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Showing posts with label NEC Corporation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NEC Corporation. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

NEC-Mitsubishi MultiSync LCD1770NX-BK

The NEC-Mitsubishi MultiSync LCD1770NX has a number of great features and it's well designed, and if that were all that mattered, it would be a great display for office and home users alike. Unfortunately, what's plain as the nose on our Labs technician's face is the 1770NX's disappointing image quality. For about the same price, you can get a better LCD, such as the Samsung SyncMaster 711t, or at the very least, you can get away with paying less for an LCD of similar quality, such as the ViewSonic VX710.

The LCD1770NX makes a great first impression. It's framed by an unobtrusively skinny bezel. Along the bezel's bottom edge are four rectangular adjustment buttons that launch and exit the onscreen menu and switch between analog and digital inputs. A tiny joysticklike wand handles intramenu navigation and makes adjusting the image easy and fun. There are five USB ports located on the back of the panel--one upstream and four downstream--and one USB cable is included, along with an analog signal cable.

The LCD1770NX inhabits a sparsely populated middle ground between highly adjustable LCDs and those with nary an articulation point to be found. Its base has a lazy Susan that allows for nearly 360 degrees of side-to-side swivel--an excellent range of motion that makes it easy for workers in open-plan office environments to share their creations. The neck can be raised four inches to accommodate users of varying heights, and the panel tilts about 30 degrees back and forth. The panel can be attached to a VESA wall mount, but it'll require some unscrewing. The only adjustment option not included is a Portrait/Landscape pivot. This feature is usually found in larger LCDs, though some 17-inchers, such as the Samsung SyncMaster 711t, can make the switch to Portrait mode. Where most LCDs have a straight up-and-down neck, the LCD1770NX's curves forward. This doesn't seem to serve any particular purpose, except make it hard to raise and lower the panel. The telescoping action is stiff, the angle is a bit awkward, and the base wobbles and kicks up a lot when you try to adjust the height.

NEC-Mitsubishi has put quite a bit of thought into the cable-feed system, something neat freaks are sure to appreciate. There are three plastic loops on the back of the display where the neck meets the panel and two more loops alongside the neck. The loops vary in size, so some of them can accommodate more or thicker cables. Once you have the cables all tucked in, you can snap the plastic cover over the back of the neck to cover everything up.

Through the onscreen menu (OSM), you can adjust basics such as horizontal and vertical positioning, menu timeout, brightness, and contrast. But the LCD1770NX also has what's called an AccuColor control system, which amounts to a few extra color temperature settings, including sRGB, which uses a standard red, green, and blue setting so that you can easily communicate color settings for consistency across different displays, and native, which is the original color presented by the LCD. Another touch we like is that through the OSM, you can set it so that the joystick button automatically takes you to brightness and contrast adjustments. If you don't like using the OSM, you can download NEC-Mistubishi s NaViSet software and perform all of your adjustments with your mouse and keyboard through a tabbed Windows interface.

We were considerably less excited about the NEC-Mitsubishi LCD1770NX s image quality. We tested it using CNET's DisplayMate suite at the monitor's native resolution of 1,280x1,024 with a 60Hz refresh rate. Text was somewhat faint and lacking in contrast, which made it less sharp than we like. The dark end of the grayscale took on a greenish tint instead of staying pure gray, which indicates color-tracking errors, and extreme black could have been a good deal darker. We also noticed that the screen was not uniformly lit: the bottom half was a lot lighter than the top half, and there was a bright edge along the top and sides of the screen. DVD playback was tolerably smooth but background colors and skin tones showed some digital noise.


The NEC-Mitsubishi MultiSync LCD1770NX comes with a standard three-year warranty on parts, labor, and the backlight. You can extend the warranty one year for $50 or two years for $80. Toll-free phone support is available 24/7, and live chat with a tech-support representative is available via NEC-Mitsubishi s Web site Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. MT.

