17in LCD Monitors

Introduction:
The 17in LCD segment is the most popular category in the budget conscious mass consumer market. This segment is supplied with a host of new products from manufacturers worldwide. With technology breaking barriers every other day, the display quality and customisations provided by these products have redefined the optimal parameters for LCD screens. In our bid to help you choose from the plethora of offerings queuing up in the market that will best suit your needs and yet satiate your entertainment quotient as well, we have put to test some of the finest options available. We tested a total of eight 17in LCDs covering the gamut from Samsung, Acer, Intex, Viewsonic, Dell, LG and HP; widescreen and regular screens both.

The shift from CRT’s to LCD’s has been a paradigm one and here are some reasons jotted down for the same. The superior image quality, faster response times, lesser desk space, chic looks, the list goes on. We have taken a closer look at these in the following pages.

We used the software DisplayMate to check the details and display parameters, beyond the manual specifications. The software allowed us to test the optimal Brightness, Contrasts, Gray Scale, Aspect Ratio and Response times. We also tested and really enjoyed the real widescreen effect on some of these monitors. Some monitors, like the ones from Intex also included in-built stereo speakers; another incentive, which is a marketing gimmick to woo the consumers.

Besides the services of DisplayMate, some DVD movies, fast-paced graphic games, DVI compliance, various fonts and text for clarity and legibility at different resolutions, and MP3s to test the delivered sound quality were also included in our test protocols.

In these times, with these LCDs worth around significantly more than their 17in CRT counterparts, it is prudent for the consumer to have a check on the specifications and the actual results. To know more about these and choose the one worth spending on, read on.

Acer 17 inch
Specifications:
Type: 17in wide screen LCD
Max Resolution: 1440 x 900@60Hz
Response time: 8 ms
Luminosity: 250cd/m2
Contrast ratio: 500:1
Viewing angle: 140 H and 130 V
Display colours: 16.2 million
Gross weight: 4.4kg

The AL 1702 is a wide-screen offering in the 17in LCD segment from Acer. The model flaunts a basic good looking all-black body with a standard 5-button control panel and a LED. The buttons are tablet shaped and the silver colour contrasts perfectly with the black frame of the screen. The LED glows green when powered and turns amber when in power saving mode. Overall, the design is simple yet appealing.

The build quality is on the positive side as well. The base is sturdy and more stable on your desk as compared to the one from Intex. The base is well designed and it is easy to snap the monitor into place. It can be adjusted in a vertical plane to varying degrees, but not side to side. You are able to adjust the monitor’s angle from -5° to 1 5° vertically. There are also the entire standard configuration options for adjusting the picture quality. And it is definitely recommended to run in native resolution or you won’t see the full potential of the monitor.

This monitor meets the Green monitor standards as set by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This feature is designed to conserve electrical energy by reducing power consumption when there is no video input signal. This monitor, following a time-out period, will automatically switch to an OFF mode thereby reducing the monitor’s internal power supply consumption.

Like most LCDs, it comes with just an analog input and lacks a DVI interface. The native resolution supported is upto 1440 x 900 and the analog signal does a decent enough job. The screen is vivid and sharp with rich colour depth. We are sure that higher quality monitors may have slightly richer colour but this will be good enough for a vast majority of people. With a viewing angle of 140 degrees horizontally and 130 degrees vertically, the screen delivers a sufficient range of view without much colour leakage from different angles. With a contrast ratio of 500:1 the brightness, contrast, grey scale, and aspect ratio performed well in our tests and produced satisfactory results. A luminosity of 250 units does a good job. A dense pixel pitch and a fast response time of 8 milliseconds ensure even faster frames in games, but there is a slight amount of blurring when moving scenes in a game quickly. It’s only a minor complaint and not worth worrying about.
The wide screen however doesn’t carry the punch expected. The Intex model gave a real wide screen feel when we tested some movie clips as against this one, which seemed a bit regular in terms of aspect ratio. There are no in-built speakers or any such add-ons provided with the LCD.

