Philips 170W4P

Editors' rating: LCD monitors
We rate LCD monitors on a scale of 0.0 through 10.0 (see "What the numbers mean" below). The editors calculate the overall rating from a series of subratings, on a scale of 1 to 10, that gauge key aspects of the product with respect to its price. Each subrating is weighted based on its relative importance. For example, a monitor's features count less than its image quality.

Design
(20 percent of the total rating)
We look at not only the overall size and appearance of a monitor but its stability, its bezel width, its cable-feed system, its viewing angles, and its range of adjustability options. We also take into account setup as well as ease of use on an ongoing basis. We look for straightforward image adjustment controls, an easily navigable onscreen menu system, comprehensive printed and electronic documentation, as well as good access to inputs and ports.

Features
(20 percent of the total rating)
The number of features an LCD offers for its price is considered in determining this portion of the rating. From multiple video inputs and embedded speakers to a Webcam and USB ports, we consider everything this product delivers to the consumer.

Performance
(50 percent of the total rating)
We consider image quality to be the most important criteria for monitors, so we give it the most weight. Using DisplayMate's video diagnostic utilities, we rate various aspects of a monitor's image quality including sharpness, color and grayscale quality, uniformity, and video quality. We conduct separate tests to determine a monitor's brightness and contrast ratio, and we also perform anecdotal tests to see how a display handles movies and games.

Find out more about how we test LCDs.

Service and support
(10 percent of the total rating)
We assess the company's service and support policies, including the term of the warranty (parts and labor); whether the warranty covers the backlight; whether onsite service is included; and the availability of technical support via phone (toll-free), e-mail, and the Web.