The specs don't give the whole picture.
Pros:
Large 19" display, small footprint, built-in speakers, good price.
Cons:
Eye-straining display, poor quality speakers, no height adjustment, black isn't black enough, "laggy" video
The Bottom Line:
Do not recommend for: all-day users, watching movies or gaming. If you are a casual user looking for a "good deal", go see one in action before you buy.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
When you compare the Q19wb to other monitors in it's price range/size, it seems like a great deal based on the specs alone.
19" TFT display
5ms response time
700:1 contrast ratio
1440X900 Max resolution
Built-in speakers
The numbers, unfortunately, don't tell the whole tale.
I am not an expert in LCD monitor technology, but I stare at this one all day, and I can tell you that my eyes hurt every night when I leave work, which they didn't with my old monitor.
I honestly can't quite nail down what is wrong with this monitor, but to try to qualify it I would say that, it looks almost as if it is never quite in focus, or that the screen is flickering at a level just faster than I can consciously see, if that makes any sense. I don't know if this is due to a low refresh rate (60hz is the only option), or some other issue, but suffice it to say, it's an eye-killer, and I do not recommend this monitor for anyone who plans to spend all day in front of it.
In more quantifiable terms, I've tried to watch DVD's on it, and the black isn't black, and despite its touted 5ms response time, it noticeably lags. I do not recommend this monitor for anyone who wants to watch movies or high-quality video.
The speakers are severely underpowered. If you only need them to play Window's start-up chime and the occasional YouTube audio you may be fine, but if you were hoping to replace your desktop speakers and listen to a lot of music or listen to a lot of online audio, you won't be satisfied. I do not recommend this monitor for anyone who thinks they'll be able to get rid of their desktop speakers.
