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  Viewsonic VA1616w

  Sudeep Naik, Jul 09, 2008 1130 hrs IST

  You'd rather have it in your office than your home

  Saves a lot of space, good build, Supports 720p resolution, Good cost saving option when buying in numbers.

  Dynamic contrast adjustments not up to the mark, slight mismatch in the HCR test, Pricey.

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Page 1 - The Monitor Page 2 - Bundle & Specifications Page 3 - Performance & Conclusion

Performance

We used DisplayMate to conduct a variety of tests ranging from Geometric Pattern tests to the Colour reproduction test (and everything in between).

It breezed through the Geometry and Distortion tests with ease; not that LCDs have a problem there. The Viewsonic VA1616w gives you above average sharpness in pictures without any distortion, bleeding or streaking of colors. The overall image quality seemed pretty fine but there was the famed mismatch in the Horizontal Color Registration Test.

Also, due to the high response time of the panel, the display looked similar to a mobile phone that has an ambient light sensor that adjusts the screen brightness to high or low levels as and when required. In most other LCD monitors, this process happens seamlessly and the user is often unaware of dynamic changes in the contrast ratio. However, in the VA1616w you can clearly see the transition and changing brightness levels if you observe the screen for a few seconds. It can be quite irritating if you use the monitor for longer periods.

We observed no ghosting while watching a few 720p videos on the screen, but the brightness was a little too much due to which the pictures didn't look as sharp and vibrant. Playing games wasn't that great either.

Overall, the Viewsonic 1616w seems like a good option for someone who doesn't plan to play too many games or watch a lot of movies on it. It's just a space saving LCD monitor that's cheap; especially for those trying to replace CRT monitors in their offices with LCDs.

Conclusion

The Viewsonic LCD Monitor sells for Rs. 7,499 with a 3-yr on- site warranty. Now, before you jump the gun and rush off to buy one, please bear in mind that a 16-inch monitor is not as good as a 19-inch monitor in terms of resolution, size and the overall visual experience, which are of prime importance for a home PC.

Now, if you're looking to buy it for use in an enterprise, then it makes sense as it takes a lot less space and is also about 600 to 1000 bucks cheaper than a regular 19-inch LCD monitor. Also, it would amount to a big saving when buying in bulk.

In my opinion, the Viewsonic VA1616w is too small a monitor for a home PC, I'd rather spend around 1000 bucks extra and get a 19-incher.

Page 1 - The Monitor Page 2 - Bundle & Specifications Page 3 - Performance & Conclusion

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