X-bit labs

19" LCD Monitors Roundup. Part IX.

Category: Other

by Aleksey Meyev

[ 02/20/2008 | 10:39 AM ]

The new round of 19-inch LCD monitors testing will focus on the solutions using TN matrixes. We will look at a few widescreen models as well as those with the traditional 5:4 screen ratio from Acer, ASUS, NEC, Samsung and ViewSonic.

Table of contents:

• Testing Methodology
  
• Acer AL1916W Asd
  
• Acer X192W
  
• ASUS MB19SE
  
• ASUS VW193D
  
• NEC AccuSync LCD93VM
  
• Samsung SyncMaster 940N
  
• Samsung SyncMaster 940T
  
• ViewSonic VA1903wb
  
• Conclusion
  

I guess you won’t be surprised to find that seven out of the eight monitors tested for this review are based on TN matrixes. This technology can boast neither good viewing angles nor a high contrast ratio in comparison with *VA or IPS matrixes, but it has one important advantage over them: TN matrixes are considerably cheaper to make. The manufacturers save not only on the type of the matrix, though. Almost all the models you’ll see in this review lack Response Time Compensation technology. The developers probably think that the response time is already high enough for office work. Some users may also take no notice of the slight variation in the specs. There seem to be little difference between monitors with a response time of 4 and 5 milliseconds, but it is actually very big, much bigger than 1 millisecond, as you’ll see again in this article.

Testing Methodology

Click the following link for a description of our testing methodology, the equipment we use, and a brief explanation of what the specified and tested parameters of LCD monitors mean: the article is called Xbit Labs Presents: LCD Monitors Testing Methodology Indepth. If you feel overwhelmed with the numbers and terms this article abounds in, check out an appropriate section of the mentioned Description for an explanation.

Acer AL1916W Asd

This model is a typical representative of the low-end market sector.

The AL1916W Asd is no different in its specs from the crowd of other inexpensive widescreen monitors without response time compensation and without dynamic contrast mode. It is good that the company honestly specifies rather narrow viewing angles typical of TN technology and doesn’t try to conceal them by using the measurement method with a contrast ratio reduction to 5:1.

This is a sample of the traditional exterior design of Acer’s inexpensive products: a rather plain-looking case rests on a simple black plastic stand. It is going to fit an office environment perfectly but home users may think it too unassuming.

The stand allows adjusting the tilt of the screen only. It can be replaced with a VESA-compatible mount if necessary.

There is a standard selection of connectors at the back panel: analog and digital inputs, and a connector of the integrated power adapter.

The control buttons are placed on a ledge centered below the screen. The Power button is highlighted with a mild green LED at work and differs from the others with its size and shape. Quick access is provided to the auto-adjustment feature and to switching between factory-set modes that are referred to as Empowering Technology.

The menu is Acer’s traditional, too. It is not very pretty or user-friendly, yet it has no serious defects, either. It offers all the ordinary setup options you may expect to find in it.