Eizo = Big Screen Badness
Written: Jun 11 '02 (Updated Jun 11 '02)
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Pros: Large viewable area.
Sexy black colour.
Saves on desktop space.
Cons: Price.
The Bottom Line: A fantastic improvement in PC viewing technology, over the standard CRT. Eizo flatscreens, in particular, are well-crafted and a pleasure to own.
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| britguy's Full Review: Eizo FlexScan L 66 Monitor |
When presented with the opportunity to move up from a 15 in. monitor to an 18.1 in. LCD model, I really didn't hesitate. After all, the price was right - FREE!
Touted by Eizo on their homepage as the first 18 inch LCD to be brought to the market(at the time), this is a monitor full of bells and whistles, and, had I actually paid for it, it would still have been a bargain. There is just so much that this monitor has to offer, that it's hard to know just where to begin. I'll try and address the various attributes of this monitor and hope that I touch on the most important features that it has to offer.
Appearance
This monitor comes in regulation computer-beige or in ultra-sexy black finish. Buttons to adjust settings are placed on the lower right-hand edge of the bezel, but are very hard to distinguish, being of the same colour as their surroundings. In a dark, or even dimly-lit environment, the buttons all but disappear.
I have the beautiful black finish, so I only see the buttons in daylight!
Viewed from the side, you can see why flatscreens are so desirable. Front to back, this monitor is less than 6 in. deep. Unlike my Samsung 15 in. monitor which measures about 14 in. from front to back.
Tech Specs
The dot-pitch is .28mm and the monitor is capable of displaying 16.7 million colours. The viewable screen-size measures 18.1 in. diagonally. The recommended screen resolution is 1280 x 1024.
On the back of the stand are two (yes! two!) connections allowing for the use of two separate computers with this one monitor. Also, you will find a built-in USB hub, with one 'upstream' port that connects to your computer or another USB hub, and four 'downstream' ports that allow for the hooking-up of your mouse, scanner, printer, keyboard, digital camera, another USB hub, or, indeed, any other USB device that you might wish to connect to your computer.
The Experience
First off, I have to say that just moving up from my old 15 in. CRT to this screen feels like comparing the screen of a Gameboy to that in an IMAX theatre! Working in Photoshop is much easier because there is room on the screen for your image and all of those many menus that float around in Photoshop. Playing my beloved video games is a much more pleasant experience. I can see the images, now, and I don't come away with a headache after only a couple of hours. Online, things are improved, also. Webpages don't always flow off the side and the bottom of my screen anymore. In fact, it is rare for me to have to scroll much anymore. Colours (easily adjustable via onscreen menu) are rich and true, sharpness is really very good considering it is an LCD screen. The only time I experience any blurring is if there is a whole lot of action/motion in a particular scene of a DVD that I may happen to be watching. But it is not the norm, and I haven't noticed it to the extent that it ruins my enjoyment of a film. The best part of all, was that Windows XP Pro recognized this monitor correctly, and automatically set up drivers for the monitor and it's built-in USB hub.
Cool!
The Conclusion
Eizo Nanao has crafted a wonderful piece of computer equipment here, and I can honestly say that I would buy another monitor from this company when this one dies.
If anybody is interested in obtaining this model from Eizo directly, simply point your browser to their homepage at;
http//www.eizo.com/contact/buyindex.html
Or call them at 1-800-800-5202 ext.300
This model, if purchased from Eizo, in brand-new condition sells for $800. If you opt for a refurbished one, it will cost $550. They are happy to accept Visa & Mastercard
Of course, you are also able to purchase some of their newer models, but obviously, the prices will be a bit higher also.
Recommended:
Yes
Operating System: Windows
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Epinions.com ID:
britguy
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Member: Ken
Location: Yonkers,New York
Reviews written: 52
Trusted by: 30 members
About Me:
Raised in England
Living in America
Wife and 2 kids
Lab Technologist and Photographer
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