ViewSonic P227FB
Memories, memories…Back in 2001 ViewSonic won our CRT roundup with the P95f. 5 years later the competition is less fierce but quality is still there. We preferred the ViewSonic monitor out of the 5 products tested here. Five and not three, because as reported in the previous pages, we haven´t detailed the results obtained with two other models, one no name and a second-hand Mitsubishi monitor.
Its characteristics are much better that the two others previously tested. We could only suppose that the quality of electronic components was better, which was indeed the case. The P227FB stands frequencies that the competition would dream of reaching and with sharp images.
ViewSonic mentions the use of PerfectFlat technology, but actually that only means tube monitors made by ViewSonic. Depending on the period we could find a Trinitron or a Shadow Mask tube. For this new P227FB, it’s logically the latter. We say this, because "tron" production has stopped. This doesn´t prevent them from displaying a nice brightness of 106 cd/m². There are quality electronic components that make it possible to display rather sharp images in 1600 x 1200 @ 103 Hz. This is much sharper than the Iiyama and Philips at the same resolution. For office use, however, nothing is better than LCD sharpness, if you drastically reduce their brightness which is generally initially completely delirious. For those who prefer working in 1280 x 960 with this ViewSonic monitor, they will be able to do it with a vertical frequency of 126 Hz.
ViewSonic´s monitor compared to a 20 inches LCD PhilipsViewSonic talks about a variable mask step, a pitch, between the center and the side of the image. Don´t think that there will be a possible deformation as there is none and we verified this. The only real problem noticed on this monitor is the presence of a dark green spot in the top right corner. ViewSonic put the blame not on a possible production problem but on the transport company. They said that it was scrupulously checked over before it was sent. Such damage could have occurred between England (where it was stored) and here.
A word about shielding. It’s good but less impressive than the Iiyama. It was more sensible to the magnetic field induced by our magnet than the Japanese monitor. To defend it, we have to say that it’s a little lighter and Iiyama was probably a little more generous on isolating components. But here again, you only have to take the magnet away for the image to recover the original natural colors.
