Color:
Black
Display Type:
Flat panel display / TFT active matrix
Diagonal Size:
20.1 in
Max Resolution:
1600 x 1200
Response time:
16 ms
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by:
Kristina Blachere
Reviewed on 4/26/04
ViewSonic built its top-of-the-line VP201b LCD for video editors, financial traders, CAD/CAM engineers, and so-called power gamers. Is the VP201b actually worthy of such demanding graphics pros? Its versatile design and useful features suggests that it is, but its image quality, while competent--especially when it comes to displaying text and video--isn't as good as Planar's very good (and considerably more expensive)
PX212M.
ViewSonic put a lot of thought into the VP201b's design. The very thin, 0.75-inch bezel lets you tile multiple panels together for the wall-of-monitors effect so popular with financiers and others who need a huge viewing area. (To this end, you can buy a multipanel frame from ViewSonic's
Web site.) Two wings protrude from the circular base, making the VP201b extremely stable. Ergonomically, this monitor does it all. The thick, sturdy neck can telescope to bring the bottom of the panel from 1.5 inches to almost 6 inches off the desktop; you won't need a riser unless you're wicked tall. The panel swivels about 45 degrees to the left and the right, tilts approximately 10 degrees forward and 20 degrees backward, and pivots easily between Portrait and Landscape modes (ViewSonic includes PerfectPortrait software that orients the image). Finally, the VP201b can be attached to a
VESA-compatible wall or arm mount.
The VP201b has one digital and one analog input on the back panel, and both cables are included--a generous touch. Nearby, you'll find a USB 2.0 hub with one upstream and four downstream ports (ViewSonic includes one USB cable), which let you more easily hook up peripherals, such as mice, joysticks, cameras, and scanners. ViewSonic also offers a video-processor/TV-tuner module via its
Web site so that you can turn the VP201b, which is
HDTV 720p compatible, into a high-resolution TV.
The onscreen menu (OSM) is easy to navigate, thanks to four unobtrusive buttons along the bottom bezel. All of the basic adjustments are available, and you can go straight to the brightness and contrast settings by pressing one of the two arrow buttons. We like that the OSM has a memory; when you call it up, it goes to whichever menu setting you left it on.
The VP201b's image quality is good overall, though it doesn't quite measure up to the caliber of ViewSonic's intended user. CNET Labs' test yielded nice, sharp text and high contrast, and we liked that tweaking the brightness and contrast levels actually resulted in pronounced differences in the picture. Video also looked very good, with less ghosting and streaking than you'll see with most LCDs. On the downside, the VP201b didn't do a very good job on CNET Labs' grayscale and color test screens. Lighter grays had a slightly beige-and-pink tint and dark grays showed hints of green. For day-to-day productivity tasks, the colors will be fine, but video editors and graphics pros may have some beefs.
ViewSonic backs the VP201b with a standard three-year warranty on parts, labor, and the backlight. Toll-free phone tech support is available 24/7, and the company's
Web site offers drivers, FAQs, documentation, white papers, and an online calibration tool.
CNET Labs DisplayMate tests (Longer bars indicate better performance)
Note: Measured with the Sencore CP500 / Minolta CA210
Find out more about
how we test LCDs.
