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CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 04/24/2006
- Released on: 01/01/2006
The Philips Brilliance 230WP7 sports a fairly basic design, with an inch-thick bezel, a prominent control panel, and a large, stable base. The buttons are almost artistic in their layout, and subtle flourishes such as inlaid plastic on the bottom front bezel and a two-toned, black-and-silver color scheme add interest to the otherwise plain design. The Brilliance 230WP7 offers all the adjustability we could ask for in a big, 23-inch monitor, including 45 degrees of swivel to the left and right and more than 7 inches of height adjustment. The panel also tilts back 25 degrees and forward 5 degrees and can pivot from portrait to landscape mode--a feature left off of many larger monitors such as the BenQ FP231W. The large, two-pronged base keeps the monitor stable through most adjustments, but it tends to move around while the screen is pivoted. A handle atop the monitor's neck makes height adjustments easier, which we appreciate since monitors this large can be a bear to adjust.
Connectivity options are limited. Standard DVI-I and VGA ports are lined up on the monitor's back, and one upstream and two downstream USB 2.0 ports are set apart in the lower-right corner of the back panel. Two more upstream USB 2.0 ports are embedded in the monitor's left side. Though Philips has the basic connections covered, the lack of video ports is disappointing, especially considering the monitor's large size and expensive price. Philips includes digital and analog cables as well as a USB cord.
The 230WP7's seven-key control panel has large, well-labeled buttons, and the intuitive onscreen menu navigation makes image adjustments easy. If using the buttons seems like too much of a chore, Philips includes Smart Control, a software utility that allows you to adjust image settings with your keyboard and mouse. And for business users, Philips includes Smart Manage, a remote network asset-management tool that allows administrators to track, adjust, control, and support whole fleets of Philips displays over a network.
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