A few months ago my 19 inch high resolution CRT monitor of about 5 years stopped working. I knew I wanted to get at least a 20 inch monitor as a replacement. I decided LCD monitors weren’t at the same level as CRTs just yet, so I looked at a number of large CRT monitors across various manufacturers. Finally, I decided to give the Philips 202P7 (sometimes listed as 202P73/27) 22 inch real flat CRT monitor a try.

This model is a new design for 2005, although CRT technology has been around for a while. CRT monitors look like traditional televisions with a cathode ray tube (CRT) inside (but you probably knew that). As LCDs and plasma displays have gained in popularity, it has become increasingly difficult to find a newly manufactured traditional CRT type monitor in this size at your local retail store. So, many people have either turned to ordering on-line or buying a used, older model at the local computer repair shop. So, finding a new CRT design from a well known manufacturer (i.e., Philips) seemed like a good find. Consequently, I ordered one on-line in January 2006.

The Monitor uses shadow mask technology instead of aperture grille, so no annoying faint lines in the screen background. The screen is 20 inches viewable. It has a silver face and a black case. The maximum resolution is listed as 2048 x 1536 @ 80 Hz and has a 0.25mm Dot Pitch. It has a “real flat” CRT, so no distortion at the screen corners. It’s marketed as being about the size of a 19 inch monitor, but it is actually somewhat larger. I actually had to move my desk farther from the wall to accommodate this monitor where my 19 monitor used to sit. However, it’s not too bad given that it’s a 22 inch monitor; although, it does weigh 58.1 lbs. Of course, it has all of the built-in on-screen adjustments you would expect for a monitor this size and price range (e.g., adjustments for shape, rotation, horizontal, vertical, purity, color, auto calibration, etc.).

So, why do I question if this design/model is a lemon? Well, here’s my experience, or should I say ordeal? I bought a unit in January 2006. After hooking the monitor up, I noticed substantial purity issues in the form of shadows throughout the screen; especially along the right side of the screen. Also, the monitor made an unusually loud noise when you turned it on which I believe was the degaussing circuit activating. I describe it as unusually loud because it was highly noticeable to people over the phone and because none of the replacements I received from Philips were as loud. I even took the monitor to a computer repair shop to get a second opinion on the dark shadow along the right side of the screen. They suggested returning the monitor or exchanging it with Philips. So, I contacted Philips and they were extremely nice and sent an advance replacement.

Replacement #1. The first replacement was new in the box. I hooked it up and for a few seconds it looked fine. Then it made a single loud popping sound while simultaneously a line rippled through the screen. Then the overall screen turned a maroon hue which I could not adjust out. The brightness function wouldn’t work (no effect after adjusting it all the way up or down). So, I caught the delivery person and got my original monitor back before it left town (sending the replacement back to Philips).

Replacement #2. The second replacement was what Philips calls “renewed” which means remanufactured/reconditioned. The monitor had visible nicks and scratches along the plastic seams where the case had been pried apart for repair. When you turned it on, the screen had a maroonish hue like Replacement #1 but would clear up after about a second after coming on. I contacted Philips and they apologized. They said I was not supposed to receive a renewed monitor since we were still within the first 30 days of my purchase. Again, I caught the delivery person and got my original monitor back before it left town (sending Replacement #2 back to Philips).

Replacement #3. The third replacement was also a “renewed” model. Fortunately, the package had come open during delivery and I could see the renewed sticker on the back of the monitor without taking it out of the box. So, I refused the delivery. Again, Philips apologized and this time said that all they had available were renewed models at their warehouse. They asked me to wait until they had more new models available and they would send another replacement. So, I allowed my 30 day return period to expire with the retailer while waiting on Philips.

Replacement #4. The fourth replacement arrived after a couple of weeks and looked like it would work out. So, I hooked it up and tested a few features (but, unfortunately not all of its features). I finally allowed my original monitor to return to Philips. Everything seemed fine for a few weeks. Then I decided to move the monitor to another room. After hooking it up in another room I noticed pink discoloration in the corner of the screen. I knew this was due to the phosphors being magnetized in a certain direction after sitting in the previous room. I had not exposed the monitor to any magnets or magnetic fields. Also, I expected the monitor’s degaussing circuit to clear this up, but it wouldn’t. At first I thought I needed to let the monitor cool off so that the degaussing circuit could be manually activated through the on-screen functions. I tried several times (i.e., 15 minute wait, 1 hour wait, overnight wait) but soon realized that the degaussing coil in this monitor was not working. After being exposed to several monitors of this model, I knew that the degaussing coil normally violently shakes the screen when activated. With this particular monitor, activating the degaussing circuit only yielded a very low level clicking sound and the screen didn’t flinch.

So, I took the monitor to a television repair shop and they manually degaussed it with a handheld degaussing coil. They also warned me that I would probably want to purchase a handheld degausser to keep the screen clear the next time I move the monitor if I didn’t get the monitor repaired. I notified Philips and they offered to send another replacement, but made it clear that it would be a renewed model since 30 days had passed. Given how the other renewed replacement looked and given the chance of getting a poorly repaired renewed monitor, I decided to just buy a handheld degausser and try to live with the monitor I have.

My advice to anyone thinking of buying this model is to thoroughly test every feature that this monitor is supposed to have. Otherwise, you may have a hidden defect like the many replacements I’ve experienced. The people at Philips treated me very well and I have no problem with them what so ever. But, I fear this model is a lemon and I wouldn’t buy it again if I could do it over.

Recommended: No

Amount Paid (US$): 400
Operating System: Windows