CNET Labs DisplayMate tests
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Note: Measured with the Minolta CA-210



Manufacturer: NEC Corporation

Part Number:LCD1770NX-BK

General

Display Type LCD display / TFT active matrix

Built-in Devices USB hub

Width 14.4 in

Depth 7.8 in

Height 14.3 in

Weight 13.4 lbs

Enclosure Color Black

Image

Display (projector) image aspect ratio 5:4

Image brightness 250 cd/m2

Image Contrast Ratio 600:1

Max horizontal view angle +80 / -80

Max vertical view angle +85 / -75

Display

Diagonal Size 17 in

Viewable Size 17 in

Dot Pitch / Pixel Pitch 0.264 mm

Max Resolution 1280 x 1024 / 75 Hz

Max Sync Rate (V x H) 75 Hz x 81 KHz

Response Time 8 ms

Video Output None

Signal Input DVI-D, VGA

Features Ambix , NaViSet , Rapid Response , No Touch Auto Adjust , AccuColor Control Systems

Video Input

Analog Video Signal RGB

Digital Video Standard Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

Audio Output

Type None

Input Device

Type None

Expansion / Connectivity

Interfaces 1 x VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) , 1 x DVI-D - 24 pin digital DVI , 1 x Hi-Speed USB upstream - 4 pin USB Type B , 4 x Hi-Speed USB downstream - 4 pin USB Type A

Miscellaneous

Flat Panel Mount Interface 100 x 100 mm

Features Wall mountable

Microsoft Certifications Works with Windows Vista

Compliant Standards RoHS , DDC-1 , DDC-2B , VESA DPMS , ISO 13406-2 , Plug and Play

Power

Form Factor Internal

Voltage Required AC 120/230 V

Power Consumption Operational 48 Watt

Power Consumption Stand by / Sleep 2 Watt

Software / System Requirements

Software type NaViSet

Environmental Parameters

Min operating temperature 41 °F

Max operating temperature 95 °F

Operating humidity range 10 - 80%

Manufacturer Warranty

Service & Support 3 years warranty

Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 3 years , Limited warranty - Backlight - 3 years

NEC MultiSync LCD2180WG

The $6,749 NEC MultiSync LCD2180WGLED is the first monitor we've tested that has a panel backlit entirely by light-emitting diodes (LEDs). This technology supposedly reproduces colors more accurately than traditional LCDs or CRTs. While it definitely produced bright, vivid colors, the $1,700 Eizo FlexScan L997 and $1,600 LaCie 321 both performed better in CNET's color tests and are better overall (and much less expensive) monitors.

The all-black NEC MultiSync LCD2180WGLED has a chunky, sharp-edged look. Despite its slim bezel, the 5-inch-thick panel houses a heavy heat sink, which gives the 40-pound LCD2180WGLED more of a CRT feel. It also makes wall- or arm-mounting dicey, though you can connect the removable panel to VESA mounts.

For all its weight, the LCD2180WGLED stands sturdily on a square base. You cannot adjust the height, though you can tilt it backward 25 degrees and forward 5 degrees. It also pivots between landscape and portrait mode, but NEC does not supply pivoting software, so you'll need to dig that up separately and use a graphics card that supports it. The LCD2180WGLED has two digital signal ports and is one of the first monitors we've seen to eschew an analog port. A removable plastic clip attaches to the neck and keeps the cables together.

The 2180WGLED's control panel consists of eight clearly labeled buttons, including Power, Reset, Input Select, and a few for navigating through the well-laid-out and easy-to-use menu. The LCD2180WGLED has five color-temperature presets (9,300K, 6,500K, 6,000K, 5,500K, 5,000K), two for RGB and Adobe RGB, and one that's programmable. For each temperature setting, you can tweak the red, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and magenta levels. To precisely calibrate the LCD2180WGLED, NEC recommends its $400 GretagMacbeth iOne Display V2 colorimeter and SpectraView II software.

We tested the LCD2180WGLED at its native resolution of 1,600x1,200 at 6,500K. We did not use the iOne Display V2 colorimeter and SpectraView II software to calibrate the colors; instead, we used CNET Labs' DisplayMate test suite to optimize and evaluate image quality. The colors looked vivid, bold, and striking. Subtle distinctions in hue were clearly visible, with just a small amount of compression at the darker end of the color spectrum. Starting with a completely solid black, the LCD2180WGLED displayed a smooth range of grays, slightly marred by compression at the darker end of the scale and a tinge of pink at the white end. Text appeared dark and legible, though characters did not jump off the screen as they did with the Eizo FlexScan L997. Though LED technology is supposed to offer better screen uniformity than fluorescent-tube backlighting, the LCD2180WGLED's was good for such a large panel, but not perfect. We found small light leaks in the corners and a faint, column-shaped blotch in the center. Further, the LCD2180WGLED didn't perform all that well with games or movies.


