LCD monitors look pretty slick, and beat most of the competition on looks alone.
You have to admit, Hercules' LCD monitors look pretty slick, and beat most of the competition on looks alone. Its new 17in 920DVi packs some notable and well-deserved enhancements over its 15in sibling an increased screen size and the addition of digital and video input.
On its default settings, DisplayMate tests show the 920DVi's display is noticeably darker than many rival products colours tend to look slightly more natural, if a little less effervescent than on competing LCDs. It doesn't have the stark, vibrant contrasts offered by the Viewmaster, and colours tend to have more weight to them on the Prophetview a red that was almost hypercolour on the Viewmaster came out blood red on the 920DVi. Despite this, Hercules' LCD does have a superior brightness/contrast balance, and this makes it easy to make out small details, even in dark pictures.
One minor quip we had with the 920DVi is its lack of OSD options when using DVI output. When using D-Sub output (via an adaptor dongle) you have the full range of screen tools such as brightness, screen resizing and colour temperature. Conversely, when using digital input you're limited to tweaking the red, green, blue and brightness settings, which is somewhat disappointing.
At a recommended retail price of $1,999, it just falls into the 'pricey' category for LCDs it's about $300 more expensive than your average 17in LCD. On the other hand, there are pricier models that don't look half as good as the 920DVi. It's a great choice for those craving a screen that's both stylish and functional.
Daniel Gardiner
This Review appeared in the July, 2002 issue of PC & Tech Authority Magazine
