Sony Multiscan G400
Tim Dean
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Sep 1, 2000 5:22 PM
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Sony |
RRP: $1429 (time of review)
Excellent image quality, but let down by an awkward OSD interface and a high price.
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Flat CRT technology is all the buzz these days, and there are three main competing technologies. While LG, with its Flatron range, offers a completely flat screen, it has run into a couple of problems.
Flat CRT technology is all the buzz these days, and there are three main competing technologies. While LG, with its Flatron range, offers a completely flat screen, it has run into a couple of problems. Firstly a completely flat screen results in an optical illusion that makes the image look concave, and secondly, a flat piece of glass has to be very thick in order to be strong enough to withstand the vacuum of the tube. Both Sony and Mitsubishi, with their FD Trinitron and Naturally Flat tubes respectively, have a slight curve to the inner surface of the screen which both gives strength and eliminates the concave illusion.
The Multiscan G400 screen is part of Sonys corporate line of monitors, and is targeted at both office and graphics users. The 19in tube gives a very spacious 18in viewable area, and is capable of running at resolutions of up to 1,880 x 1,440 at 70Hz, although the recommended resolutions are 1,280 x 1,024 or 1,600 x 1,200, both at 85Hz. At the rear of the monitor is a captive D-Sub cable, which is not my favourite option since if the cable fails, you are forced to return the whole monitor in order to have it fixed. There is however, a second D-Sub connector, with an input selection switch mounted on the front, that allows you to connect two PCs to the screen and easily switch between them.
to connect two PCs to the screen and easily switch between them.
In place of the usual front facia buttons, Sony has opted for a POV hat rocker mounted under the bezel, called the DisplayMouse, which Sony asserts is an easier and quicker way to configure your screen than buttons. Unfortunately it doesnt quite live up to Sonys expectations, and in fact, can just end up being a pain to use. Its position is slightly awkward and its sensitivity high, meaning that you often find yourself jumping settings or adjusting the wrong variable because of a slight mis-touch. A simple button interface, or even better, the USB control implemented on the Philips Brilliance 109P10 (reviewed below), or the CTX PR711F (reviewed opposite), would be a better way to go.
As with just about every Sony monitor we have ever seen, image quality is second to none. The G400 waded its way through the demanding DisplayMate Multimedia tests (www.displaymate.com) with ease, and managed to ace many of the hardest tests. While Sony would not disclose the video bandwidth of the monitor, we can only assume that it is high since the G400 exhibited excellent detail even at high resolutions, and had no problems with high contrast screens. Colour is also excellent and the G400 was able to display crisp and clear colour blocks of all intensities, and fine detail in both high and low saturation greyscale.
Even a screen of this calibre is not without its faults, however. Geometry on the whole is very good, with the screen ratio being spot on, although there was some slight distortion in linearity around the edges. There were also
some slight horizontal convergence issues which contributed to minor problems with horizontal resolution, although they were not too serious. Overall, the image quality is excellent, with the G400 displaying a bright, crisp picture with good detail and vibrant colours.
The only drawbacks to the G400 are the awkward OSD control and the relatively high price. The Philips Brilliance 109P10 features the excellent CustoMax 4.5 USB control software, demonstrates comparable levels of image quality, and comes in $330 cheaper than the G400, thus giving it a slight edge in terms of value for money.