I needed a monitor that would switch between standard Video inputs and VGA computer inputs, and I found this Polaroid to be the perfect fit.

What is it? The Polaroid FLM-1511 LCD TV is a small standard format (4:3) High Definition Television monitor. You can watch 720p or 1080i programs on it, and it looks as sharp as you would expect HDTV to look. You can also use it as a computer monitor.

Set Up The inputs are on the back, so you just plug in the included power cord, and your choice of inputs. You need to hold the unit as you push in your inputs, because it is a small light weight unit. If you are plugging in monster cables, you may knock it over if you don't hold it while pushing them in. Nevertheless, setup is so simple that I could do it.

Inputs This has only a few basic inputs, one component input (3 separate cables for video signals), one S-Video input, one composite input, and one VGA input for a computer. I like it because my computer is part of my home theater system in my living room. I have all my MP3s on a computer, and switching this monitor to the computer via buttons on the top, lets me view my MusicMatch Jukebox program and select songs. If I want to select songs from a DVD without pulling down my movie screen and turning on my projector, I can switch to the Component Video input. If I just want to flip on the weather channel or watch some TV I can watch on this. I have my cable box hooked to it, although there is an input for a regular antennae. (but not an HD antennae) There is no HDMI input.

To use this unit in conjunction with my movie projector, I simply used a high end video switch box which allows up to four component video inputs and two component video outputs. The box thus allows me to place any one of four inputs on both monitors. This Polaroid is monitor one, my projector is monitor two.

Aspect Ratios This unit is odd for one thing. It is a High Definition TV but it has a 1028 x 768 resolution or 4:3. Therefore, if I used the component video input, I got squashed people, because both my Hi Def Cable box and DVD player are set to put out a Widescreen signal for my movie projector. To get the proper aspect ratio, I either have to go into setup and switch the output to letterbox or watch via the inferior composite input. Watching via composite, just puts the image on the screen in 4:3, which is fine for the majority of cable programs (except those in hi def). If DVD programs are in full screen, the signal arrives full screen using the component video inputs, it is only Widescreen sources that have to be played with to get them right. However, my computers native resolution matches perfectly with the input for this monitor.

Picture Quality Once you have the aspect ratio set, video images look just fine, they are perfectly crisp, and this unit has good left to right angle resolution. That is, if you are off to the side, the picture still looks very good. I originally had this mounted on a high shelf, and the angle for up and down degrades. You want to watch this unit about eye level, because if you look up or down at it, the image degrades. Computer picture is just fine, I have even drafted a few epinions on it, when my main computer was busy burning a DVD or some other resource hungry task. My son plays Runescape in the living room with the Polaroid monitor and he also likes the quality.

Sound Quality Well, this is a small 15 inch monitor with little stereo speakers. If I just want to watch the news or some program on cable sitting in my chair without using my surround sound receiver for full volume, it has adequate sound. I sometimes use this to get the news or weather when my main system is playing music. I wouldn't use the built in speakers for watching a movie or a concert at all though.

Controls I got this unit on sale, so I didn't get a remote, but everything you need is on a row of buttons along the top that allow you to control volume, picture quality (brightness contrast etc.) and source input. There is no Picture in a Picture on this unit. Once I got the buttons down, I don't even need to look at them.

Summary It is a small versatile unit for putting HDTV somewhere that you don't need a big screen. You may also use it as a computer monitor, and switch easily back and forth. My problem was that the aspect ratio would be off on HDTV and Widescreen DVD sources without a lot of menu adjustments. I would give this unit 3 stars.


Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 200