NEC-Mitsubishi MultiSync FP2141SB-BK 22" CRT Monitor (Black)

Rating:
Summary: Two words: WOW! (Oh, that was one word)
Review: So, I took the plunge, and spent close to a thousand bucks (Canadian, anyway..) on this monitor.

What can I say?

It's fantastic.

I actually have a small focussing problem in the top left corner, but as soon as I purchase a phillips screwdriver with a long shank, I'll fix it up.

People used to laugh at me because I work at 1600x1200. "How do you see the icons??" friends would ask.

Well, I am done with that resolution! I have moved up to 1920x1440.... at 90 Hz, no less!

I was very close to buying a Viewsonic for about $200 cheaper. In the end, I took the plunge and went for this one.

In addition to this monitor, I have two 19" LCD panels on either side. I always prefered the crispness of my LCD panels over my old 21" Professional Series Viewsonic monitor... Now, it's the other way around! I actually get excited dragging a picture from my LCD screen to this CRT.

All I have to say is... buy it!

Rating:
Summary: Professional Monitor
Review: This is one of the best CRT monitors. The cabinet is 22", but the actual viewing capacity is 20". Contrary to what people are made to believe, CRT monitors run circles around LCD. Any gamer and graphic designer will know why. LCDs are too slow for intense gaming and incapable of true color calibration. Plus, there are no bad pixels to contend with.

This monitor is by Nec (Nec-Mitsubishi). Mitsubishi has the exact product under the model, Diamond Pro 2070SB. Get any. Their top of the line for graphic artists is the same monitor, it includes the additional SpectraView (color calibration) that you can purchase separately should you some day need.

The features include a SuperBright Diamondtron function that you enable on the front panel. It boosts the brightness function - handy especially when watching videos. What it does is the Brightness Controller software that you install will dim the background and boost the video in the foreground.

Another feature is the OSM (On-screen Management) that allows you to adjust all aspects of the monitor on-screen. This feature works best when you install the Naviset software. Attach the included USB cable from the monitor to a free USB slot in your computer so you can control the settings with your mouse and keyboard.

So why only 4 stars with all these features? First, all the features explained above is not included in the box. The professional and convenient features is accessible only by manually downloading the drivers from their web site. For a product this professional, not including any software is not professional at all. Second, this monitor is HEAVY and takes up a lot of desktop space. Third, the cabinet design is not as cool as the other manufacturers. My Eizo-Nanao CRT has the best cabinet design - elegant and simple.

So what does this monitor come with? The usual no frills accessories - power cord, USB cable, signal cable and manual. That's it, no software which I strongly recommend you download before installing the monitor so that your OS and video card can properly load the correct ICC profile and settings. The software will perform automatic adjustment of the screen size to maximize the viewing space. It has a built-in 4-port USB hub.

Despite all these, shoud you get it? Definitely! It outperforms any LCD and is up there in the top 1% of the CRT products.

Don't get this if you use your computer purely for business function. That's what an LCD is for. Furthermore, if you are sold at obtaining the best monitor and you can afford more, get a Sony DM-FW900 Flat Widescreen 24" monitor. Another alternative is to get an Eizo. It has all the functions you could ask for - a USB hub, on-screen controls, elegant design, and includes all the needed drivers and utilities - but at a higher price.

Either way, you won't make a mistake if you get this Nec.

Rating:
Summary: Size matters? Not on this monitor...
Review: This monitor is huge and heavy. After I picked it up at the UPS post(I missed their delivery), I couldn't fit into my car. I had to dump the box on their site. After I set it up with my computer, disappointment settled in. The screen is big and bright but the objects on screen are not sharp enough. When I surf the net, usually the text seemed out of focus a little bit. I even downloaded their Naviset(?) utitlity software but no help. One good thing about this monitor though is that it offers USB hub which is a big plus, but it is only USB 1.0 so don't connect fast USB 2.0 devices to it.