The NEC LCD2180WGLED comes with an industry-standard three-year limited warranty, and extended warranties are available for an additional cost. NEC provides 24/7 toll-free tech support during the warranty and after. On the NEC Web site, you will find links to accessories, manuals, and driver downloads, as well as a searchable knowledge base and answers to FAQs.

CNET Labs DisplayMate tests
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Brightness in cd/m2
(Longer bars indicate better performance)



Manufacturer: NEC Corporation


Part Number:LCD2180WGLEDBK

General

Display Type LCD display / TFT active matrix

Width 18.6 in

Depth 8.3 in

Height 18.2 in

Weight 40.3 lbs

Enclosure Color Black

Image

Display (projector) image aspect ratio 4:3

Image brightness 200 cd/m2

Image Contrast Ratio 500:1

Max horizontal view angle +88 / -88

Max vertical view angle +88 / -88

Display

Diagonal Size 21 in

Viewable Size 21 in

Dot Pitch / Pixel Pitch 0.27 mm

Max Resolution 1600 x 1200 / 60 Hz

Color Support 24-bit (16.7 million colors)

Max Sync Rate (V x H) 60 Hz x 75 KHz

Response Time 20 ms

Front Panel Controls Power on/off , Menu , Volume , Color

On-Screen Controls Power on/off , Menu , Contrast , Brightness , Sharpness , Color

Controls / Adjustments Contrast , H/V size , Sharpness , Brightness , Color temperature

Video Output None

Signal Input 2xDVI-D

Video Input

Digital Video Standard Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

Audio Output

Type None

Input Device

Type None

Expansion / Connectivity

Interfaces 2 x DVI-D - 24 pin digital DVI

Connections 1

Miscellaneous

Cables Included 1 x DVI cable

Flat Panel Mount Interface 100 x 100 mm

Features Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)

Compliant Standards CE , UL , CSA , PCT , cUL , GOST , DOC-B , NUTEK , C-Tick , DDC-2B , DDC/CI , MPR II , TUV GS , DDC-2Bi , EN55022 , EN55024 , MPR III , TCO '99 , EN 60950 , VESA DPMS , ISO 13406-2 , EN 61000-3-2 , EN 61000-3-3 , Plug and Play , CSA 22.2 No. 950 , FCC Class B certified

Software / System Requirements

Software type Drivers & Utilities

Environmental Parameters

Min operating temperature 41 °F

Max operating temperature 95 °F

Operating humidity range 30 - 80%

Manufacturer Warranty

Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 3 years , Limited warranty - Backlight - 3 years

Sustainability

EPA Energy Star Compliant Yes

NEC MultiSync FE992

CRT manufacturers are forever coming up with new and exciting ways to sell what is essentially a 100-year-old technology. With the NEC MultiSync FE992, it's all about the "dynamic cabinet design," which "creates space," and the ClearFlat screen, which is supposed to reduce distortion and glare. Indeed, the $219 FE992 is not the bulkiest 19-inch CRT we've seen, and its screen is pleasantly glare-free. Better yet, it delivers accurate color and grayscales. It's a solid display overall.

Vacuum-tube technology makes CRTs inherently bulky, but NEC seems to have put a lot of thought into streamlining the MultiSync FE992. Though it weighs 40.8 pounds--average for a CRT--and measures 17.6 by 17.9 by 18.5 inches (WHD), its cinched back end takes up slightly less space than that of a typical 19-inch CRT.

All CRTs lack the adjustability of LCDs. The MultiSync FE992's ball-and-socket joint affords it only a few degrees of tilt in all directions, though it moves smoothly for a big CRT.

The monitor's onscreen menu (OSM) is easy to navigate, thanks to the cluster of buttons on the MultiSync FE992's bottom bezel, which includes Menu, Select, and four-way navigation keys. The OSM options are pretty standard for a CRT. In addition to a color-temperature setting (between 5,000 and 10,000 degrees Kelvin), the FE992 has an impressive array of standard controls for adjusting the shape of the picture, including skew, pincushion, and hooking for the bottom and top corners.

