so not disappointed with my purchase! I am a student, so I need some working space on my desk, and this LCD takes very little space on it.
The picture is near perfect. I use Webshots for my wallpaper, and the images render just great. I can almost see myself on that tropical island!!! :) I play games a lot too, they look great.

The word gorgeous applies to both the 1560V's picture quality and exterior styling. I personally prefer this black one, although you might want to check out the gray (white?) one if that's your color. Teh contrast ratio is excellent, and according to a recent PC World research report (and much to my pleasant surprise), NEC-Mitsubishi understates the contrast ratio on their LCD monitors, so you get more than what the manufacturer tells. (Apparently all the South Korean manufacturers overstate their contrast ratio, therefore shortchanging their customers this way.) Even though this is only a 15-inch LCD, the screen feels big due to the black frame. Set-up is a breeze, even for most beginners. And it stands out nicely on your desktop. I've owned another NEC LCD monitor for over 4 years and have had no problem, so I feel confident about the 1560V's quality as well. Very highly recommended. This is the one to get, unless you want the NEC-Mitsubishi 17-inch or larger LCDs. :)

The Trinitron tube has been notorious for a light vertical pink stripe that has been commonly noticed on the left or right side of the screen. It's only visible on occasion depending on what is shown on the screen. I have been to Best Buy, Circuit City, Conns, Sears and have viewed all the display models and found that every Sony Wega 27" has this problem (some worse than others). I've even been online and have found that other owners have complained about the same problem. Sony authorized repair shops in my area have told me that they get alot of 27" in for repairs. I bought it though b/c Sony does have the best clarity and resolution compared with any other flat 27" TV on the market. Trust me, I returned a perfectly fine Toshiba FST because the resolution wasn't as clean and crisp. What's also great about this model is the speakers are side mounted that improves the sound greatly. The older model WEGA had there speakers mounted on the bottom which created a rattling sound when the volume was too high. The 2 tuner PIP comes in handy when you want to channel surf while waiting for a program to return from commercials. Not worth the extra [amt] though. But you have no choice, this particular television does not have a model w/o PIP. What's also great about this set is it has a 16:9 compressor that allows you to watch anamorphic widescreen DVDs with greater resolution. Furthermore, the problem of scan lines which plagued the WEGA models below this is not existant on this set because of the new 3D Comb Filter. In other words, you see a clean, sharp picture without those annoying horizontal lines. Overall this is a great set, but it definitely loses marks for the pink lines and price.

Granted, after watching television for 10 years on a 19" screen, almost anything would be a step up...

One day, after watching me do something on my computer, my wife mentioned that the 17" monitor was almost as large as our TV screen. I started thinking, and decided it was time to step into the 21st century for our home entertainment.

After checking out websites, and retailers, we decided to take the plunge with the beautiful Sony Wega 27" TV. Needless to say, we have not been disappointed. The screen size is perfect for the living room of our apartment. Anything bigger might have been too much. A rule of thumb is this: Screen Size x 3 = optimal viewing distance.

Picture quality on the flat screen is incredible. Obviously, it isn't like HDTV, but it is still incredible. The viewing angle is very large - you can stand off to the side and view the screen and not miss much (if anything). The remote control and set up are very easy, and the speakers actually sound pretty good. We have home theater, so we don't use the TV's speakers, but every now and again, we'll use them when our son is asleep. They aren't bad at all!

The TV itself is gorgeous. The cabinet is a slightly darker gray than earlier Wegas, and I think this is an improvement. It serves to make it stand out at retailers, especially since companies like JVC made some silver-colored cabinets after Sony broke the mode with its original Wegas.

If you are looking for a 27" color TV, you would be doing yourself a favor by considering this model.

