X-bit labs

19" LCD Monitors Roundup. Part VIII. (page 30)

Category: Other

by Aleksey Meyev

[ 10/11/2007 | 09:24 AM ]

Conclusion

Here is a summary of this test session.

Among the models with a standard screen resolution I’d like to single out the HP LP1965. It has a *VA matrix, which is currently rare in 19” monitors. Of course, its price is higher than that of TN-based models, but the user gains excellent viewing angles he can’t get from a TN matrix, a good and fast matrix with a low level of RTC errors, and wide setup opportunities. The LP1965 leaves an impression of a well-made product for both home and office that is going to satisfy most users.

It’s hard to name a leader among the other monitors with a resolution of 1280x1024 because each of them has certain drawbacks. BenQ’s FP91G +U and FP93G S have poor color reproduction. The NEC LCD1970VX has rather inaccurate gamma curves while the ViewSonic VA903b has a slow matrix even in comparison with the other monitors none of which has Response Time Compensation. So, if you are looking for an inexpensive monitor, you should be ready to choose the best from the worst.

Both widescreen monitors with RTC that you have seen in this review, the LG Flatron L196WTQ and Samsung SyncMaster 932GW, stand out among the others not only with their fast matrixes but also with nice exterior design and acceptable setup quality. But the L196WTQ has a worse setup of color temperature modes and a very irregular backlight whereas the 932GW has an excellent contrast ratio but a rather high level of RTC errors. It’s hard to tell which is the better of the two. But anyway, these models have extended your choice of widescreen 19” monitors.

The other monitors reviewed in this article are based on widescreen matrixes without RTC and are close to each other in their quality, which is far from high. Choosing among these monitors is an agonizing process since you are not looking for the best characteristics, but for a monitor that is not as bad as the others. The ASUS VW191s and VW192s are such not-too-bad models and differ in minor details between each other. The NEC LCD195WXM features somewhat broader functionality, offering a digital input and screen height adjustment, but it costs more than the other products in this category while its setup quality and matrix speed are as poor as those of the others.