The MultiSync FE992's maximum resolution is 1,600x1,200 (at a 75Hz refresh rate), but you're better off with the recommended setting: 1,280x1,024 (at 85Hz). At the recommended resolution, the display performed reasonably well on CNET Labs' DisplayMate-based tests. Smaller text looked fuzzy and difficult to read, but the MultiSync FE992's grayscale and color-test screens were a joy to behold, compared to those of LCDs, which can display only a limited range of colors. Grays looked pure gray and whites looked white. The transition from dark to light was smooth and even, though the shades lacked intensity. Colors looked rich. The OSM's shape controls could not correct a few distortions in the monitor's geometry, but the problems weren't overly distracting.

The NEC MultiSync FE992 comes with an industry-standard three-year warranty, but you can extend it up to two more years for $35 a year. Toll-free tech support is available 24/7, and NEC's support Web site offers live chat with a technician, e-mail support, FAQs, troubleshooting, and driver downloads. When we sent an e-mail query to tech support, we received a reply within two hours.

CNET Labs DisplayMate tests
(Longer bars indicate better performance)



Manufacturer: NEC Corporation


Part Number:FE992

General

Display Type Display / CRT

CRT Type ClearFlat - Shadow mask

Width 17.6 in

Depth 17.8 in


Height 18.7 in

Weight 47.6 lbs

Display

Diagonal Size 19 in

Viewable Size 18 in


Dot Pitch / Pixel Pitch 0.25 mm


Max Resolution 1600 x 1200 / 75 Hz

Max Sync Rate (V x H) 160 Hz x 98 KHz

Video Output None

Signal Input VGA

Video Input

Analog Video Signal RGB

Audio Output

Type None

Input Device

Type None

Expansion / Connectivity

Interfaces 1 x VGA input - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)

Miscellaneous

Compliant Standards CE , FCC , TUV , DHHS , NUTEK , UL 1950 , CSA C22.2 No. 60950-00

Power

Form Factor Internal

Voltage Required AC 120/230 V

Environmental Standards

EPA Energy Star Compliant Yes

Manufacturer Warranty

Service & Support 3 years warranty

Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 3 years

NEC MultiSync LCD1770VX

Not only do LCDs take up less space and consume less energy than bulky, antiquated CRT displays, they're generally more attractive too. Still, we see our fair share of LCDs with dangling cables, exposed inputs, and poor overall design. The NEC MultiSync LCD1770VX, however, maintains a sleek appearance without sacrificing adjustability. But as much as we like its looks, its image quality fails to impress, especially for a 17-inch LCD that costs $345. For better image quality, check out the less expensive Sony SDM-S75AB or upgrade to the 19-inch Dell UltraSharp 1905FP for the same price.

The NEC MultiSync LCD1770VX has a minimalist black design, but a few simple flourishes caught our attention. The bezel measures a mere 0.5 inch wide along the sides and 0.75 inch wide along the top and the bottom; rectangular menu buttons hang off the bottom so that they don't mar the bezel's line. The back of the display contains the digital and analog connectors and three plastic hooks through which you can thread the cables. A detachable plastic cover hides the cords, leaving the back side of this display tidy enough for even the poshest home or front-desk environment.

In addition to its good looks, the LCD1770VX is also quite flexible. Where other panels have a hinge joint, this one has a parabola-shaped track that gives it a slightly wider range of motion (about 10 degrees forward and 30 degrees back instead of the usual 5 degrees forward and 20 back) and allows it to move very smoothly. The neck is a wide, sturdy rectangle with a column-in-column design that offers 4.25 inches of height adjustment. The perfectly circular base is pleasing to the eye, and the lazy Susan embedded in the bottom rotates nearly 360 degrees with much greater ease than those on some other LCDs we've evaluated, such as the Sony SDM-S75AB.

Even the onscreen menu buttons add to the display's attractive look. The four rectangular buttons handle the usual functions, such as launching and exiting the menu and toggling between analog and digital inputs, but in the middle there's also a small, multidirectional joystick (NEC calls it a NaViKey) for navigating the OSM. The NaViKey makes tweaking the display's settings incredibly easy, and the necessary Select and Exit buttons are conveniently located right next to it. NEC's downloadable NaViSet software makes adjusting the onscreen menu even easier by allowing you to change the display's settings with a keyboard and a mouse.

