Average customer rating: 4.0
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Sony SDM-X82 Flat Panel 18" LCD Monitor
Manufacturer: Sony Product Group: CE Binding: Electronics ASIN: B00006G2OO 2002-09-24 |
Product Description
Sony's DeluxePro 18 Flat Panel LCD delivers sophistication and vivid images. Maximize video performance with digital input, automatic image adjustments and super bright panel. The X82 provides the perfect combination of form and function with sophisticated dual pivot stand, integrated power supply and eco energy saving mode adding efficiency and style to the home or office.Customer Reviews:
Mislabeled - Max resolution 1280x1024 not 1600x1200.......2003-09-29
Awesome monitor........2003-09-19
A Very Nice Monitor.......2002-11-26
Second, this is a very nice monitor. I'm hooked up via the DVI connection, so that might make a difference if you use the standard monitor connection. Pictures on the monitor are absolutely beautiful. Things like video clips and DVD playbacks look just fine (I've still done very few of those). Text, on the other hand, looks somewhat grainy (it varies from screen to screen), though it's still quite acceptable. I think this is actually a function of the dot-pitch for the monitor being larger than what my old CRT's was. This graininess can be mitigated by loading Microsoft's Clear Type in Windows XP and using the tuning utility. Also, make sure you adjust the Contrast and Brightness (turn the Contrast all the way up and then turn the Brightness down until blacks actually appear black (with Contrast at 100, my Brightness is at 25)). The display area of this monitor is actually somewhat bigger than what was displayed on my old 19" CRT (though the rated 18.1" is theoretically the same). So, if you want, you could also increase your font size for better viewing.
One other thing. The monitor is back-lit and comes set to 100% illumination. Unless you're looking at this thing in a highly lit room, you can probably turn this off entirely (use the "ECO" button on the bottom of the column of control buttons). At a minimum, you can definitely turn the backlighting down to, say, 70% (probably more).
One thing I do wish the monitor had is some type of swivel feature. You can tilt the angle of the display to your heart's content. But, there's no way to turn it from landscape to portrait mode. Also, and I should have thought of this before I bought it, there's no place to put the center speaker in a 5.1 speaker setup. With my old CRT, I just rested the speaker on top. Since there's essentially no depth to this monitor, that's impossible. On the bright side, there's plenty of room behind the monitor for that same speaker. :)
One final note: The "Utility" CD that comes with the monitor is totally useless. All it has on it is a DOS, Windows, and Mac version of a test screen. It doesn't even come with a monitor INF file. When I plugged the monitor in via the DVI port under XP, Windows changed over to a standard LCD screen driver (everything worked fine, it's just not fully accurate). You'll definitely need to go to Sony's web site and download the proper INF file.
Buy it!.......2002-11-15
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