Flat -out Space Saving!
Written: May 02 '02 (Updated May 07 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Picture Quality, viewing angle, built in speakers and microphone.
Cons: Price, no sub woofer connection.
The Bottom Line: Top of the line quality for a great price.
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| jumperless's Full Review: ViewSonic VX500 15 inch LCD Monitor |
I’ve been meaning to review this monitor for some time, but as usual, I got side tracked (that seems to happen a lot). My next monitor will definitely be a flat panel, probably a 15” or a 17”. But until then, I enjoy working with many different models at my job. One of the recent ones I got to work with was the Viewsonic VX500, a 15” LCD monitor. I was very impressed with it and wish I could afford the price tag, about $500. I also recently worked with the Viewsonic VA550, another 15” flat panel that goes for about $490, but I found the VX500 to be a better deal. It’s a little hard to find at local retailers, but I was able to find good values online at www.shopper.com, one of my favorite price comparing sites for computer products.
Picture Quality
One of the most impressive points about this model is the contrast ratio at 400:1. Low-end flat panel displays will be around 200:1 or 250:1, mid-range about 300:1 and high-end models are usually 350:1 to 400:1. So this model is top of the line in that aspect.
It also has a vertical and horizontal viewing angle of 160 degrees. This allows it to be seen from more angles, such as sideways or angled up or down. Lower end models are about 100 to 120 degrees. The high viewing angle on this model makes it great for a display or presentation model for a show booth, training class or just being stuffed in the corner of a small desk.
The VX500 also has an anti-glare layer that works well, but I find that most flat panels are anti-glare because they have a textured surface, whereas a CRT monitor has reflective glass. This layer just blocks reflections and light from interfering with the picture.
The picture is excellent looking, very sharp and crisp. The colors are very accurate and the white tones are bright, not yellowish or gray. Text appears very clear and easy to read.
Resolution
The VX500 has a max resolution of 1024 x 768, which is average for a flat panel of this size. I would like it to be a little higher since the viewing area is a full 15”, but most users won’t need to go over that.
Size and Weight
The VX500 has a viewing area of 15”, like most flat panels. This is bigger and a 15” CRT monitor because they usually have a viewing area of 13.8” to 14”.
It weighs about 10 lbs., is 14.6” wide, 6.3” deep and 14.6” high.
Connections
The VX500 has a 15 pin analog video connection, 24 pin DVI-D digital connection, power connection and 3.5mm audio line-in connection.
Controls
The VX500 has the buttons for the following controls: Contract, Brightness, Color Temperature Adjust, Input Select, Horizontal and Vertical Size Adjustments, Sharpness and recall. There are buttons for these controls on the monitor frame instead on having an onscreen menu to access these controls. This is good because you can access the controls faster, but can be bad because it’s not easy to see the button function in the plastic, whereas it would be easier to read in an onscreen menu.
Speakers and Microphone
The VX500 comes with built-in speakers and a microphone. The speakers aren’t bad, they’re 2 watt speakers, whereas competing models are usually only 1 watt. The 2 watts are amplified at 1kHz. They sound okay for built-in speakers, not great, but decent for everyday office use. Not for surround sound or gaming. But, there is not a connection to add a sub woofer to the speakers. It would be nice if there was, but some sound cards have multiple connections for speakers and a sub woofer.
There is a built in microphone at the top center of the frame. Very convenient to have it built in, you don’t have to have an extra unit sitting on the desk.
Environment
Only use the VX500 in temperature conditions between 32 degrees F to 104 degrees F and humidity conditions between 10% to 90%. Pretty standard for most monitors.
Warranty
All Viewsonic monitors come with a 3-year parts and labor warranty. Because this monitor is kind of expensive, you may want to consider buying an extended warranty on it, which will add up to 3 years to the manufacturer’s warranty.
The Verdict
The VX500 is an excellent flat panel with built in speakers and microphone, it’s a great space saver for small desks. With a great contrast ratio and wide viewing angle, it’s a great buy at about $500. My only minor complaint is not having a sub woofer connection, but that’s very minor compared to all the pluses and can be dealt with easily. It gets a 5 star rating.
Thanks for reading!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 500
Operating System: Windows and Macintosh
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jumperless
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