|
Strengths: Color depth, resolution, clarity, brightness, DVI Interface (true digital), brightness
Weaknesses: absolutely none.. nada... zilcho... zip!
Summary: 2005-04-08 20:59:28 I had been watching the prices on LCD monitors for over two years and when my present 20" flat CRT began to show it's age, the price for this LCD monitor was below $800.00, so it was time to buy. My criteria were: color depth (which gives smoothness to a shadow on a face, for instance), 1600 x 1200 pixels, 20" format, a 16ms response time, a DVI interface and brightness. I will comment on these six criteria as they relate to my summary of this monitor.
1. Color depth: Digital photos are lifelike in the colors and surface textures with no discernable "choppy" effect on the soft shadows on a face, etc. Color depth is a true 24 bit color. This is key, as there are many LCD monitors that boast a true 24 bit color depth and yet photos of people appear like a mosaic rather than having smooth shading transitions on faces, etc.
2. 1600 x 1200 resolution: This separates the lower priced big monitors from the high end ones. Lower end large (19" and up) LCD's are only 1024 x 768. I need the higher res for my CAD work and this resolution is brilliant on the ViewSonic VP201S. With this size monitor, a lower resolution draws attention to the pixels and causes eye strain.
3. 20" format: Unlike CRT's which are measured from glass corner to glass corner, resulting in a smaller format image, the 20" format is a true 20 inches diagonal. Sitting side by side with my Viewsonic 20" CRT, the ViewSonic VP201S seems so much larger and produces about the same area as a 22" CRT.
4. 16 ms response time: This pixel refresh rate is crucial in viewing DVD's, as the video frames transition smooth without ghosting or blurring as would be the case with a 25 ms response time monitor. Although not as fast as a CRT, the 16 ms speed is the fastest LCD technology to date and is very acceptable in viewing DVD's. Slower LCD monitors (25 ms) tend to draw attention to the LCD rather than the movie itself.
5. DVI Interface: This interface allows the image to be generated from your video card in digital format (without being regenerated from an analog RGB signal) and directly mapped, pixel for pixel to the LCD display, providing that you have set your desktop to the same resolution as the monitor. Having been accustomed to a UXGA resolution (1600 x 1200), I held out until this resolution became affordable. My CAD designs are crystal clear and the lack of a refresh rate typical with a CRT means that I can run at 60 Hz and use the memory in my video card for color depth instead. The reason is that the backlight in an LCD monotor does not create that characteristic flicker like a CRT at 60 Hz. The DVI interface provides a crisp image far superior to that of a monitor which is mapped to pixel groups and not one-for-one pixel ratio as with the ViewSonic VP201S. With an LCD there is no issue with convergence as there are no RGB color guns to have to align as with a CRT. Edge to edge and all over the display, all pixels are equally as crisp and in focus.
6. Brightness: Far superior to that of the best CRT monitor. Florescent lighting is much easier to produce than brightness from CRT color guns... just a better technology all around! I am amazed how much brighter this ViewSonic VP201S is than a CRT and you will be too!
In summary, this is really a stellar monitor and the best value for the price. My next purchase shall be another so that I can design with two side by side, expanding my desktop 100%. FYI, this requires a special dual monitor (dual DVI being my preference) video card.
 100% of People (57/57) found this review helpful. Was this review helpful or unhelpful for you?
 There are no comments for this review. Post a comment.
| 
Report this as 
