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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
4.0 stars
"Best PC LCD with TV for the business professional and anywhere else except NOT for videophiles."
Pros: Extremely bright and crisp colors, excellent amount of workspace, robust sound, video flexibility
Cons: Lacks adjustibility, no Audio output, video capabilities are secondary, Reflections
Summary: I purchased the MFMHT205 for the monitor's crisp and bright colors during analog television use, and utilizing the RCA inputs. I am also using the monitor as a secondary monitor for my laptop.
Watching digital television is still quite new. With a few channels digital and the debate between HD-DVD and Blue Ray DVD still progressing with a few DVDs supporting each, personally, I would not invest much into digital content until the end of this decade.
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Pros.1) Extremely crisp and bright colors.
I have experienced the contrast ratio makes the world of difference when watching TV from the normal antenna cable (analog TV input) connection. Sony's XBRITE LCD technology makes analog TV quality quite astounding for a PC LCD. A person can most definately feel the crisp colors. This is definately noteworthy for a PC LCD. The only other 20" LCD monitor I found from researching to be comparable is the 20" NEC MultiSync 20WMGX2.
Pros.2) Excellent amount of workspace.
With this LCD monitor's native resolution (1680x1050), a fella is able to open two internet browser windows where both are visible with vary little scrolling. The extra workspace is great when working in my business spreadsheets, charts, and word processor because the amount of annoyingly scrolling time I normally experience with 1024x768 resolution is dramatically reduced.
Pros.3) Robust sound.
The fact is any speakers integrated into a PC LCD will never sound better than a 2.1 speaker system. However, the MFMHT205 has a subwoofer and speaker's total output power are 11v. The MFMHT205 allows the user to adjust the speaker's treble, bass, and balance. The speaker's also implement a surround sound option. If you do not want a 2.1 speaker system to clutter the area or do not have space for speakers, then the MFMHT205 speakers will not disappoint I guarantee. The speaker's volume can become quite loud until distortions become evident.
Pros.4) Video Flexibility.
The VGA input is important if you want to connect a laptop. Unfortunately, many very decent, older business laptop do not have a DVI ouput, and there are not any robust KVM switches utilizing the DVI port yet. The DVI input is quite nice if you want to connect an upscaling DVD player or anything else where you can utilize the DVI port.
The antenna cable input makes this PC LCD quite versatile. First, the user does not need a computer to watch television. Second, the monitor can be placed wherever a coaxial cable plug is available. Third, the monitor does not have to be connected to or close to a cable box.
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Cons.1) Lacks adjustibility.
Evidently, the MFMHT205 would have been much better if the unit could pivot, change height, and so on. My guess for the lack of adjustibility Sony chose is due to the speakers.
Cons.2) No Audio Output.
A slight distortion on my behalf. To be precise, the MFMHT205 has not audio (PC) output. The MFMHT205 does have a headphone output, but this type of output is made uniquely for headphones instead of external speakers. When I connected my 2.1 speaker system to the headphone output, the subwoofer was not operable and a constant ringining, like a high pitch squeal, but the sound was average when I would connect my Bose headphones.
Cons.3) Video Capabilities are secondary.
To better understand, the review at http://www.dvdtimes.co.uk/content.php?contentid=61859 is available. This is why I state this monitor is not for videophiles. I also believe this monitor is not to be a part of any home entertainment setup nor for video capture.
Cons.4) Reflections.
I was able to place the monitor where I desired, but the reflection present is almost equivalent to the reflection in a CRT monitor.Updated
Samsung, Dell, NEC, ViewSonic, Asus, Acer, HP, and Gateway did not satisfy my requirements.
Check out Amazon.com for the best price. I was able to purchase the monitor for $769 (US) from a third party business other than Amazon, but, once Amazon got some of these monitors stocked, the price from the Amazon recommended business dropped to $620 (US) where Amazon's price was $860 (US). The price matches this monitor quite well.Updated
Samsung, NEC, Dell, Gateway, Acer, ViewSonic, Asus, and HP did not satisfy my requirements. The NEC MultiSync mentioned above was close.
I purchased this monitor for approximately $760 (US) from a business recommended by Amazon since Amazon had none in stock. However, now Amazon has the monitor in stock for $860 (US). I think this is the reason why the Amazon recommended business now sells the monitor for $700 (US).