Despite the monitor's appealing external attributes, the LCD1770VX's image quality is merely average. The text was sharp, as it generally is on LCDs, but we noticed lots of colors in CNET Labs' DisplayMate-based grayscale-test screens. Also, gray levels were very compressed at the dark and light ends of the spectrum. LCDs typically show some compression, but this one could not reproduce very dark or very light grays; instead, those shades faded abruptly to black or white. The display's viewing angle was not very good, either; slightly tilting the panel would noticeably change the color or the brightness of the image. On the positive side, the LCD1770VX's DVD playback was acceptable, with minimal digital noise or ghosting, though colors looked a bit washed out.


NEC backs the MultiSync LCD1770VX with an industry-standard three-year warranty on parts, labor, and the backlight, and you can tack on another year for $50 or two more years for $80--reasonable prices for extended warranties. Toll-free phone tech support is available 24/7; NEC's Web site also provides access to driver downloads, manuals, live tech-support chat, a tech-support e-mail address, FAQs, and recycling information.

CNET Labs DisplayMate tests
(Longer bars indicate better performance)


Manufacturer: NEC Corporation

Part Number:LCD1770VX-BK

General

Display Type LCD display / TFT active matrix

Width 14.4 in

Depth 7.8 in

Height 18.6 in

Weight 13.2 lbs

Enclosure Color Black

Image

Display (projector) image aspect ratio 5:4

Image brightness 250 cd/m2

Image Contrast Ratio 600:1

Max horizontal view angle +80 / -80

Max vertical view angle +85 / -75

Display

Diagonal Size 17 in

Viewable Size 17 in

Dot Pitch / Pixel Pitch 0.264 mm

Max Resolution 1280 x 1024 / 76 Hz

Color Support Up to 16.2 million colors

Max Sync Rate (V x H) 75 Hz x 81 KHz

Response Time 8 ms

Controls / Adjustments H-size , Contrast , Brightness , H/V position

Display Positions Adjustments Tilt , Height , Swivel

Video Output None

Signal Input DVI-D, VGA

Features Ambix , NaViSet , FullScan , ErgoDesign , Sync on Green , Rapid Response , No Touch Auto Adjust , sRGB color management , AccuColor Control Systems , Multiple Frequency Technology , Intelligent Power Manager (IPM)

Audio Output

Type None

Input Device

Type None

Expansion / Connectivity

Interfaces 1 x VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) , 1 x DVI-D input - 24 pin digital DVI

Miscellaneous

Cables Included 1 x VGA cable

Flat Panel Mount Interface 100 x 100 mm

Features Wall mountable

Microsoft Certifications Works with Windows Vista

Power

Voltage Required AC 120/230 V

Power Consumption Operational 36 Watt

Power Consumption Stand by / Sleep 2 Watt

Software / System Requirements

Software type NaViSet

Environmental Parameters

Min operating temperature 41 °F

Max operating temperature 95 °F

Operating humidity range 10 - 80%

Manufacturer Warranty

Service & Support 3 years warranty

Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 3 years , Limited warranty - Backlight - 3 years

NEC MultiSync LCD1970VX

In contrast with the less expensive, less adjustable 19-inch Acer AL1951B, the NEC MultiSync LCD1970VX illustrates the importance of subtleties such as design and ease of use. The 19-inch LCD1970VX performs about as well as the Acer but has a more user-friendly control panel and better ergonomic flexibility. And at $439.99, it costs only $60 more. Unless you're trying to save every dollar, the NEC LCD1970VX is a better overall choice.

The MultiSync LCD1970VX's narrow 0.5-inch-thick bezel has a curved edge that melts into the background, leaving the 19-inch panel as the center of attention. No adjustment buttons mar the frame; they're placed below the bottom bezel. The buttons let you control the onscreen menu (OSM), select between the digital and analog inputs (both cables are included), turn the power on and off, and reset the image to factory settings. A four-way button makes navigating the OSM a little easier than with most LCDs; NEC also offers a free download of NaViSet, a mouse-and-menu-based application for adjusting the image controls. Rather than providing a dedicated preset button, the LCD1970VX buries four numbered preset modes for brightness, contrast, and color temperature in the OSM under the brightness and contrast functions. Unfortunately, the confusing numerical labels don't explain the sort of viewing each mode is best suited for.

The MultiSync LCD1970VX's pedestal is solid and well designed. The lazy Susan embedded in the bottom of the simple, classic circular base glides easily through nearly 360 degrees of rotation. The neck effortlessly telescopes up and down about four inches, and the joint between the neck and the panel offers about 35 degrees of extremely smooth forward and backward tilt. A plastic cover for the back of the neck hides the cable-feed system.

