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KDS XF-7BK Xtreme Flat 17" CRT Monitor (Black)

KDS XF-7BK Xtreme Flat 17" CRT Monitor (Black)

List Price:
Your Price: $120.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great monitor, great price
Review: I purchased this monitor for my father to compliment an old notebook computer with a dying 12 inch screen. Basically, I was looking for an inexpensive but quality monitor.

I was highly impressed by the quality of the picture produced by this monitor. It is not only an improvement on the notebook's dying flat panel, but it is a very crisp, refreshing interface.

The color reproduction is execellent. The 85 Hz refresh speed is very easy on the eyes (I'm using it at XGA resolution). The visibility from oblique angles is superior to many other monitors I have used. My little sister now uses this monitor to view and edit all the pictures from her digital camera.

The monitor "remembers" its internal settings for specific video modes. This is very useful if you might use it at different resolutions - when the computer attached starts the monitor in a video mode for which the user previously made adjustments to the monitor, the monitor remembers those adjustments and applies them. Thus, you can change resolutions without having to change the monitor internal settings every time.

It seems if the "width" of the usable pixels area is stretched too much that more of the "stretching" is applied near the borders (right and left edges, less than 3/4 inch) than in the center. This can cause an appearance of on screen text being spaced more widely toward the edges of the monitor. I consider this problem minor, because the image is still clear and crisp in these areas.

As another reviewer mentioned, there was no floppy diskette with drivers in the box. This was not a major problem. Many generic drivers in any version of Windows can control this monitor. However the KDS driver is available for download on the KDS website and it is relatively simple to find it there.

Now this is not a "professional" monitor, but I am highly impressed with the quality I received for this price. If you are seeking a budget monitor, I can recommend this KDS monitor strongly.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great value
Review: For the price of this flat screen monitor it really is a great value. Took some adjustments to get picture fine tuned, but what doesnt? Downloaded ntest.exe for the calibrations. Run monitor at 1024x768 85 hz refresh. Flat screen is a joy to look at. One problem (or two): monitor came without driver CD nor any instruction manual. Minor problem, seeing as how I had no intention of using [the disc] anyway. Although, the drivers from the KDS page are not digitally signed by MS? Oh well. At least XP detects it as Plug and Play Monitor and with that works perfectly. Controls for brightness/contrast and screen size/position/shape/temperature are accesible via onscreen menu which is easy to understand. And it's a black monitor which is a plus anytime. Take care.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Value, Good Desktop Resolution
Review: For the price that the KDS XF-7BK Xtreme Flat 17" CRT Monitor is at it's a great buy. My monitor shipped in only 2 days using Super Shipper. The manual was a bit too thin for my tastes but setting a monitor up is easy without it. You'll have to go to KDS's site to get drivers and Color Management if you're really into video quality. The controls are simple and the onscreen display is similar to nearly every other CRT monitor. The image is clear and crisp at 32 bit color and 1024 x 768 resoltion. The monitor supports up to 1280 x 1024 but I never run it any higher on my desktop than 1152 x 864. If you want to run it at 1152 x 864, turn up the refresh rate to 70 Hz. Your eyes will thank you and you'll like the extra desktop space. I do run some slower turn based and strategy games at 1280 x 1024 without any problems.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: GREAT VALUE
Review: I am very pleased both with the monitor and Amazon. The monitor was in original package and shipped securely and in 3 business days with the free super saver shipping!! It is sleek and has a great picture, and I am sure that with more time and tweaking that it will be even better. I just got it yesterday so this may be premature, but I am very happy. I set it up in minutes without any problems at all. I highly recommend this monitor if you are on a tight budget like I am and want a nice black flat screen monitor with a three year warranty!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: For the money, you can't go wrong!
Review: I bought this monitor for the price, and I am very impressed with the picture quality. This monitor is a huge improvement compared to my old monitor. The picture is bright and crisp. Also to let you know, this is a plug-n-go monitor. It does not require any drivers if you are an XP user.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I can't believe it.
Review: I haven't actually used the monitor yet. It's a gift, but I have the free super saver shipping with this and I received it overnight!!!!!!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Beautiful
Review: Simply put -- if you're looking for a great looking monitor at a great price, this is the one.

First of all, bravo Amazon for wonderful service. I ordered this item late on a Thursday afternoon, got Free SuperSaver Shipping, and it was still delivered to my doorstep the very next day.

As for the monitor itself, I am very impressed. You just can't beat the quality for the price. I am running at 1024X768 75hz. The .20mm dot pitch ensures a very crisp image and the flat tube leaves no distortion. The OSD is packed full of options and very easy to use so you can completely customize the display if you want. For the technophobes, however, the basic brightness/contrast adjustmnets are immediately available with one-button access.

My only reason for giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because when I received the monitor the tape that secured the box closed had broken. Both the top and bottom were only secured with a single piece of tape. Even the UPS driver commented that is wasn't sufficent. A longer journey and the monitor could have fallen out. I don't know if this is an Amazon or KDS problem, but it is perhaps something that should be addressed.

In conclusion -- if you're budget is tight and your eyes are tired, this is a wonderful monitor. Nothing fancy, just a nice bright, crisp image.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: My 5 year old monitor had better picture
Review: This monitor is so-so... Everything looks washed out even when the brightness is turned down almost all the way... you'll have to make alot of adjustments to bring the picture to your liking.. to tell you the truth, my five year old monitor had better color though the refresh rates were slower than it is on this. The monitor is easy on your eyes once you get the settings right. This monitor is nice and cheap but I'd recommend you spend a little more money on something better. Of course I'm never going to purchase this model again.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Buyer Beware!
Review: This monitor, like the KDS monitor I bought 3 years prior, becomes too bright after approximately one year. Adjusting the brightness does not help. My NEC monitor which I have had for more than 6 years has lasted longer than two of these KDS monitors. If you can afford it, buy a better monitor.

I will not buy another KDS.


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