Given the number of complaints I've heard about the Sony Wegas (pink lines, color distortions, picture warping, etc.) and having seen some of the problems on early Wega models in showrooms, I was hesitant about purchasing one. After looking at dozens of models at a variety of stores however, I'm pretty convinced that the majority of problems have been fixed on the more recent models. The Wega KV-27FV17 picture was superior to any other 27" television I looked at over several weeks, and so I decided to take one home. I can report that after a few weeks, I've had no problems, and the picture quality is superb. I have noticed the slight picture bulge some people have complained about when reading the tickers or crawls at the bottom of the screen on business channels. It's minor, so unless you're purchasing a set to obsessively read business or news crawls, it's nothing to lose sleep over. That said, the picture when watching everything else is excellent, and spectacular when using an S-cable or component cable to watch DVD's or digital cable/satelite systems. I'm very pleased with this model.

I was looking for a "one watch fits all", this one does the job. The Suunto X6HR is a lot like the Casio G-Shock series of watches but not so bulky. I was afraid the watch would be too big but found it not quite as tall as the G-Shocks and a lot more rounded and ergonomic. As for the display, it is functional but I like the G-Shock format better. The menus on the watch take some getting use to but no big deal. The backlight bothers me a little in the fact that you have to hold the button for 2 seconds before it will light up (normal mode). I also wish the alarm were louder, I'm sure I'll sleep right through the weak beeps. The thermometer, barometer, and compass are very accurate, I like that. I also liked the mineral glass face. I always scratch up my plastic face watches when I am outdoors. The PC interface is easy to use but requires a serial port. The software is well written. Overall, a good watch that does it all. I'd say it is more of a $200 watch than a $450 watch.

I gave it five stars. You can find all the advantages of the wrist computer elsewhere (they are real and numerous), I just want to mention several unconveniences that I noticed:
- you can not get a chart in the Hiking mode, it works only in Chrono. (Documentation is kind of vague but it looks like it says X6HR CAN record data in Hiking mode, otherwise that feature is much less useful and meaningful).
- Weather mode (i.e. temperature) is not completely as you must place the wristop aside from your hand for some 15 minutes but I can not see any workaround so it's ok.
- Suunto software sometimes crashes (frequently when you try to close it) but most of the time it works quite good (export to excel, print, etc.)
- Device is quite bulky (you always have an option to wait for another couple of years).
- Heart rate monitor works fine if you are hiking but it's not always the case if you try to record the heart rate while driving the car for example. It definitely depends on posture but the transmission belt seemed to be positioned correctly.

Summary:
excellent device (but if and when X9HR become available it'd definitely be a killer).

I,ve been using this watch for a few months and really like it.
A great machine that really handle the hard conditions of climbing and give the right information when u need it.

I bought this unit to use for Geocaching and I recommend it highly. My minimum requirements were that it have WAAS (allows better accuracy under certain circumstances, often as good a 3 meters) and 12 channel operation (gives more consistent operation when the view of the sky is partially obscured, or changing, as when in the woods). This unit seems to be the best value given these requirements.

Overall I am very pleased with the unit. I like the fact that it allows some customization. For intance, one can choose which screens are shown (for example some views are not usefull for geochaching).

My biggest complaint is that the SporTrak, like many electronic devices, has a user interface that appears to have been designed by engineers without any "human factors" experts on the team. Its not a really big deal, but if the user interface were logically thought out I'd have given it a 5 rather than a 4.

Particularly since I only use it ocassionally, I find myself frustrated sometimes by the not-very-intuitive steps need to program in new waypoints and selecting a destination.

Very good unit and a very good value.

I lost my trusty 315 and was hoping to not reinvest in cables, etc. Thankfully all of the cables attach and work fine. Even my old case fits it well. The screens are identical to the 315, though this one already feels snappier and more quickly establishes position. I have heard this antenna design is very good, but one needs to hold it upright (vertical) rather than looking at the screen like the Garmin units.

Highly recommend this little unit for basic GPS functions.