The MultiSync LCD1970VX has average image quality for an LCD. Text looked sharp and full of contrast and was a pleasure to read even at smaller font sizes. Grayscale performance wasn't quite as impressive; the MultiSync LCD1970VX displayed fewer levels of very dark gray (near black) than most LCDs in its price range, and we saw the usual greenish and reddish tints in the midlevel grays. Color performance was good for viewing photos and other Web-based color images, but in CNET Labs' DisplayMate-based color tests, reds tended to veer toward orange. Our gaming- and DVD-performance tests found average levels of background noise, mild ghosting, and some loss of detail in darker areas of the picture.

The MultiSync LCD1970VX comes with an industry-standard three-year warranty that covers parts, labor, and the backlight. You can extend this warranty one year for $70 and two years for $100. NEC's Web site offers a plethora of support options in addition to 24/7 toll-free phone support. Online, you can access driver downloads, manuals, live tech-support chat, a tech-support e-mail address, FAQs, and recycling information.

CNET Labs DisplayMate tests (Longer bars indicate better performance)






Manufacturer: NEC Corporation

Part Number:LCD1970VX-BK

General

Display Type LCD display / TFT active matrix

Width 16.3 in

Depth 8.7 in

Height 15.2 in

Weight 15.4 lbs

Enclosure Color Black

Image

Display (projector) image aspect ratio 5:4

Image brightness 250 cd/m2

Image Contrast Ratio 450:1

Max horizontal view angle +80 / -80

Max vertical view angle +80 / -80

Display

Diagonal Size 19 in

Viewable Size 19 in

Dot Pitch / Pixel Pitch 0.294 mm

Max Resolution 1280 x 1024 / 75 Hz

Max Sync Rate (V x H) 75 Hz x 81.1 KHz

Response Time 16 ms

Display Positions Adjustments Height

Video Output None

Signal Input DVI-D, VGA

Features Ambix , No Touch Auto Adjust , AccuColor Control Systems

Video Input

Analog Video Signal RGB

Digital Video Standard Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

Audio Output

Type None

Input Device

Type None

Expansion / Connectivity

Interfaces 1 x VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) , 1 x DVI-D - 24 pin digital DVI

Miscellaneous

Flat Panel Mount Interface 100 x 100 mm

Microsoft Certifications Works with Windows Vista

Compliant Standards DDC-1 , DDC-2B , VESA DPMS , ISO 13406-2

Power

Form Factor Internal

Voltage Required AC 120/230 V

Power Consumption Operational 36 Watt

Power Consumption Stand by / Sleep 2 Watt

Software / System Requirements

Software type NaViSet

Environmental Parameters

Min operating temperature 41 °F

Max operating temperature 95 °F

Operating humidity range 30 - 80%

Manufacturer Warranty

Service & Support 3 years warranty

Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 3 years , Limited warranty - Backlight - 3 years

NEC Accusync LCD193WXM

NEC's 19-inch Accusync LCD193WXM is a capable, workaday LCD. We tend to keep our expectations reasonable for displays in the $200 category, but the LC193WXM shined on our tests. Unlike this model, similar displays from Dell, HP, and Samsung offer HDCP-compliance for watching protected HD content. NEC's claims about this model's support for its PC-based onscreen display software were also frustratingly inaccurate. Still, its image quality is high enough, and its price is low enough, that we're willing to recommend it, specifically if you intend to use it in a low-light environment.

Design
The Accusync LCD193WXM comes in a typical utilitarian housing. Its matte-black trim won't brighten the room, but it's also inoffensive enough for any setting, whether at home or in a place of business. NEC offers few options to adjust the screen's position; you can tilt it up and down, but that's about it.

The monitor's onscreen display controls are similarly basic. In addition to the power button, a select button and two arrow keys let you toggle through the various menu options. A fifth button with a more specialized purpose gives you the ability to switch between two different video inputs. That, of course, requires you to have two sources connected to the display, one to the DVI-in, and another to the VGA-in. A snap-on wire-wrangle on the back ensures that you don't suffer from tangled cables.

Manufacturer's specs
Resolution: 1,440 x 900
Dot pitch: .28mm
Pixel-response rate: 5ms
Contrast ratio: 1,000:1
Viewing angle: 176 degrees horizontal, 176 degrees vertical
Connectivity: Analog, digital, USB, audio
Included VGA, DVI, and audio cables

Features
Similar to most other displays on the market, the NEC Accusync LCD193WXM has two built-in speakers that work well enough, at least for an LCD. What we like better is that the monitor also features a built-in headphone jack, right on the front panel. Sadly, there's no hard volume control; instead you have to go through the onscreen display.

