Viewsonic VG910s

For those who want size over resolution.

Price: £529

Manufacturer: Viewsonic

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Verdict

Pros:
Large display area; fast response.

Cons:
Resolution.

Verdict:
If size is more important than resolution, this is a good monitor to buy. Those who want greater detail should look elsewhere.

Tim Smith, Personal Computer World 27 May 2004

The days when a 19in CRT monitor was the height of luxury are over, with 19in TFTs ruling the roost. Viewsonic's 19in VG910s offers a larger viewable screen but takes up a quarter of the space.

Despite the space-saving advantages of TFT monitors, the first impression of this monitor is the large size of the display area. The small bezel helps to increase this effect, while the bottom of the monitor contains the stereo speakers and houses the small control buttons.

At the back of the monitor is everything you would expect. Connection to a computer can be either an analogue VGA plug or DVI. An audio jack and power-in complete the set, while an internal power adapter keeps desk clutter down.

There are eight buttons on the front for the onscreen display and volume controls. They are small but have a positive action and are widely spaced.

Unfortunately, despite the huge viewing area, the VG910s has a maximum resolution of 1,280 x 1,024. As any 19in CRT would have a resolution of 1,600 x 1,200, this is a disappointment.

Resolution aside, the image quality is very good, with a high 600:1 contrast ratio and vibrant colours. A 25ms video response time means that there is no delay for video or games. Gamers would be wise to use some anti-aliasing to compensate for the low resolution.

Brightness and contrast settings can be accessed directly from the front-panel buttons. The onscreen display is easy to navigate with lots of onscreen guidance. A useful option is the ability to turn off the resolution reminder if you use applications that don't use 1,280 x 1,024.

It's a good monitor for those wanting size over resolution, but if it's greater definition you're after, look elsewhere.

Contact: Viewsonic 01293 643 912
www.viewsoniceurope.com/uk

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