All in all, this model is very basic and the specifications supported are not at the highest end for a 17in, but it does an above average job with contrasts, colour display, and the pixel response. A decent performer however at higher resolutions. A more demanding consumer may crib about the lack of a digital interface though.

Model No: AL 1702W
Max Resolution: 1440 x 900
Brightness: 250cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 500:1
View angle: 140 H and 130 V
Warranty: 3 years
Web: www.acer.co.in
Rating: 3 stars

Dell 1708FP
Solid built, great looking and the USB hub make it a good choice

Dell, better known for its notebooks and PCs also manufactures some good TFTs. The 17in TFT, 1708FP is one of the better TFTs that we have come across in this test space. The 1708FP is a chunky 17in TFT that’s heavier than most. Consequently, it sits very firmly on a work surface. A major advantage of the 1708FP is its ability to adjust viewing angles. It can be swiveled left and right and tilted forward and backward.

You can even adjust the height of the TFT to 130mm upwards or downwards. This can be credited to the unique stand that the Dell TFT comes with. The 1708FP is the most maneuverable TFT in the 17in range. This one also comes with an USB hub. In fact, the 1708FP provides two USB 2.0 ports to attach USB devices. The TFT also supports DVI connectivity.

Screen quality is excellent, showing off deep black, bright white, and vibrant colours. The viewing angle is also very good. This one like many others lacks a dedicated ‘Auto’ adjustment button. The ‘Auto’ adjustment can be done via the main menu. Like all others, here too you can adjust the OSD positions and period of display. This one has an easy to use OSD interface.

The monitor is capable of displaying at the maximum resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels. The TFT however lacks in-built speakers. he price of the TFT is Rs. 9,500and comes with a 3 year warranty. With great build quality, maneuverability and other features like USB hub, the 1708FP is no doubt an excellent choice.

Rating: 4 stars

HP L1710 17in
Specifications:
Type: 17in flat panel LCD
Max Resolution: 1280 x 1024@60Hz
Response time: 5 ms
Luminosity: 300cd/m2
Contrast ratio: 800:1
Viewing angle: 160 H and 160 V
Display colours: 16.2 million
Gross weight: 4.7kg

The L1710 17in flat panel LCD is one of the latest products from HP targeted at the small and medium business segment. This one isn’t a wide-screen and maintains the standard 17in aspect ratio of 4:3. It doesn’t give that wide-screen effect like some of the other ones we reviewed here, but the display quality and the ‘Active Matrix’ TFT is more than enough to woo any buyer looking for a quality performer. The TFT flaunts Anti-Static and Anti-Glare characteristics along with a dust resistant screen.

Framed in a silvery grey body, with a detachable base, the LCD overall gives a pretty solid feel on your desk. The 3-button OSD (menu, minus, plus); power on/off buttons are aligned near the bottom right panel of the frame. The menu functions are very easy to use and allows for 15 program modes. The sturdy base lends adequate stability to the LCD so as to prevent it from toppling over with an inadvertent jerk or shake. The base is foldable and the screen can be adjusted in a vertical plane to adjust the angle of view, the movement allowed being in the range of -5 to +25 degrees tilt.

However, one chink in its build forte would definitely be the lack of vertical height adjustments. Also, the absence of pivot rotation for different view angles is something that should be looked into by HP. With the sturdy build and solid base-screen attachment, these parameters should definitely have been included.

On the performance front, HP does justice to the brand name and quality that ones usually identify with it. The native resolution of 1280 x 1024 @ 60 Hz is recommended with a view angle of 160 degrees horizontally and vertically for optimal display. A quick response time of 5ms ensures that faster frames for gaming kinds are well supported without any ghosting/blurring of the screen.

A reading of 300 nits on luminosity scale and a contrast ratio of 800:1 ensures that the colour gradient and intensity are well defined and distinct. The photo displays were very vivid and colours were represented quite well. The brightness, contrast, grey scale, and aspect ratio performed well in our tests and produced good results. At the supported resolutions, the analog only monitor does a good job, but one would definitely yearn for a digital output. The lack of DVI surely packs a defining punch to HP when pitted against the one we reviewed from Dell. Also, integrated speakers should have been there for that extra zing to its specs.