Speaking of the OSD, we were disappointed to find that despite both the literature in the box and the claims on NEC's Web site (on the monitor's specs page), this model does not support NEC's Naviset software. NEC went so far as to set up a phone meeting with us touting the Naviset functionality that lets you control the display settings in Windows with a mouse and keyboard. Imagine our surprise when we went to test it and found out that it didn't work. A few calls to NEC later and we found out that this model doesn't actually support Naviset, although other NEC displays do (at least, as far as we're told). What's ironic is that if NEC hadn't claimed that Naviset would work, we wouldn't care. We presume it's a nice feature, but it's not something we'd miss if we hadn't expected it.

We were more let down to find that the LCD193WXM l lacks HDCP compliance, although that is also not a deal-killing oversight. We hoped for it simply because other 19-inch wide-screen displays from Dell, HP, and Samsung all offer HDCP compatibility for playing protected HD content. We're not convinced that many of you in the market for a 19-inch LCD, whose 1,440 x 900 resolution limits you to 720p output, would consider such a small monitor with HD movies in mind. Still, we can't help but notice that the competition offers HDCP compliance in displays that cost even less than this one, so it seems that NEC could try a little harder to keep up with the rest of the market.

Performance
We haven't actually looked at many LCDs recently. We're working diligently to post a bunch of reviews before the end of the summer, but for now, we have a relatively limited sample set of LCD test results. From the results we do have, we're able to conclude that the LCD193WXM has solid, if not outstanding image quality, particularly in terms of its color range and accuracy. It also has a high contrast range. That leads us to believe that this display would serve well as a low-cost monitor for an image editor or a designer, especially if you work in a dark room, where the high contrast could aid overall visibility. Just don't expect much from its grayscale range, which we found substandard.


Service and support
NEC's warranty protects the LCD193WXM from defects for three years from the time of purchase. Online you'll find a wide array of resources, from an in-depth FAQ, to live tech support chat, to how-tos. If you need further help, NEC has toll-free phone support that's available 24/7.

CNET Labs' DisplayMate tests
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
NEC Accusync LCD193WXM
80

Brightness scores
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
NEC Accusync LCD193WXM
277

Contrast ratio
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
NEC Accusync LCD193WXM
924



Manufacturer: NEC Corporation


Part Number:ASLCD193WXM-BK

General

Display Type LCD display / TFT active matrix

Built-in Devices Stereo speakers


Width 17.6 in

Depth 7.7 in

Height 14.7 in

Weight 12.1 lbs

Image

Image brightness 300 cd/m2


Image Contrast Ratio 1000:1

Max horizontal view angle +85 / -85

Display

Diagonal Size 19 in - Widescreen

Max Resolution 1440 x 900 / 75 Hz

Color Support Up to 16.2 million colors

Max Sync Rate (V x H) 76 Hz x 81 KHz

Response Time 5 ms


Video Output None

Signal Input DVI-D, VGA

Features Ambix , NaViSet , XtraView , Rapid Response

CNET Labs' Benchmarks

Contrast Ratio 924:1

Maximum Brightness 253.44 cd/m2

Video Input

Analog Video Signal RGB


Digital Video Standard Digital Visual Interface (DVI)

Audio Output

Type Speaker(s) - Stereo - Integrated

Input Device

Type None

Expansion / Connectivity

Interfaces 1 x DVI-D - 24 pin digital DVI , 1 x VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)

Miscellaneous

Features Wall mountable , Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)

Microsoft Certifications Works with Windows Vista

Compliant Standards DDC-1 , DDC-2B , DDC/CI , VESA DPMS , ISO 13406-2 , Plug and Play

Power

Form Factor Internal

Voltage Required AC 120/230 V

Power Consumption Operational 39 Watt

Software / System Requirements

Software type NaViSet , Drivers & Utilities

Environmental Parameters

Min operating temperature 41 °F

Max operating temperature 95 °F

Operating humidity range 10 - 80%

Manufacturer Warranty

Service & Support 3 years warranty

Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 3 years

Sustainability

EPA Energy Star Compliant Yes