George Graves, March 28, 2006 HDTV Solutions ViewSonic is a well-known and well-respected computer monitor manufacturer who has decided to apply their skills to the area of high-definition home video with a line of wide-screen LCD HDTVs/monitors ranging in size from 32" to 40". Our focus in this review is the 32" N3260w NextVision. The N3260w is a thin-screen monitor measuring 32.3" wide, by 25.6" high, by 9.1" deep (820 mm x 650 mm x 230 mm). It weighs 48.5 pounds (22 kg) and is designed to fit upon a stand (supplied) or to be hung on a wall. Features The N3260w supports SRS TruSurround XTTM, a technology developed by SRS Labs. TruSurround simulates a digital surround sound environment with two speakers and can provide dimension to your audio experience provided you're sitting in the "sweet spot." However, it is not a substitute for a 5.1 or 6.1 surround sound system. One of the concerns with LCD technology when talking about television is LCD response time. Many LCDs are simply too slow to respond for this application. If you have ever used an LCD monitor on a computer, you likely noticed the "ghost trail" of pointer images that follow the cursor around the screen as one moves the mouse quickly. ViewSonic has managed to decrease the response time of the LCDs used in this line of TV monitors to 8ms making it impossible to notice any LCD ghosting artifacts. Contrast ratios for LCD HDTVs and monitors range from 400:1 to as high as 3000:1 with most, including the N3260w, at 800:1. The life of the backlight of the N3260w is 60,000 hours, which is the current standard of performance. This would last you 41 years if your viewing was 4 hours a day. The anti-glare glass surface of the N3260w LCD makes viewing in a lighted room a joy. There is virtually no glare at any angle of view. The N3260w also boasts an LCD viewing angle of 170 degrees off-axis both horizontally and vertically. This reviewer didn't measure the monitor to substantiate this claim, but it does look good from any angle in my viewing room and the picture doesn't change at all when standing up with the monitor set at eye-level for a seated audience.
Inputs/Outputs
Besides the two RF inputs for antenna and TV cable, the N3260w has two composite video inputs as well as two S-VHS (C-Y) inputs. For HDTV and progressive-scan DVD players, the N3260w has two sets of PbPrY component inputs along with two pairs of stereo audio inputs to accompany them. The standard VGA input also has a so-called mini-phone jack accompanying it for connection to a PC. The ViewSonic display has one HDMI (HDCP) input that can support either HDMI or a DVI input from a PC or other device. Outputs are restricted to one stereo pair of RCA jacks for feeding TV audio to a sound system. Most of the I/O for this set is located behind a door on the back of the TV. The main (AC) cord is vertically mounted in a recess along with the PC VGA connector and the two RF inputs. An RS-232 connector is accessible, but apparently dedicated for "manufacturing use only." The rest of the A/V I/O is situated behind the door making wall mounting somewhat awkward.
TV Controls Calibration Remote Control Picture Quality Conclusion If you're in the market for a dual purpose display in the 32" to 40" size, the ViewSonic N3260w is a competitive offering with a street price of around $1,200. |
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Posted May 29, 2011 10:16:14 PM
By Anna Presley
<a href="http://www.evtechnet.com">Computer Repairs Orange County (Los Angeles)</a>