Crave

The Eizo CG222W in all it's bulk splendor.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)

Late last week I reviewed two very different monitors.

One, the 22-inch Eizo ColorEdge CG222w was the first professional grade monitor I've reviewed. And by professional, I mean, at $1,300, it easily prices itself out of most people's pocketbooks and should only be bought by pro artists that know exactly what they want.

The second was the 24-inch ViewSonic vg2427wm.

The Eizo uses an S-PVA panel that gives it wide viewing angles. It's also one heavy and bulky son of a gun at 24 pounds and definitely feels like $1,300 worth of hardware is encased in it. The ViewSonic, conversely, feels hallow, brittle, and frightens me a bit, actually.

I have this completely irrational fear of the unit falling near me. Forcing me to dive for my life to stay ahead of the million bits of shrapnel the monitor would surely become.

Anyway, check out the reviews of each and always keep an eye here for new monitor reviews.

Dell aside, seems like computer peripherals maker ViewSonic also wants in on the 3G smartphone industry. If we sound a little cautious here, that's because the market the California-based outfit is diving into is dominated by Apple, HTC, LG, Nokia, and Research In Motion.

The company plans to introduce its smartphone first in China, followed by Europe and the U.S., and ViewSonic claims the phones will be a "natural extension" of its 3- to 300-inch product lineup, from handhelds to LCD TVs and projectors. We welcome competition since that would theoretically drive innovation, but we are keeping our fingers crossed on this one.

(Source: Crave Asia)

The birds...are watching.

(Credit: ViewSonic)

The last two ViewSonic LCD monitors I reviewed, the VLED221wm and FuHzion VX2265wm, didn't exactly set my world afire when it came to features.

Both monitors were virtually devoid of ergonomic options and while the FuHzion VX2265wm does include compatibility with the Nvidia GeForce 3D Vision Kit, it strangely does not include an On Screen Display, which practically all monitors do.

I hope ViewSonic's new VG series will tell a different tale. On Tuesday the company announced the VG2427, the first in its new VG series and judging from the press release's features list, we're at least headed in the right direction.

The 24-inch wide-screen VG2427 features screen height adjustment, tilt, and swivel (rotation). There is no mention of a pivot feature, but that's a rare one in a monitor. Other features include a two-port USB hub, SRS WOW stereo speakers, and an "ECO" mode, which according to ViewSonic uses 30 percent less power.

ViewSonic says the monitor features a slim bezel, which would allow you to place multiple monitors closer to each other, if you so desired. From the pics, though, it's difficult to tell just how slim it is. ViewSonic also claims 300 candelas per square meter of brightness and a 16:9, 1,920x1,080 full-HD resolution.

The monitor is available now for $499. Look for a CNET review in a few weeks.

(Credit: CBS Interactive)

Last month, I did a first take on the Nvidia GeForce 3D Vision Kit. At the time, I'd only very briefly tested it and not at all thoroughly. Since then, thanks to help from Nvidia (new glasses, video card, and monitors) I've been able to move past the bugs mentioned in the first take.

This time, I did it big with an NVidia GeForce 280GTX, baby! Playing around with this card made me weep, as it's only $330, vs. the $600 ATI card I bought three years ago that's starting to disappoint me.

With the new card, there seemed to be only minor improvements to how well the 3D effect is handled. With Unreal Tournament 3, which seems to scale with hardware pretty well, the new card made for a smoother, more pleasant experience, but not a particularly more/better 3D one.

Right now, as far as PC LCD monitors go, there are two that allow you to take advantage of this technology: the Samsung SyncMaster 2233RZ and the ViewSonic VX2265wm.

Both cost about $400, which is quite expensive for a 22-incher, seeing as how the Gateway HD2201 can be found for about $200. Still, when it works, the 3D effect enhances a game's immersiveness. I just feel the technology is a few years off from going mainstream.

If you watch the video after the jump, be aware that we cannot show what the 3D effect looks like on camera. Some of what you see in the video is Unreal Tournament 3 with the 3D effect turned on. You're seeing it as someone would if they didn't have on 3D glasses.