Like most other standard products, this one from HP meets the meets the ergonomic requirements and is certified with standard eco-labels. The VESA standards are strictly adhered to and come with some bundled software. The HP Display LiteSaver feature allows you to schedule Sleep mode at preset times to help protect the monitor against image retention, drastically lower power consumption and energy costs, and extend the lifespan of the monitor. HP Display Assistant is a software utility that allows monitor adjustment, theft deterrence, and colour calibration using the Display Data Channel Command Interface (DDC/CI) protocol of the connected PC.

The product comes with a three year warranty and with a Blitz Krieg pixel response rate it is definitely recommended for gaming kinds. For regular users, who are not carried away by a wide-screen effect and can do without it, will appreciate this offering from HP.

Rating: 3 stars

Intex 17in Widescreen
Specifications:
Type: 17in TFT wide screen LCD
Max Resolution: 1280 x 768@ 60Hz
Response time: 8 ms
Luminosity: 450cd/m2
Contrast ratio: 800:1
Viewing angle: 170 H and 170 V
Display colours: 16.2 million
Gross weight: 4.5kg

Bearing the hallmark of Intex; the ‘EyesafeT Matrix Technology’, this 17in LCD from Intex comes in an all black plastic body. The monitor provides an ample viewing area of approximately 128 sq. inches and stands 14in tall on your desk. It is pretty sleek for a 17in TFT and looks good. The monitor also offers a wall mount option in accordance with VESA standards, and the user may dismount the pedestal for mount.

On the build front, overall the monitor is quite fine, but the base on which it stands didn’t really impress us. The base does an all right job, but would have been better with some added stability and sturdiness. Another glitch is that the view-angle adjustments are quite rigid. The screen can be adjusted in a vertical plane, but it always feels a bit too fragile when adjustments are made.

The all black frame looks good to eyes, but on handling seems a bit plastic. The control panel on the face of the screen is very basic and simple. It sports a 5 button control panel with a blue LED that glows when powered. The menu button provides access for regular custom options and an auto button automatically adjusts the screen setting to preset values. Besides these, a power button and two more OSD buttons are present.

On the performance front it does a fine job. The colour contrast ratio and brightness is good. Also, at different angles of view, the colour display remains good with negligible colour leakage. The maximum resolution supported is upto 1280 x 780 and is adequate enough. The screen has a viewing angle of 170 degrees horizontally and vertically with a contrast ratio of 800:1. The brightness, contrast, grey scale, aspect ratio and pixel pitch performed well in our tests and produced satisfactory results. A fast response time of 8 milliseconds also does a lot to contribute to its better display. Fast paced games are well supported.

We tested some movie samples and we really enjoyed the wide-screen display. The video did not seem stretched out and the aspect ratio was preserved quite well. The model stands true to its wide-screen tagline. The LCD however does not house a DVI connector nor does it support the digital interface. The image quality distortion between non-DVI LCD’s and DVI LCD’s is minimal at lower resolutions, but at higher ones the gap widens. Perhaps, this is what needs to be looked into by Intex in this model.

The monitor also comes with an in-built 2 watt x 2 stereo speaker. However, you cannot expect much from a mere 2 watt in-built speaker and it serves just as an alternative when your primary speakers are out of order. The rendered ‘Bass and Treble’ effect is just not upto the mark. It just does an OK job and serious audiophiles need to get separate speakers.
An overview of this model marks this 17 incher as a good performer. The wide screen display with good resolutions and aspect ratio won’t disappoint a keen viewer. Also, the built-in speakers do add that extra value. However, when display quality is required to be top-notch, lack of DVI support packs a severe punch at higher resolutions.

