Sony quality at a Sony price
Written: Jan 09 '02
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Ease of Use: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Huge screen and excellent visual quality.
Cons: Pricey, and the built-in speakers are a joke.
The Bottom Line: This is the definition of a high end LCD - superior visual quality and features, but also a large price tag.
|
|
|
| albrtlee's Full Review: Sony SDM-M81 18 inch LCD Monitor |
With Apple Computer’s recent unveiling of its flat panel iMac, it is clear that flat panel displays have finally hit the mainstream market. But while it is true that prices for 15” flat panels are now quite attractive, the cost of the Sony SDM-M81 display is still quite high.
Before I get into the specifics of the SDM-M81, I would first like to provide some general information about flat panel displays and their differences from traditional monitors. If you already know how LCDs work, this is your hint to skip down a few paragraphs…
LCD? Isn’t that illegal?
Flat panel displays are also known as LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays). The most noticeable difference between LCDs and traditional CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors is the slimmer form factor. LCDs have a much sleeker shape and smaller footprint, making them very attractive for student dormitories and home offices where desk space is at a premium. But beyond size and shape, LCDs and CRT monitors employ entirely different technologies and differ in many other respects.
Electrons in your face!
CRT monitors are designed using the same technology found in your standard television set. Inside the monitor, a cathode ray tube is used to create a beam of electrons. This electron stream is targeted at a flat screen with a phosphorous coating. This coating glows when irradiated by the electron beam. The beam moves horizontally and vertically across the screen, lighting up the phosphors and creating the image that you see on the other side. Naturally, there is additional hardware that controls the color and regulates the intensity of the phosphors. However, the fact is that there is a stream of electrons irradiating your eyes and your face, which is always a cause for concern.
Unlike CRT monitors, LCDs do not emit harmful radiation (i.e. they don’t tan your face). An LCD at its core is basically sheet of liquid crystals in front of a fluorescent backlight. A grid of transistors injects electrical current into portions of the liquid crystal sheet. The electrical current changes the properties of the liquid crystals, causing them to either block the backlight, or allow it to pass through. As with the CRT monitor, there is additional hardware to control the color and intensity of the image.
Tastes great and less energy consumption
As I mentioned earlier, LCD technology is free of the radiation associated with CRT displays. Since the cathode ray tube has been eliminated from the design, a flat panel display is far slimmer and lighter than a comparable CRT monitor. LCDs are also more energy efficient and dissipate far less heat than their oversized counterparts. But LCD technology does have a few drawbacks. CRT monitors are able to achieve higher intensity levels and therefore have brighter images. LCDs have improved dramatically, but are still noticeably less bright. Also, CRT monitors have a much wider viewing angle and are capable of higher resolutions. Clearly, CRT technology is older and more mature, but as LCD technology continues to progress, we will likely see these last two differences disappear.
Ok, now for the actual review…
Ok, so that was a rather long tangent. The good news is that I am now ready to talk about the SDM-M81. I have always had an affinity for Sony displays. Though they usually carry a price premium, they are consistently high quality and high performance, and the SDM-M81 is no exception.
The SDM-M81 is an 18.1” LCD. The 18.1” measure the actually viewable screen area, meaning that the SDM-M81 has a screen size comparable to many 19” CRT monitors. Unlike its CRT counterparts, however, the SDM-M81 only has a maximum resolution (or native resolution) of 1280x1024, but it boasts an astounding maximum refresh rate of 85 Hz. These two specifications point out some more differences between LCD and CRT technology. In an LCD, there is a transistor per pixel to regulate the electrical current for that pixel. Current technology only allows for a 1280x1024 array of transistors, hence a native resolution of 1280x1024. Refresh rate is a specification that is significant for CRT monitors, but carries less importance for LCDs. As you’ll recall, CRT displays work by irradiating phosphors. These phosphors need to be re-radiated or refreshed frequently, else they lose their glow. If the refresh rate is too slow, you can notice the image flickering – a very undesirable effect that really strains the eyes. LCD pixels don’t fade so the refresh rate is largely meaningless. The only importance of the refresh rate is when you are viewing a rapidly changing image, like when you are playing a fast-paced computer game. In such situations, the lower refresh rate of LCDs can result in ugly image artifacts (also known as ghosting).
The SDM-M81 features a contrast ratio of 300:1, which is quite outstanding for a flat panel display. The image is very bright, very crisp, and very easy on the eyes. The screen has been treated with an anti-glare coating that works extremely well. Under sunlight or under halogen lights, I have never been bothered by excessive glare or reflections off the screen.
It swivels, it tilts, and it goes nicely on the wall!
There are two video inputs on the display, one analog RGB input and one DVI input. Switching from one input source to the other is as simple as pressing a single button on the front housing. Speaking of the housing, the SDM-M81 features a very simple but stylish design. My display is a two tone gray – a light gray on the front, and a slight darker shade of gray on the back. The display also comes in black, but I’ve never been a fan of black computer peripherals. The SDM-M81 rests on a rotating circular base with an adjustable arm. The arm allows for a tilt of up to 70 degrees, but it is also detachable, allowing you to mount the display on a wall. I haven’t tried myself, but it’s a nice option to have.
The menus are clear and easy to navigate. The SDM-M81 also features Sony’s Advanced Auto ImageSet technology. Essentially, this is a one-step means of calibrating the display. I’m pretty picky about image quality and so I always calibrate manually, but it is a useful feature for those who just don’t want to be bothered with image maintenance.
I’ve got to stop blabbering…
This review is getting out of hand, so I’ll wrap things up now. But there are still two points I want to mention. First, the SDM-M81 features built-in speakers and a headphone jack. The audio quality from the speakers is really quite poor and I would not recommend using them if you use your computer for music or audio. However, I will say that it is convenient having an easily accessible headphone jack. I have a pair of headphones that I share between amongst a number of devices. Its always annoying to get behind the computer to plug the headphones in when I’m at my computer. Having the connector right on the display simplifies the hassle. The other point I wanted to mention is that the display is only 17 lbs and takes up virtually no desk space. After having to lug around those oversized CRT monitors, 17 lbs is a tremendous boon.
Not for everyone
Let me conclude by saying that the Sony SDM-M81 is a fantastic LCD, but it is not for everyone. It is a Sony, meaning that you get a high quality product, but you also pay a pretty high price. Sony’s web site suggests an MSRP of $1199. I was able to buy the display for $999, and if you look around, you will probably find an even better price. But with 15” LCDs costing only around $400, the value of the SDM-M81 is questionable. If you’re looking for an LCD with superb image quality, take a look at the SDM-M81. But if you’re just looking for something to clear up your desk space, the SDM-M81 is probably excessive.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 999
Operating System: Windows and Macintosh
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
albrtlee
|
|
Member: Albert Lee
Location: California
Reviews written: 36
Trusted by: 40 members
About Me:
"If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts." --Albert Einstein
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.