Find about whether the Nvidia GeForce 3D Vision kit is worth shelling out $200 bucks for by reading the full review at CNET Reviews.

(Credit: CNET)

120Hz LCD gaming is now officially here! What? Oh, I'm late to the party? We've been able to do this for years now? Oh. OK. Let me rephrase that then. 120Hz gaming on a 22-inch LCD computer monitor is officially here! Does that satisfy your anal retentiveness? Well, it better.

Last month I reviewed the ViewSonic VX2265wm. The first 120Hz LCD computer monitor CNET's reviewed. I gave it points for its compatibility with the Nvidia GeForce 3D Vision Kit, but its lack of features and overall average performance didn't win my recommendation.

This week, I have its "clone", its "doppelganger", its "same basic technology just released from a different vendor" if you will; the 22-inch Samsung SyncMaster 2233RZ.

I'd love to tell you how well it performed compared with the ViewSonic, but then what would be the point of you reading the full review?

(Credit: James Martin/CBS Interactive)

Hey, I'm waiting. Are you there? By "you" I'm referring to the LED-based computer monitor revolution. I've yet to actually see you in the flesh and I'm starting to have my doubts as to whether you actually exist.

OK, so monitor vendors have been purporting the advantages of LED-based computer monitors for the last couple of years at least. So far, I've reviewed three. The first was the Lenovo ThinkVision L2440x. I was disappointed that aside from slightly better color, it was an exact replica of the CCFL (Cold Cathode Florescent Tube)-based ThinkVision L2440p.

Then came Apple's LED Cinema Display. Great performance, great design, and really took advantage of what LEDs have to offer (thin panel, great color reproduction). One slight problem. Unless you own a MacBook with a Mini DisplayPort you can't use it.

Now that brings me to my latest LED-based display, the ViewSonic VLED221wm. Don't get too excited. In fact, you can just sit back down because the revolution has yet to arrive.

While the monitor achieved good performance in games and movies and includes a thin panel, it has a pitifully low 245 candelas per square meter (cd/m2) brightness and its color reproduction proved to be inaccurate (as evidenced by its noticeable red push). In fact, the CCFL-based Gateway HD2201 performed better.

The worst part is the price. For a monitor so devoid of features, its $500 asks a lot of your wallet.

Check out the full review to get more details and see our recommendation.

This is the CD4220T. Soon as I get a pic of the CD4230, I'll get back to you. Disappointing, I know. Send your hater mail to Viewsonic, please.

(Credit: Viewsonic)

Every now and then I actually like getting excited about things I'll never have. Probably something carried over from my teenage years, watching MTV and all the beautiful people with their fancy cars, perfect bodies, and clothes that somehow just fit right. Hmmm, is it possible I still haven't worked through these issues?

Anyway. Speaking of things I'll never have (but honestly am not that excited about), this week Viewsonic announced what it refers to as an "ultra-thin bezel commercial LCD", the CD4230 and a "multimedia-capable LCD HDTV", the VTMS2431.

The bezel of the CD4230--which is being positioned as a digital signage solution--measures 0.5 inches thick, which is very small for a 42-inch display. It has a high 500 candelas per square meter (cd/m2) brightness and a 1,500:1 contrast ratio. The display is also RS-232 daisy-chain capable, includes DVI and VGA ports, is VESA-mount compliant with carrying handles, and can facilitate ddc/ci communication between a PC and monitor for management, diagnostics, and remote control.

The 24-inch VTMS2431 is Viewsonic's first LCD HDTV with "multimedia capabilities," and by "multimedia capabilities" Viewsonic means full-HD resolutions up to 1,080p, an integrated ATSC / NTSC / QAM tuner, and an internal media player and USB port to support pictures and videos. Like the CD4230, the VTMS2431 also has a RS-232 port that enables users to control it remotely, allowing the product to truly transform from a TV into a signage display.

Both the CD4230 and VTMS2431 will be available in Q2, 2009. The CD4230 comes in at $1,999 MSRP and the VTMS2431 for $449 MSRP.