The Big Picture: 21 inch Monitors Compared

Company	Product	List Price	Contact	Viewable Area A	Maximum Resolution B	Warranty (in years) C	USB Hub	Comments
The Big Picture: 21-inch Monitors Compared

GENERAL-USE MONITORS
ADI	MicroScan 6G	$850	800/228-0530,	20.0	1,600 x 1,200	4	no	Acceptable quality overall, marred by stubborn moire effects and poor controls. Very good warranty.
Apple Computer	Apple Studio Display with ColorSync D	$1,499	800/795-1000	19.8	1,600 x 1,200	1	yes	Excellent overall quality and a reasonable price; a great companion for new Power Mac G3s. Older Macs can’t access on-screen controls. Worst warranty. For pro use: accurate hue, but too much contrast.
CTX International	EX1300	$1,285	800/888-9052	20.0	1,800 x 1,440	3 E	no	Acceptable overall quality, but with somewhat washed-out colors. Dimmest monitor.
Eizo Nanao Technologies	FlexScan FX-E7S	$1,399	800/800-5202	19.7	1,280 x 1,024 F	3	$109	Acceptable sharpness and color. Dimmer than recommended.
	FlexScan T960	$1,399	800/800-5202	9.6	1,600 x 1,200	3	yes	Acceptable color quality and sharpness, although reversed type blurry.
Hitachi NSA	RasterOps 8115	$999	800/906-4482	20.0	1,600 x 1,200	3	no	Acceptable overall quality, although with a slight color cast. Very bright monitor. VGA connection only.
	RasterOps 8135	$1,229	800/906-4482	20.0	1,856 x 1,392	3	no	Acceptable overall quality. Control buttons are not intuitive. Brightest monitor. VGA connection only.
iiyama North America	VisionMaster 502	$1,239	800/394-4335	19.5	1,600 x 1,200	3	no	General image quality acceptable, but at high resolution, the text became unreadable and image appeared to vibrate.
	VisionMaster Pro 502	$1,239	800/394-4335	19.5	1,800 x 1,440	3		Acceptable overall quality. Good price for monitor with this maximum resolution.
Mag InnoVision	DJ920	$747	800/827-3998	19.9	1,600 x 1,200	3	no	Good bargain monitor with acceptable overall quality. Some moire problems. Good warranty. Outstanding controls.
miro Displays	Radius Precision View XL-1	$1,249	650/988-7270	19.7	1,600 x 1,200	3	no	Acceptable sharpness and color quality. Bright monitor.
Mitsubishi Display Products	Diamond Plus 100e	$1,099	800/843-2515	19.7	1,600 x 1,200	3	$/TD>	Acceptable overall quality. Good warranty.
	Diamond Pro 1000e	$1,349	800/843-2515	19.7	1,800 x 1,440	3	$79	Acceptable color quality and sharpness, but reversed type somewhat blurry. Good warranty.
	Diamond Pro 1010e	$1,499	800/843-2515	19.7	1,800 x 1,440	3	$79	Acceptable color quality and good text sharpness, but reversed text somewhat blurry. Good warranty.
	Diamond Pro 2020u	$1,499	800/843-2515	20.0	1,800 x 1,440	3	yes	Excellent sharpness, acceptable color quality, a flat screen. USB hub allows two computers to share monitor and devices.
NEC Technologies	MultiSync FP1350	$1,499 G	800/632-4636	20.0	1,920 x 1,440	3	$79	Acceptable sharpness and color quality with slightly washed-out colors. Good warranty. Flat screen.
	MultiSync P1250+	$1,099 G	800/632-4636	19.6	1,800 x 1,440	3	$79	Acceptable color quality and good text sharpness. Good warranty.
Optiquest	Optiquest V115	$1,049	800/843-6784	20.0	1,600 x 1,200	3	no	Acceptable sharpness and color quality, although colors slightly washed out. Good warranty.
Panasonic Computer Peripheral Company	PanaSync E110	$999	800/742-8086	20.0	1,600 x 1,200	3	no	Acceptable color quality, but poor sharpness with blurry text. Good warranty.
	PanaSync S110	$1,259	800/742-8086	20.0	1,600 x 1,200	3	no	Excellent sharpness and acceptable color quality. Good warranty.
	PanaSync/Pro P110	$1,399	800/742-8086	20.0	1,600 x 1,200	3	no	Acceptable overall quality. Good warranty.
Philips Consumer Electronics	Philips Brilliance 201B	$999	800/531-0039	20.0	1,800 x 1,350	3 H	$59	Acceptable sharpness and color quality. Flat screen. Good price for high resolution. Mediocre warranty.
Princeton Graphic Systems	Princeton EO2010	$999	800/747-6249	20.1	1,920 x 1,440	3	no	Acceptable overall quality. Good price for high resolution, although reversed text was blurry. Good warranty.
Samsung Electronics	SyncMaster 1000s	$1,179	800/933-4110	19.7	1,600 x 1,200	3	no	Acceptable overall quality, but flesh tones slightly washed out. Good warranty.
Sony Electronics	CPD-520GS	$1,049 G	800/352-7669	19.8	1,600 x 1,200	3	no	Acceptable overall quality. At high resolutions, reversed text blurry. Bright monitor.
	GDM-F500	$1,900 G	800/352-7669	19.8	1,800 x 1,440	3	no	Excellent sharpness and color quality, but at a high price. Flat screen.
ViewSonic	MB110	$1,149	800/888-8583	20.0	1,600 x 1,200	3	yes	Acceptable color quality, but poor sharpness, with blurry text. Good warranty. Includes special speaker system.
	P817	$1,849	800/888-8583	20.0	2,048 x 1,536	3	yes	Acceptable overall quality. Highest possible resolution, but with high price.
	PT813	$1,295	800/888-8583	20.0	1,600 x 1,200	3	no	Excellent color quality, and acceptable sharpness. Good warranty.

PROFESSIONAL MONITORS
Barco Display Systems	Personal Calibrator Plus	$4,295	770/218-3200	20.0	1,600 x 1,280	2	no	Accurate, easy-to-use monitor, but expensive.
	Reference Calibrator Plus	$6,990	770/218-3200	20.0	1,800 x 1,440	2	no	The ultimate in color accuracy, but at a very high price. Colorimeter attached to unit.
LaCie	electron21/108	$1,849	503/844-4500	19.7	1,600 x 1,200	3	yes	Accurate color quality at a bargain price. Good warranty. Built-in USB hub allows two computers to share monitor with blue eye calibrator and devices.
Mitsubishi Display Products	SpectraView 1000	$3,499	800/843-2515	19.7	1,600 x 1,200	3	$79	Color not very accurate. Good warranty. Optional USB hub allows two computers to share monitor and devices.
A Measured diagonally, in inches. B In pixels. C For parts, CRT, and labor. D Evaluated as both a general-use and professional monitor. E Two-year CRT warranty. F Documentation recommends a maximum resolution of 1,280 by 1,024, although we found higher-resolution quality acceptable. G Estimated street price. H One-year CRT warranty.

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