I have only had my Magellan SporTrak for a few days and it has already amazed me with both it's versatility and precision. It only took about 5 minutes to get it up and running the first time. It has so many features and can hold a lot of waypoints/routes. The receiver can track up to 12 satellites simultaneously, and even though there are normally only 4-8 sats. in the sky above you at one time, it allows accuracy to the foot (my experience). This GPS is a must have if you are into hiking/hunting/fishing or even just for vehicle navigation. It has a strong, rugged design but is still very attractive. It is so easy to use and there is no way you can beat this price.

I bought this monitor for my old Performa two years ago. There were some problems getting the right adapter initially, but once I did, it was easy to hook up. You can adjust the color and brightness with a press of a button, located conveniently on the front. I've never had a problem with over-heating like I had with my previous monitor, although I must say that this monitor does put out quite a bit of warmth when I've had it on all day. And, it is big and bulky, like one reviewer mentioned. But the picture quality is very good for both graphics and desktop publishing. It was well worth the money.

I was stuck in the torment which is a really old small monitor. When I would surf, most web sites didn't show up correctly because of it, and I decided to buy a new monitor. I chose this one, for the price, and because a friend recommended it to me, having purchased one himself.

When I plugged this one in, it was like the scene in Wizard of Oz, when it goes from black in white to color. Amazing. The difference it made in viewing web pages is awesome.

I primarily use mine for web surfing, word processing and some graphics design, and I've been quite pleased.

The monitor works with both my current computer, a Pentium III, and my old one, an AMD-K6. It was very easy for me to hook up, and I didn't even have to use the software which came with it, it already was compatible with my computer, which was a plus. I love just being able to plug things in and go!

I set out looking for a moderately priced monitor with a clear crisp picture, and I got it. I'm completely satisfied.

The only thing negative I can think to say is that it takes up alot of room on my computer desk! It's quite big and bulky. But for the price and picture quality, it's a small price to pay.

I have had this monitor for 7 months. All I can really say about it is that its great. I like it so well that I plan on buying another one in a few months.

It is a beautifully designed monitor, but if you have a small but basic problem (no access to the menu of controls), you are out of luck. No manual. Lots of sites supposed to help, but once you get there they just go in circles with no actual or meaningful response.

At this price, Samsung should do better.

I have had this monitor for almost a year and have had no problems whatsoever with it. It is somewhat confusing to do trivial things like switching between analog and digital modes using the fancy touchpad of buttons. However, these little things are trivial since the clarity of this monitor is truly unparalleled. It has the sharpest picture of anything that I have seen on the market to this very day. It is definitely on the expensive side but you definitely get what you pay for.

I've had the SyncMaster 171P for several months, find it very clear, with no problems in adjustment. The "Auto" adjustment pretty much optimizes the display, which is uniform, bright, and refreshed more quickly than any other I've seen. This Porsche is the "Cadillac" of LCD monitors!

I bought this monitor to replace my old 17in flat screen monitor and I don't regret it. This is a great monitor when its functioning correctly; However, When I recieved mine, it already had a dead pixel right in the center. In the last 2 weeks I have had it 3 more dead pixels have appear, so I only have one more dead pixel to go before I can replace it. So, I am just giving you a slight warning so your not caught off gaurd like I was. Good luck.

I bought this monitor about 6 months ago when it was a little more available and priced competitively with 4:3 aspect ratio monitors. Too bad wide screens have not caught on in 17" size because I love it. The eyes work much better scanning horizontally, and I like the ability to have 2 applications side by side.

The colors, brightness and contrast on this monitor are outstanding. Very good resolution on fonts compared with other LCD's in its price range. Speakers are adequeate for web browsing and office application sounds. Form factor is beautiful. And you just can't compare watching a widescreen DVD on a 4:3 with this monitor (although it's actually a 15:9, not a 16:9).

Highly recommended if you can get it close to five bills like I did.

