Sony MFM-HT75W
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"Displays 1280x768 in pc mode - Best out there" on by Rocwedge
Pros: PC widescreen resolution, Picture quality, sound, DVI input, remote, cables
Cons: No swivel or height adjustment
Summary: I researched EVERYTHING and even bought two other widescreen hd monitor/tvs to try -- I paid $100 more for this one but WORTH EVERY PENNY. I wanted a new widescreen monitor for my mac mini, so I figured I might as well pay a little extra to have tv capabilities instead of messing with EyeTV or something similar. Well, I definitely got an education on tv/monitor combos. Though every widescreen monitor I looked at advertised somewhere in the range of 1280x768 or 1366x768, not one of them could display that in pc mode. They all were 1024x768 (which is a 4:3 ratio). If you tried to display widescreen, it would stretch the image - no thanks. I also tried DisplayConfigX on the other monitors I bought and though I got decent results, the text was blurry and I detected a minute flicker. Most of the monitors I tried had internet low price of $399-450. I got the Sony for $539. But for that price I got a DVI input (which the others lacked), a DVI cable!, VGA cable, coax cable, and PC audio cable. Plus awesome sound. I thought the sound was good sitting in front of it -- then I left iTunes playing while I went upstairs and the sound was even better out of the room! I've read some reviews about regular tv not filling screen or dvd leaving bars - NOT TRUE. This monitor was also one of the few to have "wide zoom" which is similar to "panoramic" view on some hdtvs. It stretches the 4:3 image to fill the screen without distorting the image and most of the picture information is retained (you can still see network markers in the corner and digital cable info on bottom of screen). As for dvd - make sure your DVD SETUP MENU has a 16:9 monitor selected, then set your Sony to "Full". The other feature I like is the remote. It has separate buttons for each input -- want to jump from tv to pc1? just press the pc1 button. Most remotes only have one button where you have to cycle through to get the input you want. The only minor drawback I see (though it is SO outweighed by the positives) is pedastal is integrated so no swivel or height adjustment - tilt is awesome though.
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"Great viewing angle and H.D ready too !" on by greglest
Pros: Vivid colors and wide screen hdtv ready
Cons: problems sizing dvi input for computer use
Summary: I planned to buy a 42 inch lcd this year and upgrade my DishNetwork to HD . But after seeing a factory Sony Refurbished PCV-RS710g I bid on it and got it for 550.00 plus 33.50 shipping . I then needed speakers so I bid on some Klipsch pro-media 2.1's and got them for 61.00 shipped to my house ! Thats right ... 35 watts per channel on the main two speakers and 120 on the sub for 61.00 ! ... Now , all I needed was a monitor to replace my Samsung 15 inch LCD . So I went to Sony's website and saw the MFM-HT75W and it all most fit in my budget at 599.99 . So I searched and searched and found it on sale @ Circuit City for 539.99 . I walked in on 4-13-2005 at about 12.30 and looked at it . It had the best viewing angle of all LCD's they had on display . I asked to it hooked up to a HD signal and they unhooked it and carried it over to the TV Dept and oh yeah , it looked great ! Then, when I went to pay for it , turns out I walked in during the four hours when it qualified for a 56th Aniversary rebate of 56.00 Dollars ! {Mail In } . So my final cost was 484.00 ! So for 1128.50 , I have a great system . I do plan on adding another 512mb ram to the desktop but so far I love the whole system ... Take a look at this monitor ... you wont find a better widescreen for the money out there
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"All-in-one Über Display from Sony is easy on the eyes, though tough on the wallet." on by jreedh
Pros: All-in-one very capable display for Computer/DVD/Ant/Cable/HDTV use. TFT display. PC / Mac Compatible {VGA & DVI Cables Included!}. Built-In Speakers, Great colour rendition. 3 year Warranty.
Cons: Glossy screen picks up fingerprints/dust/glare, Doesn't tilt forward or swivel side to side. A little rough at the bank, but it's coming down in price.
Summary: First off, LCD monitors are easier on the eyes than CRT televisions. This Liquid Crystal TFT monitor is quiet and easy on the eyes. Not only that, but you won't find any ghastly image lag or ghosting with this display.
This monitor was exactly what I needed. As a Film and Television Production Student, I needed a space saving unit which stood as a television and computer monitor.
As a fanatic of the widescreen aspect ratio, this monitor fullfilled my expectations. 16x9 DVDs and HDTV fill the screen from edge to edge, while the wider aspect ratio DVDs are rendered with some narrow letterboxing {simply put, the aspect ratio of DVDs like the Widescreen Extended Edition of LoTR are wider even than the standard 16x9}. Still, they're rendered on this screen with more detail than on a 4:3 screen. The brightness and contrast ratio are very decent, while colour reproduction is nice and rich.
Despite reports on the contrary, this screen DOES support a 'Wide Zoom' of Standard 4:3 Television. It does so in a way which renders face proportions in the middle of the display correct, while subtly stretching the edges of the picture to the edges of the display. During panning shots, the effect is similar to that of looking through a very wide lens.
Loaded with Input options, you can connect a VCR using standard A/V cables, Higher Definition sources through an S-Video Interface, a Progressive Scan DVD player using Component Video cables, PC Audio using an included Mini-Stereo cable, old standard VGA equipped computers, new DVI equipped computers {such as Macintosh G5 Towers}, and a good 'ol UHF source for Antenna/Cable/HDTV viewing.
The internal speakers sport SRS Wow Surround Sound, which is very decent if you don't intend to purchase a real Surround Sound system. It renders audio in a way that makes it seem as though sound effects are coming from a number of different directions, rather than simply 'infront'. Nothing extraordinary, but a nice accoutrement nonetheless.
Unfortunately, it does cost a pretty penny. But the space and money saved by buying this rather than a separate Computer Screen and bulky 13' CRT TV with an electron gun that'll make you go bug-eyed make it far more worthwhile.
Just don't touch the screen. The glossy finnish may drive you nuts if your room's lighting conditions suck. Fingerprints are evident on it's glossy surface, and the residual oil is a pain to polish away. Dust shows up and clings to the screen as well, so a can of compressed air {used properly} is likely the best solution to chasing dust around the screen with expensive, lying 'lint free' cloths.
Armed with a 3 year warranty from Sony, I feel pretty safe with this investment. A screen like this will get the use it deserves.
It's slim, it's armed to the teeth, and it's quality you can trust. Get the Sony. -
"Just the right size and the quality is excelant" on by EJRay
Pros: Easy setup, wide screen does work with TV
Cons: Reflective screen
Summary: This was a replacement for another 15" unit that I used for the last two years. Although the price was the same this unit easily outperforms the old one two to one in every respect. My unit did work in wide screen with the TV. There is a button on the remote to select four viewing options.
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"Superb Performance - Svelte and Sexy." on by GrfxGawd
Pros: Everything you want or need in a compact space. Brightest, sharpest display I've ever seen. Looks almost like a DLT. You can actually see the compression artifacts in common broadcast TV.
Cons: Whish it was bigger, and the price is steep. Sound is good, but nothing you'll rave about. Many applications just don't get the "odd" aspect ratio. Make sure your card supports the native resolution.
Summary: This is a phenomenal device. There's little I can say that will describe WHY this is such an impressive piece of engineering. Go to a store and look at one for yourself. When I was at my local electronics mega-mart, nothing else came close. CRT, LCD - didn't matter. This was The One.
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