Model No: IT-1707WBLK
Max Resolution: 1280 x 768
Brightness: 450cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 800:1
View angle: 170 H and 170 V
Warranty: 3 years
Web: www.intextechnologies.com
Email: info@intextechnologies.com
Rating: 3 stars

LG L177WSB
A good 17in TFT LCD monitor without any frills

The L177WSB TFT screen is a widescreen TFT from LG. The all black LCD looks good and the build quality of the LCD is superb. The L177WSB supports a maximum resolution of 1440 x 900. The buttons are laid beneath the front panel with indicators present on the face of the front panel.

You can adjust the display settings of the monitor manually as well as automatically. The L177WSB is ideal for front desks as the back of the LCD is pretty clear.

The response time of the LCD is 8ms. The performance of this TFT is good. Both still images and videos appear clear and crisp. Also the presence of the ‘f-Engine’ makes it easier to customise the L177WSB for watching movies, text or performing your regular tasks. The L177WSB retails for Rs. 8,990 and comes with a three year warranty. This one too like many other TFTs in this test lacks integrated speakers.

Considering the price and performance that this one delivers, we feel that this one is an ideal TFT for people looking to buy their first TFT and do not want to spend too much.

Rating: 3 stars

 

Samsung 732NW 17in
Unpack the box and you notice that the 17in widescreen SyncMaster732NW has definitely got one thing going for it: killer looks! Draped in an all black body with a glossy sheen definitely makes one delve deeper to discover more. You can’t escape the definite wide screen experience, which is further accentuated by the fact that the screen bezels are reduced to ultra-thin levels.

The pitch black TFT screen with a matt finish, glossy ultra-thin bezel and a firm and stable supporting round base looks chic on your desk. The view angle adjustments are pretty smooth too, although just in the vertical plane. One thing you will notice as far as the looks are concerned is the conspicuous absence of the OSD buttons on the front panel. Besides the Samsung mark, the front just bears a round ‘power’ button. When powered, the LED glows creating a blue halo around the power switch, further adding to its appeal.

The 5 button OSD adjustments are hidden on the base bezel with their icons on the front panel. Mind you, these icons are mighty small and easily escape even the most probing of eyes. Besides an auto-adjust button, the power up, power down, select key and the menu key are neatly aligned. The overall design and the appearance have a deft touch of elegance grafted in.

A play with some of the menu functions and we noticed that the SyncMaster’s ingenuity extends to the interface as well. Enhanced OSD functions with a friendly graphical user interface (GUI) improve interaction with user and understanding of functions. The menus provide scores of options to fine tune the display as per the user’s need. Besides regular colour, contrasts and aspect adjustments, it also includes a range of image and colour tweaking options. One we liked especially is the Magic Colour and Colour Tone customisations provided.

Performance wise the SyncMaster lives up to its expectations. We tested the monitor for brightness, contrast, grey scale, and aspect ratio and it performed well in and produced more than satisfactory results in all aspects.

At an optimal native resolution of 1440 x 900, the display is crisp with good colour contrast and sharpness and the grayscale tests showed even fade. A high contrast ratio of 600:1, 250 nits luminosity and a fast pixel response rate does a world of good to the fast paced graphics that a gamer may look for. The view angle of 160 degrees in vertical and horizontal planes accounts for minimum distortion when viewed from different angles. It features the MagicTune and the MagicBright2 features as well. Magic Bright2 provides optimal combination setting for the various contents for customised environments and with one click, users can control OSD easily. The MagicTune software that is bundled along provides convenient soft OST interface.

As with most others, the monitor is analog only and lacks a DVI signal conversion. However, with all the custom settings provided and MagicBright 2 incorporated, the SyncMaster doesn’t terribly miss the digital version. However, one can never overemphasize the quality of digital signals at higher resolutions. Another gripe would be that the SyncMaster does without a wall mount option and any built-in speakers. Also lack of pivot and vertical height adjustments can be cribbed about, if one is forced to find fault.

To sum it up, the SyncMaster 732NW has a soft design that makes a bold statement appealing to the contemporary market. Not only does it pack a punch looks-wise, but the optimal performance and enhanced interface make an assertive appeal as well. Terming the overall product as good can be an understatement. If you are looking for a flat panel in the 17in segment, we definitely recommend this one.

