17" LCD Part I: Six Sexy Panels
Conclusion
Name | L712 | X-174 | TFT 7020 | PV 720a | 170B2M | LM 1711 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manufacturer | ADI | AG Neovo | Compaq | CTX | Philips | Solarism |
Price in US $ | $659 | $917 | $820 | $685 | - | $1099 |
Technology | TN + Film | MVA | TN + Film | TN + Film | nc | IPS |
Panel manufacturer | CHI MEY | Fujitsu | Acer | Acer | Acer | Samsung |
Response time | 40 ms | 25 ms | 25 ms | 45 ms | 40 ms | 40 ms |
No of colors displayed | 16 million | 16 million | 16 million | 16 million | 16 million | 16 million |
Contrast rate | 300 : 1 | 400 : 1 | 400 : 1 | 350 : 1 | 400 : 1 | 400 : 1 |
Brightness | 250 cd/m² | 220 cd/m² | 250 cd/m² | 250 cd/m² | 250 cd/m² | 600 cd/m² |
Vertical angle of vision | 1100 | 1600 | 1400 | 1150 | 1600 | 1700 |
Horizontal angle of vision | 1200 | 1600 | 1500 | 1200 | 1600 | 1700 |
Screen (diagonal measurement) | 17 inches | 17 inches | 17 inches | 17 inches | 17 inches | 17 inches |
Connection | VGA + S-VIDEO + DVI | VGA + S-VIDEO + DVI | VGA + DVI | VGA | Analog + Digital | VGA + S-VIDEO + DVI |
Integrated loudspeakers | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Pivoting function | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Size (mm) | 486 x 479 x 214 | 432 x 407 x 175 | 436 x 424 x 178 | 438 x 447 x 166 | 414 x 406 x 180 | 450 x 430 x 200 |
Weight | 6 Kg | 7 Kg | 6.5 Kg | 7.5 Kg | 7 Kg | 8.1 Kg |
Six screens competed in Part I of this test. Of all the displays, Solarism was the only one that stood out from the rest. What it has going for it are bright, luminous colors that are unbelievably comfortable to use. On the other hand, the response time is rather poor, which limits its use for games such as Quake.
Next in line is the Philips screen with its exceptional ergonomics. Tied for third place are the ADI and CTX, two monitors without a particular defect except for a slight tendency to veer towards a dominant color. The CTX has a slight advantage in that the PV720a has a pivoting function.
The Compaq and NEOVO screens bring up the rear. Our opinion is that they are only good enough for office use in a corporate environment.
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