If you conduct group presentations, design large and complex CAD drawings, run desktop publishing applications, or edit color graphics, you should consider a 20- or 21-inch monitor. At 800- by 600-pixel resolution, a full-screen presentation would be clear even from the back of a conference room. A number of the products also feature BNC video connectors, which let you chain several monitors together.
These large-scale monitors are expensive and demand a premium in desk space. They are also power-hungry devices. In active mode, the monitors consume an average of 116 W compared to an average of 90.9 W for the 17-inch test units. However, they are all Energy Star recipients. All the units also meet Sweden's MPR-II standards for CRT emissions, but only seve
n of the products carry FCC Class B ratings.
The
Philips Brilliance 21A
and
Nanao FlexScan F760i-W
finish with nearly identical overall ratings. The Philips, which lists for over $900 more than the Nanao, finished with the highest overall display-quality rating.
The
NSA Hitachi SuperScan Elite 21
finished slightly behind the Nanao FlexScan F760i-W and Philips Brilliance 21A in the overall rankings. Because the unit contains an efficient internal power management system, and it also earned the third-highest display-quality rating. Its MSRPof $1995 made it the Low Cost winner. It comes with Windows-based software that lets you control the monitor's settings using your mouse via an RS-232 port.
The
Radius SuperMatch 21*T XL's
high overall rank is due mainly to its excellent usability rating. The monitor comes with superior documentation. It also received high marks for its easily adjustable 180-degree tilt-and-swivel range.
However, the Radius performed poorly in the legibility test.
Power management is not the
ViewSonic 21's
strength. However, it is priced under $2000, offers above-average image sharpness (thanks to its dynamic focus circuit), and does not suffer from image distortion. Its contrast ratio is aided by a high-power video amplifier that enhances brightness. The monitor makes use of flat-screen CRT technology and can store up to 21 types of timing.
The
Nokia Multigraph 445X
provides excellent features and ranks near the top in power management. The Nokia's display wasn't as bright as those of many of the other units, which lowered its contrast ratio. It exhibited slightly higher misconvergence than the norm but provided above-average performance in the remaining display-quality tests. Subpar multilanguage documentation hurt the monitor's usability rating.
The
Idek/Iiyama VisionMaster MF-8221
($1945) is the least expensive of the 21-inch monitors
. It has an excellent quality score but only fair usability. In the legibility test, it provided the best-overall performance. The three VisionMaster models also provide excellent quality. The MF-8221 and MF-8621 contain a power-off sensor that automatically places the monitors in standby mode when no one is in front of them for over an hour. The control buttons are located on a sliding tray that pops out from the base of the unit. The MF-8221 is VESA DPMS-compliant (Display Power Management Signaling). You can adjust the displayed image from up to 3 meters away, using a remote-control unit and the on-screen menu system.
The
Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 21T
excelled in the image-sharpness test. The monitor uses dynamic-beam forming for focusing, and its CRT is coated with antireflection, antiglare, and antistatic coating. You can adjust the displayed image via a keyboard or mouse, using its serial-interface kit, which comes with a serial-control cable and Diamond Control for Windows software
. Low contrast, power ratings, and relatively high misconvergence scores hurt the monitor's overall ranking.
The 20-inch
Tatung CM-20MKR
incorporates a dark-tinted antiglare tube that reduces eye fatigue and provides the best-overall contrast (about 17 percent higher than its closest competitor). The monitor's efficient power-saving system is second only to that of the 20-inch TVM AS 7G, but its performance in the convergence and distortion tests was poor, and the images weren't sharp.
Weighting for Best Overall
DISPLAY 40%
Sharpness 40%
Legibility 30%
Convergence 20%
Contrast 10%
OVERALL FEATURES 40%
Quality 20%
Features 20%
Usability 20%
POWER CONSUMPTION 15%
DISTORTION 5%
Weighting for High Quality
DISPLAY 40%
Sharpness 40%
Legibilit
y 30%
Convergence 20%
Contrast 10%
IMAGE QUALITY 45%
DISTORTION 10%
SUPERIOR IMAGE QUALITY AND CONTROL
BEST OVERALL: Nanao FlexScan F760i-W
The Nanao uses a flat-screen CRT, dynamic focus, and dynamic-beam
spot-control circuitry to reduce distortion and achieve superior
image quality. The monitor automatically powers on and off with the
PC. A blank screen triggers the power-save mode, and the monitor
switches to the lowest power mode after a user-specified time period;
after that, only the microprocessor remains active. Sophisticated
color controls let you change the white-point temperature setting,
color gain, and color contrast of the screen image. After Dark with
Ecologic video blanking and Colorific color-calibration software are
bundled with the unit.