I bought this monitor to replace a Viewsonic PF790 19", and I am cherishing the desk space I have regained! I haven't noticed the difference in screen real estate as I was running that monitor at a similar resolution. The built-in speakers are okay, but I have kept my existing external speakers. I have a TNT2-Ultra Nvidia graphics card, and after downloading the right drivers, I was able to use the full WXGA 1280x768 resolution over the VGA connection.
The onscreen menus are very easy to use, and the image is always sharp and clear. I am using it with Windows XP, and a little ClearText fine-tuning was required.
I have not mounted it to a wall, but it is very simple to do as it comes with a mounting plate. The extra real estate is nice, especially for Movie Maker 2.
I can't recommend this unique monitor highly enough. This is a cheaper alternative to a similar Sony model that has all the circuitry to accept different sources, and thus makes the Sony more costly.
There is another quick review at CNET of this product.

One of the first things I noticed upon opening up and unpacking the box, was that Sony does NOT include any ink (ribbon) or paper for this printer in the box. Not even one sheet. So, to avoid disappointment about not being able to immediately start using the printer, make sure you buy one of the ink/paper packages too.

The included software is "so-so". Sony's included photo application is rough, and I fell into fatal errors with it quite easily. Their photo application works directly with the printer, bypassing Window's printer drivers, which brings me to my next software comment.

It also includes a printer driver for Windows that allows other applications, presumably for photos, to print using the DPP-EX50. However, while it worked, it had a little annoying problem where the image was slightly off centered. This results in "borderless" prints actually getting a thin white border on the bottom and right sides. I found no way around this bug, including trying to manual re-size the image slightly larger, and trying to move it slightly down/right.

While the DPP-EX50 prints absolutely wonderful pictures, I am patiently waiting for Sony to release some software fixes.

If you're going to a wedding or birthday party and want to leave some prints for the celebrants, the EX50 is a great toy to have. You can print up to 4x6 with very high quality on smudge-free paper - and for its intended use, that's important. You can print directly from Memory Stick or Compact Flash, or you can strap it to your laptop and work that way. You can use the video out jack to view the images on a TV. All this in a compact little package for about $180 - not cheap but this is a good quality tool.

This printer is awesome! THe colors and print outs are so beautiful and i take this with me everywhere. my mom and i are now starting to take family photos at our house parties and printing them out on this printer for them to take home. its so neat and easy to use. I learned how to use it on the tv within minutes and actually prefer the tv then the computer.

I think the only problem is trying to find the paper. I can find the 4x6 post cards everywhere.. but the smaller ones are a little harder to find and I end up driving atleast 45 minutes to the nearest Sonystyle store to purchase it.

all in all this is a great picture especially if you have a good quality 3.0 megapixel camera. (The less quality the camera is, the more grainy the picture with be.)

sidenote: the pictures usually come out depending on how the pictures are taken with the camera. If the digital camera shows a bad picture, chances are the printer with print the bad picture.

p.s i think that printers that are so compact should come with a bag like camcorders and cameras do.

For a while now, Apple has been the unquestioned leader in LCD technology, especially for Mac users. But that hegemony may well be coming to an end. While nothing quite "matches" your Macintosh aesthetically like a genuine Apple monitor, ViewSonic's definitely making your choices more complicated with monitors like this one.

With basic monitor functions on balance equal to Apple's 17" LCD, the choice comes down to how much you think the extra 1.1 visible inches are worth, and how much you like to swing. You can swivel this monitor around on its x-axis, meaning you can be virtually anywhere in you computer room and still have a straight-on line-of-sight to the monitor. This is very handy when you want to sit away from your computer desk and watch a DVD. Apple's LCD isn't nearly so convenient to reorient. Nor is it particularly flexible when it comes to tilting. With an Apple LCD, you get one viewing angle. With the ViewSonic, you've got 20° to play with.

To put it simply, ViewSonic gives desktop Macintosh users the experience of using one of the new iMacs--but with a much bigger screen.