Rating: 4 star

 

Samsung SyncMaster 732N-plus
LCD monitors are wooing current consumers with their appealing looks, lower consumption of desk space, and their promise to be ‘greener’ by using less electricity. The 17in Samsung SyncMaster 732N does all the above mentioned and is one of the many options available in the market for the average desktop user.

The looks are pretty much similar to the wide-screen LCD we have reviewed this issue. All black with a high glossy body and thin bezels around the 17in TFT display. The round plastic base provides the same sturdy and stable feel on your desk. The blue halo round the power button and the 5 button OSD controls on the base bezels are all the same as with its widescreen counterpart, the SyncMaster 732NW. In other words, it stands elegantly poised on your desk.

The navigation including the auto-adjust, power up and power down buttons, select and the menu buttons all remain the same. The interface is very friendly and custom settings are worth experimenting with. The colour tones and contrast can be tweaked as personal choices dictate, and these are all very easily done with the GUI presented herein. Again the Magic Tone and Magic Colour features stand apart. With colour tone control, gamma control and intelligent colour enhancement, colours instantly appear vividly real. Magic tune software enables you to control brightness, contrast and colour levels by the simple click of a mouse. It conveniently optimises the way you interface with your computer.

Samsungs trademarked, MagicBright II does the trick here as well. It allows you to decide the way you view separate images so that you can select the best mode to meet your viewing environment needs. Most of the features included herein and the looks are similar to the widescreen 732NW. So why the extra bucks in this version and what does that tag of ‘PLUS’ provides? Well, delve in a bit deeper and you will find out.

The most important USP of this product has been its ultra fast pixel response rate. It operates at a fast response rate of 5ms as against 8ms in its counterparts. The feature labeled as ‘MagicSpeed’ really become quite evident with higher paced graphics. The ideal tool to compliment to your gaming, image viewing, or digital dreaming. We thought that the 732NW is very good with fast paced frames but this version pushed the definitions higher up.

There is absolutely no streaking of display and a superior contrast ratio of 700:1 (600:1 in the 732NW) coupled with increased luminosity of 300 nits (250 nits in 732NW) accounts for the clear and crisp displays with vivid colours. We reduced the font size to test it for clarity and sharpness. And even at the smallest possible legible font size, the sharpness was impressive. Even the pixel pitch has been increased from 0.255 to 0.264 in the ‘Plus’ version. A denser pixel pitch means that a monitor can display higher-resolution images more accurately. Also view angles of 160 degrees in both the planes ensure colour stability for different view angles.

The standard aspect ratio of 4:3 has been maintained. With its increased vertical dimensions and the aspect ratio it has, the 372N-plus supports higher native resolutions of 1280×1024 and also an increased viewing area.

With all the features, display and output delivered, one cannot really complain about the lack of DVI signal compatibility on the 732N-plus; the analog does deliver a top-notch performance. Lack of pivotal and vertical height adjustments can be pin-pointed in this model, but absence of a wall mount option doesn’t really matter in a regular 17in 4:3 LCD screen. Built-in speaker are given the skip here.

To summarize, there is no doubt that the 17in 732N-Plus delivers quality output, but is it worth those extra bucks that it demands? The answer to this question will vary with individual perspective, and for those who vouch for the ‘wide-screen’ effect, the price may seem a bit too much to compromise.

Rating: 4 star

 

ViewSonic VA1716w 17in
Specifications:
Type: 17in wide screen active matrix TFT SXGA LCD
Max Resolution: 1440 x 900@60Hz
Response time: 8 ms
Brightness: 250cd/m2
Contrast ratio: 500:1
Viewing angle: 160 H and 160 V
Display colours: 16.2 million
Gross weight: 4.5kg

Viewsonic has been in the visual technology business for a long time now and thoroughly caters to the 17in LCD segment with yet another quality performer. The VA1716-w is a flat screen monitor that has adhered to a simple interface, functions and quality display as it prime mantra. The thin bezel provides for maximum viewing area without eating up on valuable screen size.