OVERALL QUALITY FEATURES DOT
PRICE SCORE INDEX SCORE SIZE PITCH
BEST Nanao FlexScan F760i-W $2069 **** **** **** 21" .28
RUNNER-UP Philips Brilliance 21A $2999 **** **** **** 21" .28
RUNNER-UP NSA Hitachi
SuperScan Elite 21 $1995 **** **** *** 21" .28
RUNNER-UP Radius SuperMatch 21*T XL $2599 **** **** *** 21" .31
RUNNER-UP ViewSonic 21 $1995 **** **** **** 21" .25
MAXIMUM MAXIMUM MAC 16-INCH
DISPLAY RESOLUTION SUPPORT
AREA (MM) NONINTERLACED OR HIGHER
BEST Nanao FlexScan F760i-W 403x298 1280x1024 x
RUNNER-UP Philips Brilliance 21A 406x304 1600x1280 x
RUNNER-UP NSA Hitachi
SuperScan Elite 21 406x302 1600x1280 x
RUNNER-UP Radius SuperMatch 21*T XL 380x285 1600x1280 x
RUNNER-UP ViewSonic 21
402x301 1600x1280 x
Key
Excellent ****
Good ***
Fair **
Poor *
NO TRADE-OFF FOR QUALITY
HIGH QUALITY: Philips Brilliance 21A Model 2130DC
The Philips exhibits the least amount of misconvergence of its class.
It has a flat-screen CRT, with antistatic and antireflective coating
and provides the top performance in the distortion test. It is second
only to the Idek/Iiyama VisionMaster MF-8221 in the legibility test.
However, the Philips' contrast ratio is subpar, and it provides only
average image sharpness and quality. An LCD displays control messages
and diagnostics, and a keyboard lock allows you to temporarily
disable the control panel. The monitor stores up to 19 different
graphics resolutions, and you can select up to three different white
color temperatures.
OVERALL QUALITY FEATURES DOT
PRICE SCORE
INDEX SCORE SIZE PITCH
BEST Philips Brilliance 21A $2999 **** **** **** 21" .28
RUNNER-UP Nanao FlexScan F760i-W $2069 **** **** **** 21" .28
RUNNER-UP NSA Hitachi
SuperScan Elite 21 $1995 **** **** *** 21" .28
RUNNER-UP NSA Hitachi
SuperScan Supreme 21 $2745 *** **** *** 21" .26
MAXIMUM MAXIMUM MAC 16-INCH
DISPLAY RESOLUTION SUPPORT
AREA (MM) NONINTERLACED OR HIGHER
BEST Philips Brilliance 21A 406x304 1600x1280 x
RUNNER-UP Nanao FlexScan F760i-W 403x298 1280x1024 x
RUNNER-UP NSA Hitachi
SuperScan Elite 21 406x302 1600x1280 x
RUNNER-UP NSA Hitachi
SuperScan Supreme 21 406x302 1600x1280
Key
Excellent ****
Good ***
Fair **
Poor *
EXCELLENT QUALITY AND A SM
ART PRICE
LOW COST (UNDER $2000): NSA Hitachi SuperScan Elite 21
The flat-screen NSA Hitachi SuperScan Elite 21 is an excellent value;
it finishes with a similar overall rating to the Philips Brilliance
21A Model 2130DC, which costs over $1000 more. The monitor's overall
display quality is excellent. Its performance in the convergence and
distortion tests is superior, and it features a dynamic-focus
circuit. Sophisticated digital controls are located on the cabinet
front, or you can use the mouse or keyboard to adjust the image size,
trapezoid, rotation, and side pincushion. You can also adjust RGB
color balance. Microprocessor-based preset functions can store 31
sets of geometry settings, including the factory settings.
OVERALL QUALITY FEATURES DOT
PRICE SCORE INDEX SCORE SIZE PITCH
BEST NSA Hitachi
SuperScan Elite 21 $1995 **** *
*** *** 21" .28
RUNNER-UP ViewSonic 21 $1995 **** **** **** 21" .25
RUNNER-UP Idek/Iiyama
VisionMaster MF-8221 $1945 *** **** **** 21" .28
MAXIMUM MAXIMUM MAC 16-INCH
DISPLAY RESOLUTION SUPPORT
AREA (MM) NONINTERLACED OR HIGHER
BEST NSA Hitachi
SuperScan Elite 21 406x302 1600x1280 x
RUNNER-UP ViewSonic 21 402x301 1600x1280 x
RUNNER-UP Idek/Iiyama VisionMaster
MF-8221 406x304 1600x1280 x
Key
Excellent ****
Good ***
Fair **
Poor *
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Upscale Displays: 20- And 21-Inch Monitors
