By: Richard Del Cazzo
Web site: http://www.hdtv-hdtv.com

Philips 2004 LCD monitors combine performance with efficient cost-of-ownership

Philips is to give business users the most comprehensive choice of display solutions with its 2004 range of LCD monitors, offering customers the best available front-of-screen performance combined with low cost-of-ownership and superb ergonomic solutions to maximize productivity in the workplace.

Covering screen sizes up to 23-inch widescreen, the 2004 Philips LCD monitor range spans all key PC monitor screen size segments, with a rich choice of options in the 17-inch and 19-inch categories. To help business customers – especially those in vertical segments like finance and insurance, – choose monitors to suit their exact needs, the range is sub-divided into three product lines: Brilliance (P-line), Business (B-line) and SoHo (S-line).

The Business line will appeal to those whose prime concerns are price/performance, energy efficiency and good ergonomic design. Brilliance monitors go further, offering the same qualities complemented by outstanding front-of-screen performance and innovative features. Both monitor lines would typically be found in the financial and insurance sector, health-care institutions, governmental and education premises, and indeed in any situation where professional users appreciate affordable excellence.

Enhanced front-of-screen performance
A number of features have been incorporated to significantly enhance the front-of-screen performance. Selected models in the range are covered by the Philips Zero Bright-Dot™ policy, which means users never have to put up with bright dots; an LCD panel defect that can compromise picture quality.

Any screen with even a single bright dot will be repaired or replaced. A dual input facility allows monitors to accommodate VGA and DVI inputs. The user can therefore experience the superior display quality of a true digital monitor with bright, sharp images and truer color representation, while also maintaining support for traditional analog signals. Dual inputs also give greater flexibility in dealing with possible changes in future interfacing preferences.

Improved image display quality
The Brilliance line also features the latest generation of Philips’ LightFrame™ technology, an intelligent and revolutionary system for enhancing a monitor's brightness, sharpness, contrast, and color. Images enhanced by LightFrame™ are lively, realistic, clear, attractive and colorful.

The high display specifications of the new Philips LCD monitor range ensure bright, information-rich images with high contrast and excellent color rendering. Depending on the model, a contrast ratio as high as 700:1 is available, with fast response time of up to 16 milliseconds. Users can also benefit from wide viewing angles of up to 176° in selected models, optimizing working efficiency and enabling excellent visibility, even when more people are viewing the screen.

Emphasis on low cost-of-ownership
Philips has placed great emphasis on low cost-of-ownership in its 2004 range of LCD monitors for the business market. The complete line of LCD monitors contains features designed to achieve maximum return on investment. As an example, SmartManage™ enables a connected server to periodically check on the status of monitors, regardless of whether they are in use, in sleep mode or not even powered up at all. Removed from the network, the monitor will not work unless it receives an inquiry from the server, making theft of the monitor futile. IT managers can also send instant messages to all their monitor users, and carry out centralized adjustments of the monitor settings.

The Philips monitors are designed in such a way, that they are best-in-class with power consumption, whether they are in use or in sleep mode. In order to reduce power consumption even more, SmartManage™ allows monitors to be switched into sleeping mode after a designated period, which not only saves energy but also prolongs the lifespan of the LCD. This can be pre-programmed using a timer and carried out centrally from the server.

Theft prevention is a key cost-of-ownership issue for businesses who use LCD monitors, especially when used in publicly accessible places, like classrooms or Internet cafes. Therefore all Philips LCD monitors for business use include a built-in Kensington anti-theft lock socket, which, when used in combination with a corresponding Kensington lock, greatly reduces the possibility of theft.

Freedom in the working environment
Ergonomic considerations also take high priority on these new LCD monitors. All Brilliance line models are equipped with a Super Ergo Base that gives users greater freedom in creating the optimal working environment and reduce physical complaints from the user when working long hours behind a PC monitor.

The screen can be tilted backwards and forwards, swiveled left and right, rotated into portrait mode and raised or lowered with a range of 130mm, all to create the best possible viewing position. Business line monitors can be tilted backwards and forwards, swiveled left and right and adjusted 70mm up or down.

Additionally, high-quality loudspeakers integrated into the screen surround eliminate the expense, time and effort required to buy and install separate speakers, and also minimize desk clutter.