HoTWiReZ's DoMaiN

[HoTWiReZ]

I am assembling a computer for my brother this weekend, and the monitor that we decided to use is this Acer AL1716 flat panel. The specifications on this monitor are very nice, especially for its 200 dollar pricetag:

8 ms refresh rate
700:1 contrast ratio <-- I would say that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it does have a fairly nice ratio
1280x1024 resolution <-- This is standard for most flat panels these days
.264mm pixel pitch
150° Horizontal, 135° Vertical viewing angles
300 cd/m2 brightness
Analog and DVI inputs
Nice On screen menu
Comes with all of the cables
Three year warranty



The monitor's 8 ms refresh rate is the new standard for most flat panels manufactured after mid 2005. When I am able to get his computer assembled, I'll run it through its paces with the DVI output to really see how well it looks.

The resolution is perfect for it's size, as you can sit about 2.5 feet from the screen and see pixels without any strain. Also, the pixels are not obvious until you get about one foot from the monitor. The brightness is higher than I would have thought. At its default, halfway setting, it makes my eyes strain unless the room is very bright. (This may be nice for people who don't house their computers in a dungeon like me) The viewing angles are just a tad less than I would have liked, but they are acceptable, given the price of this monitor. The monitor that I received had no dead pixels at all.

The monitor's box includes a manual disk, warranty paperwork, a quick start guide, a D-Sub 15 pin VGA cable (M-M), and a DVI-D cable (M-M). The fact that the monitor comes with a three year warranty is amazing in itself, but to come with a DVI cable is just amazing. In case you didn't know, you won't be able to buy a DVI cable at a store, web or otherwise, for less than 40 dollars unless you're very lucky. If you try to get it at a retail store, just expect to pay around 100 dollars. That easily makes this a much better bargain than anything else in its range.

The key with this monitor is price! To get a flat panel for 200 dollars is difficult these days, especially if it is larger than 15". It's basically impossible if it also has a DVI output. The rest of the features are icing on the cake, and this cake is very sweet. With the introduction of the new Acer 1716BBD flat panel, the enthusiast who doesn't want to spend so much as well as the general consumer who wants to have a good sized (both compact and having a large screen area) display can be satisfied.