The Reason
Since I retired, I have too many free hours. So I spend many of those hours watching TV or DVD movies on my computer. I recently bought a
Acer AL1717BBM LCD 17"monitor , which replaced my 17" crt monitor. I was surprised how good the LCD looked compared to my crt monitors. Since I use 2 monitor's on my computer. It looked so good, I watched TV/DVD movies on my LCD and used my 19" crt for surfing the web, writing reviews, e-mail and all else. Now on May 26th 2007 , I turn 65.
So I started looking for a replacement for my 19" crt, as usual I started with TigerDirect. I wanted a 19" or larger LCD monitor. I first started looking a 19" wide screen monitors, for the next month I kept looking, checking specs and waiting for the money to buy one.
Then one day TigerDirect showed up with a this monitor and the specs look great plus the price was within my range.
Specs from Manual
Display Type TFT LCD
Viewable Screen Size 20 inches
Pixel Pitch 0.25 mm
Display Colors 16.2 million
Input Video Signal DVI 15-pin D-sub
Contrast Ratio 800:1
Brightness 300 cd/m²
Response Time 5 ms
Horizontal Viewing Angle 160 degrees
Vertical Viewing Angle 160 degrees
Maximum Resolution 1680 x 1050
Cabinet Color Black
VESA Mounting Compliant VESA 100mm
Power Consumption 50 Watts
Price $199.99 plus S&H
This comes with a limited warrenty of 36 months parts and labor.
As far as I found there are actually 2 versions of this LCD monitor. One which has spec's of Contrast ratio of 600:1 plus a viewing angle of 140x130.
http://global.acer.com/products/monitor/1_series.htm
The contrast on my monitor(Version AL2016W Bbd)is 800:1 and viewing angle is 160x160. This was assembled in March of 2007, so this is an improved Model of this same monitor.
So when payday came, I sent the order on Wednesday and Thursday I received the monitor.
Unpacking
Thursday the monitor arrived in a box, 21"x18"x5 3/4" weighing about 14 lbs. Opening the box and taking the monitor out. I removed the foam inserts. the Monitor was in a plastic bag with a sheet of plastic on the front of the monitor. The base came detached from the monitor but was easy to attach.
In a separate bag, was the manual, cd, power cable, DVI cable and VGA cable. Both the DVI cable and VGA cable have plastic covers over both ends and are 5' long.
Now on the base is 2 tags - 1 saying Certified for Windows Vista the other saying TCO 03(Which is the latest standard of manufacture of LCD panels).
Now this monitor weighs 12 1/2 lbs which I like a lot better than the 60lbs 19" CRT monitor it replaced. Plus the crt uses about 200 watts compared 50 watts of the LCD.
The base measures 7 1/4 at its widest 8 1/2". The height is 15 1/4". The screen measures 18 5/8" X 11 3/8. Actual screen measures is 17"X10 5/8" with a depth of 3".
Using
After attaching the DVI cable to the computer and to monitor. Now for those not technically inclined-installing in Vista and XP, these operating system will install standard drivers that will let you use them. Vista update site has installed updated drivers for the LCD's.
Then setting up the monitors as I preferred.Now on the front of this monitor are 5 buttons one of which is the power button.
The first button brings up a Auto Adjusting screen that auto sets for User,Text, Standard, Graphics and Movies.
These adjust the Contrast/Brightness to a preset level.
Presssing the Button next to the power button brings up a window where you can adjust the Contrast-brightnes-Language-OSD-analog or digital.
With the 2 cables you can have 2 differant computers on the inputs switching to one or the other with on screen controls.
Languages available-English-French-Spanish-Dutch and serval Asian languages
You have control of all aspects of this monitor.
This monitor looks huge compared to my 19" CRT. Also the color is fantastic and sharp. Watching even analog TV on this monitor, I have a bigger screen. Watching DVD movies with a good sound system, as a friend told me, "It's like sitting in a theater where you feel and see all of the movie."
I use 2 monitors on my pc. The
Acer AL1717BBM LCD 17"monitor for writing reviews/emails, surfing the web and other things. AL2016 is used to watch TV and DVD movies. With the response time of 5ms there is no ghosting that I can detect. Viewing angles seem to be as listed in the specs or at least by looking at all various angles the screens look great. The screen resolutions are from 600x800 to 1680 x1050 with plenty in between. But the best is at the LCD's default of 1680x1050.
With these monitors I have the best of both. Plus less space used on my desk-less power than the crt's I did use.
I just love using 2 monitors(Updated Febuary 25, 2007 running Vista)
Watching a analog tv on this screen, I have a screen size of 18". Watching a DVD movie Star Wars"Revenge of the Sith"(in bothVista and XP)there is a 2" black space above and below the action. The screen (action part) measures 18.5" on this wide screen. On the 17" Standard LCD screen it measures 14 1/2". There is also a 2 3/4 black gap of top and bottom. Watching the movie Colors are natural-the screen is sharp and realistic.
Watching the same movie in XP the colors are still sharp but it seems to be grainy compared to viewing in Vista.
Watching a DVD movies on the wide screen even watching 4' away, you can see more detail and looks more natural.
Update
I have at times, had 2 IE7 open side by side on the 20" LCD and the text on both IE windows are easy to read. In Windows XP, I did have to turn on Clear Type which was designed by MS to make text look even better.
Update on DVD Movies
I have been watching someof my DVD movies and have found that the space above and below the movie depending on how they filmed the feature. Some of the films I have only a 1/2" above and below that is black. Which means some of the movies(most)are filmed in a ratio of 16:5 or 6, others (a few) are filmed at 16:9 which would fill a widescreen with a ratio of 16:9. While this monitor has a ratio of 16:10 which leaves the 1/2" black space.
Update with SP1
There is a way now to watch analog tv full screen on a Wide Screen monitor by right clicking on the screen and clicking Zoom-you can now watch TV at full screen. If you have noticed on many shows they have a blank space top /bottom-zoom fills that out.
Bottom Line
My 17" crt uses 180 watts of power-the 19" crt uses 240 watts. The 17" LCD uses 40 watts of power and the 20" widescreen uses 50 watts. With the LCD's I get a better-brighter-clearer screen and uses way less power.
So if like me, you like watching TV and widescreen DVD movies on your computer. Even text looks better. Get this monitor you will not be sorry.