It also offers a more convenient connection for most G3 and G4 users. While some see an advantage to Apple's ADC connector (it carries both USB and display signals, reducing the total number of cables swirling around your desk), it has the disadvantage of not having much support amongst video card manufacturers. This means that if you want to have two monitors set up on your Macintosh, you'll probably have to buy an ADC converter just to plug in your monitor. The ViewSonic, by contrast, reduces the chance you'll need a converter, and lowers the price if you do.

Where this monitor falls short of expectations for Mac users, however, is in its so-called "portrait" mode. ViewSonic claims you can turn the monitor 180° so that it's oriented lengthwise. The problem, for Mac users, is that the software that makes this reorientation possible isn't at all OS X compatible. And, according to e-mails I've received within the last month, the software company responsible is at an impasse getting it working with OS X. A solution will probably come one day, but for the moment, OS X users can't fully use this monitor. While portrait mode is available if you boot up under earlier versions of the Mac OS, it should be noted that this problem affects all ViewSonic pivoting LCDs.

That fairly serious incompatibility aside, however, this monitor gives Mac users reason to pause. Since Apple's LCDs will never be able to pivot anyway, the (hopefully temporary) loss of that function in OS X isn't as big a deal as it might be. Indeed, with the way ViewSonic is expanding their LCD offerings, the competition isn't so much with Apple anymore as it is with itself. ViewSonic offers a whole range of LCD monitors with a variety of different functions (including the ability to share one monitor between two computers, or to plug an S-video source directly into the monitor) that you should probably research if you're considering the VG181.

For one thing the base is heavy, which good because it's stable. You can adjust the tilt/swivel while the flat panel stays put
in its location on your desk. Everything about this model is high quality. The brightness is far better than my previous flat panel. Contrast is very good. You get both a DVI input, and an analog input, which is great for me because I have two computers (one with DVI graphics card and one with analog) and so I plug both into the flat panel and can switch back and forth. Remember to use the native 1280x1024 resolution, then everything will look very sharp.

I own one and it is great. The clarity of the text is so good that most the time I can do without my low power reading glasses. I also bought an ATI card with digital output and that really makes this monitor shine. If you get an LCD make sure it takes digital input (this is important for razor sharp images).

Not a single dead or "on" pixel anywhere. The contrast is incredible, and the geometry is excellent. At first it seemed the geometry was wrong. I put a paper edge up to the screen and a line on the screen was the same as the paper's edge. The flat screen is correct, the old tube was wrong.

You get what you pay for. Confused? Check out the contrast ratio that the other LCD monitors have and then check out this one. The contrast ratio is what makes everything sharp and defined.

The only LCD equal to the Viewsonic contrast ratio was one costing hundreds more. Oh yeah, forget about games on this LCD unless they do 1024 x 1024 resolution.

I just bought my viewsonic VA720 today. At home I plugged it in, it is very good looking and has a very sharp picture. At first the image was a little shaky and I couldn't understand why. Then I discovered the auto-adjust feature, which is very useful. I ran it and the weird lines disappeared. The only problem with the monitor is that it has a dead pixel. When the monitor shows a black screen the pixel shows up magenta. It really is an eye sore. I am going to take it back to the store tomorrow see if I can get it replaced. Everything is super, just for that lonesome pixel. If it weren't for that defect I would have given it a perfect 5.

Crisp and sharp images, slim and sleek design. Definetely compliments any computer system. Game play is great!

VERY impressed with this monitor. Outstanding resolution and color. By far and away the best at displaying text of any 17" I have looked at. I have yet to do video editing with this monitor, and Viewsonic doesn't provide a refresh rate for it, so I am a little nervous about that. But as someone who doesn't "game" and mostly uses this for graphics and text work, this is outstanding. My only gripe is that the screen bounces a little when I type, but I haven't seen a 17" that didn't . . . And although it isn't as handsome as the NEC or even the Sony, it's no eyesore. And the image blows those two away.