Size matters
Written: Jan 24 '03 (Updated Jan 24 '03)
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Pros: 21" gives plenty of screen realestate
Cons: Takes up a lot of desk space
The Bottom Line: Great monitor, great price. If you are thinking about a new monitor, consider the G810.
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| stevelarrison's Full Review: ViewSonic G810 21 inch CRT Monitor |
Anyone who has been around computer hardware for any length of time is familiar with the quality of Viewsonic monitors. For years, Viewsonic has been known for producing high quality monitors that have excellent image quality, color saturation, and that don't break down. As the owner of a 21" Viewsonic G810, I am happy to say that this monitor carries on the reputation for quality that Viewsonic has established.
Tell me about the tech spec!
OK, here goes :
The spec
CRT Type 21" (20.0" viewable area))90° deflection
Dot Pitch 0.21mm horizontal, 0.14mm vertical, 0.25mm diagonal
Phosphor RGB medium/short persistence SuperClear
Glass Surface Tint (TM~48.6%), ARAG® screen treatment
INPUT SIGNAL Video RGB analog (75 ohms, 0.7/1.0 Vp-p)
Sync H/V separated (TTL), composite
Frequency f h: 30~97kHz; f v: 50~180Hz
COMPATIBILITY PC PC compatible from VGA up to 1600 x 1200
Mac Power Mac™ up to 2048x1536 non-interlaced
CONNECTOR Signal 15-pin mini D-sub
Power 3-pin plug (CEE22)
POWER Voltage Auto switch, AC 90-264V
Consumption 110W (typ)
CONTROLS Basic wer, on/off, 1, down, up, 2
On View Contrast, brightness, recall, H/V size, H/V position, pincushion, pin balance, trapezoid, parallel, tilt, degauss, moiré, ViewMeter®, zoom, language, ViewMatch® color temperature (9300, 6500, 5000, user), OSD lock
VIDEO INPUT Bandwidth 200MHz
MISCONVERGENCE 0.3mm (max) at center 0.4mm (max) at corner
DISPLAY AREA Factory Setting 390mm (H) x 290mm (V)
Maximum Scan 400mm (H) x 300mm (V) (Dependent upon signal timing used)
OPERATING CONDITIONS Temperature 32°F��°F (0°C㫀°C)
Humidity 5%㫲% (non-condensing)
DIMENSIONS (WxHxD) Physical 500mm (W) x 507mm (H) x 488mm (D) 19.7" x 20.0" x 19.2"
WEIGHT Net 51.8lbs (23.5kgs)
OTHER DDC1 & DDC2B, GTF
REGULATIONS UL, cUL, DHHS, FCC-B, DOC-B, CB, MPRII, Energy Star, NOM, TUV/GS, VCCI, BSMI, C-Tick, TUV/Ergo, Nordic, B-Mark, PCT, SASO, TCO'99, UCES, BSMI
POWER MANAGEMENT TCO '99
WARRANTY Three-year limited warranty on CRT, parts and labor. Optional Express Exchange® service program available
OK, I should have known better than to ask you that. What's it all mean?
Well, when it comes to monitors, there are a few numbers you need to be concerned with.
One obvious concern is the size of the monitor. This isn't a flat panel display, and having a 21" screen, (20" viewable), it takes up a lot of space.
Before you even start to consider buying one of these monitors, make sure you have adequate desk space for it. This monitor is 19.7" wide and 19.2" deep. Height only matters if you are placing it on a computer desk with overhanging cabinets. If that is a concern for you, it is 20" high. (Note: If you place your monitor on top of a surge protector/power control panel like I do, you will need to account for an extra 2" or 3" height)
If you find that making room for such a monster is worthwhile, then the next set of numbers you will be concerned with are related to the performance. As always, I will tell you the important numbers and what they mean.
Size It is classified as a 21" monitor, but like all CRT monitors, part of the screen size is obscured by the frame of the monitor. It has a viewable area of 20". This is typical for a 21" monitor.
Dot pitch Dot-pitch refers to the space between individual pixels measured in mm. When dealing with such a large monitor, dot-pitch is important. Cheaper monitors will have .25 dot-pitches or higher. This monitor has a .22 dot pitch. In other words, it is a nice monitor for display high resolution images.
Resolution Despite producing a very high quality product at a very good price, Viewsonic is playing some games here. If you look at the tech spec I grabbed from their website, you will see the maximum resolution is listed as 1600x1200. There should be an asterisk (*) by that number. While this monitor can run 1600x1200, it is at a 77MHz refresh rate. Although it isn't a problem for me, I know people who have problems with flicker on any monitor that isn't a running 85MHz refresh rate. Whether or not you can run at 1600x1200 is dependant upon how sensitive your eyes are. If you need ultra-high refresh rates, this monitor can display 1280x1024 with a 90MHz refresh rate. But even at 1280x1024, this screen has enough real-estate that you won't be disappointed. If you want to run 1600x1200 with a 90MHz refresh rate, I would recommend looking at a Viewsonic P815.
On Screen Controls Like most modern monitors, this features onscreen controls. Setting color, screen geometry, or anything else is relatively simple.
Energy Star Compliance This monitor features energy saving features to reduce power consumption if you leave your machine running when not using it.
USB hub If you are like me, you can never have enough USB ports. This monitor has an optional USB hub in the base of the monitor. Having USB ports on your desktop are far more convenient than reaching around to the back of your machine.
Sounds nice! How much does it cost?
Monitors are one of the few areas in the computer hardware marketplace where a component holds its value relatively well. Buying a CPU is similar to buying stock in a dot-com company. A year after you buy it, it is only worth 20% of what you paid for it. Monitors lose their value more slowly. That having been said, this monitor was released about 3 years ago, and is near the end of its depreciation. But the performance is still top-notch. Though I was able to buy my G810 for $125 from a company that I worked for that was auctioning off surplus equipment, you can find a brand new G810 for about $440. Since the quality of monitor you use is a major factor in how enjoyable your computer is, I high recommend that anyone considering a monitor think about clearing up the desk space necessary to get this monitor.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 125
Operating System: Windows and Macintosh
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stevelarrison
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Member: Steve Larrison
Location: Scottsdale, Az. USA
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