I have been in the display/multimedia business for a while now, so I have been familiar with LCD technology and it's benefits and shortcomings since before flat-panels have become so popular. In the beginning (well, not the beginning but post laptop) LCD monitors came into existence as a way to free up space on your computer desktop. They were outrageously expensive, but if you needed that space it was worth it. Only recently have they become an avant-garde replacement for the tube-based TV, ushered in by new technology like gas-plasma screens.

It used to be the case (and largely still is) that, if you wanted to replace your computer monitor you bought an LCD screen made specifically to take a VGA input, and if you were more interested in video, you bought a screen that was tailored to a video signal. A few companies in the last year or so have tried to combine both technologies into one unit, but the end result was usually that it would display one input type mediocre and the other one horrible.

Sony appears to be the first company that I know of to get it right. The V72W flat-panel monitor is able to take in a VGA signal (your computer), a Video or S-Video signal (your VCR or video game), and even an RGB signal (your DVD player). It also supports such cutting edge technology as progressive scan and HDTV!

Now, here's the best part -- they all look good! The VGA/data display from a computer is crisp and clear, the RGB/Video display from a DVD is ghost free, and the colors are correct and not washed out. It also has an exceptional off-axis viewing angle, once the achilles heel of LCD technology.

The finish is exceptional (I have the black one, which is a nice gloss black with matte-black accents), and it comes with an elegant removable stand that can be taken off if you want to wall mount it. (Unfortunately, it does NOT come with a wall mount bracket, but few displays do since everyone wants to mount theirs different. It does have threaded holes in a VESA mounting pattern so you can add one, though).

Other accessories include a credit-card sized remote that controls all the main functions of the monitor (volume, modes, power -- the controls on the side are hard to use unless you memorize them, so this comes in handy), and extension cables for the inputs, which are located on the back. The unit also has built-in speakers directly beneath the monitor, which add to it's size/presence a bit.

The screen size is 17" diagonal, but because it is a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio it is a little on the small side for the money. Actual screen dimension is 14.5" wide by 8.5" high.

If you are in the market for a new, never-before-touched-by-human-hands version, expect to pay $800+ for a retail version. A demo unit may shave off a hundred bucks or so, but a refurbished unit can easily be had in the sub $600 range. I took my time and hunted down a good deal and was able to get my refurbished unit for $500 shipped. Still a hefty price to pay for an LCD, but in this case at least you get the quality you pay for. Kudos to Sony for paving the way and showing other companies how an all-in-one monitor should perform.

Specs from Sony:

• Model:SDM-V72W/B
• Color: Black
• LCD Panel size:17.1"
• LCD Panel Type: a-Si TFT Active Matrix
• Maximum resolution: WXGA (1280 x 768)
• Pixel pitch: 0.29mm
• Colors: 16.2 million
• Luminance:450 cd/m2 (Max.)
• Contrast Ratio: 500:1 (Max.)
• Horizontal scan range: 28 70 kHz
• Vertical scan range: 48 85 Hz
• Viewing Angle:
Horizontal: 1500
Vertical: 1200
• Response Time (Rise/Fall): 22ms
• Tilt Range: -30 to + 150
• Video input connectors:
Component (Y Pb Pr)
S-Video
Video
PC
Video
• Audio Speaker Power: 3 W x 2
• Power Management:
Normal Operation: 49 W (Max.)
Deep Sleep Mode: 2 W (average)
Remote Off: 2 W (average)
Power Off: 1 W (average)
• Product measurements (approx.): With Stand Base Without Stand Base Height16.9 in13.7 in Width18.6 in18.6 in Depth7.2 in2.9 in Weight13.0 lbs11.2 lbs
• Shipping measurements (approx.):
Height 19.8 in
Width 22.9 in
Depth 10.4 in
Weight19.1 lbs (gross)
• Supplied Accessories:
AC power cord
AC Adapter
Quick Set-up Guide
CD-ROM with Set-up Tour and Instruction Manual (in English, French and Spanish)
Utility files and Macintosh Utility files.
HD15 Video Signal Cable
Composite Video Extension Cable
S-Video Extension Cable
Audio Cable with Stereo Mini Plugs
Limited Warranty Card (3 years)


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 475
Operating System: Windows and Macintosh