Draped in a black frame, the 17in features a dust resistant, anti-glare screen framed in an all black body. The screen rests on a round plastic base, which is easy to attach and detach when required. The entire assembly is quite stable on the desk and gives a sturdy feel. Below the screen frame are the OSD and power buttons aligned linearly on the silver panel. The Power button glows blue when the device is connected. The menus are very easy to adjust and navigate through. The screen-base attachment provides for adjustments of the viewing angle in the vertical plane only. Pivot rotation and height adjustments are missing herein like most other monitors reviewed this time.

On the performance front, Viewsonic delivers a blue-ribbon display quality. OnView controls for superior screen adjustability ensures that screen adjustments are precisely made via an easy-to-use on-screen menu. OSD/power lock secures your settings that prevents changes to monitor settings and maintains an optimized image. It supports resolutions upto 1440×900 and delivers very good image details and clarity for sharp text and graphics. Easy access to the auto adjust feature provides with optimal settings for sharp and crisp displays.

A high contrast ratio of 500:1 means that the difference in light intensity between the brightest white and the deepest black are distinct and coupled with a 250 nits brightness, meets the required quality for most on-screen tasks. A wider format aspect ratio of 16:10 is designed for viewing movies or HDTV in wide format and for a richer wide screen experience. A maximum of a 12ms-to-15ms response time across the spectrum is required for gaming or viewing television and movies without ghosting or streaking; VA1716-w’s 8ms response time ensures that Blitz Krieg gaming is possible without that streaking effect. PC gamers will appreciate the immersive gaming action delivered by fast ClearMotiv video response. With a viewing angle of 160 degrees horizontally and vertically the screen delivers a sufficient range of view without much colour leakage from different angle of view.

We tested the monitor for the brightness, contrast, grey scale, and aspect ratio and it performed well in all aspects and produced more than satisfactory results. Grayscale tests showed even fade with sharp vivid colour displays.
One thing to complain about is the lack of Digital Video Interface (DVI). However, contemporaneous monitors do a good job of analog to digital signal conversion and digital connections are not as important as they used to be. At ultra high resolutions though, the difference is quite evident.

Needless to say, it meets all the standard regulatory recommendations and power saving features and is bolstered with a three year warranty. Targeted at budget conscious users with basic computing requirements, this is an easy choice for gamers, home/small office users, and corporate professionals.

Model No: VA1716w
Max Resolution: 1440 x 900
Brightness: 250cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 500:1
View angle: 160 H and 160 V
Warranty: 3 years
Web: www.viewsonic.com
Rating: 4 stars

Conclusion
Grinding through these products and digging in deeper beyond the spec-sheets revealed quite a lot. With all the specifications and ‘extra’ features provided, it was the one from Dell that finally lured us. It provided vertical height adjustments and pivotal rotation, which no other LCD reviewed herein provided. Also, it was the only one to have a DVI port for digital output and also two USB ports grafted in.

Intex too provided an added incentive with a built-in 2 watt stereo speaker; though by no means replacing your desktop speakers. Acer and LG fared decently while HP and Viewsonic were strong contenders to win the race. Besides the Samsung SyncMaster’s all black beautiful looks satisfied the visual quotients and the MagicBright2 technology delivered on the performance front too.

Testing some of the monitors for fast paced games, the ones with faster response rates, especially the Samsung 732 N-Plus (5ms) really did very well, while some others produced a notable amount of ghosting. Intex with a slow response time of 16ms was way behind in this section. Also, at the specified native resolutions, most monitors did a good job, but a deviation from it and some LCD’s displayed streaking and colour leakage, albeit a marginal amount.

It was a close call between Samsung, Dell, and Viewsonic. Dell’s model embodies all the features of a winner and the simplicity of Viewsonic was just too tempting. However with all the quotients satisfied and its better specifications being truly displayed in its performance as well, the Samsung 732 N-Plus was our choice. It does carry a bit heavier price tag, but is worth every single penny it demands, or commands rather.