TV or Not TV--That Is the LCD Question

if your work area and living space are essentially the same (think efficiency apartment or workaholic office), then you're the perfect candidate for a new breed of monitors: LCD TVs. These hybrid products--large-screen displays equipped with TV-friendly features--may soon become must-have items for hard-core multitaskers.

I put shipping models of BenQ's H200 and ViewSonic's N1700w through their paces. For comparison, I also looked at a shipping version of Samsung's SyncMaster 172W monitor, which lacks a television tuner but offers a wide-aspect display that is better suited to DVD viewing than your average desktop LCD. The differences among the three displays are significant; your lifestyle, work needs, and budget will determine which represents your best investment.

ViewSonic on Top

Of my three test models, ViewSonic's $999 N1700w most successfully combines price, quality, and versatility. It's a 17-inch, 12.4-pound display with a 1280 by 768 native resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Plus, the monitor's industrial design--a silver rectangle perched on a black, oval base--looks great.

DVD movies looked excellent on the ViewSonic, appearing sharp and detailed with vivid color. Cable TV looked good, as well (vertical bars along either side of the screen prevent images from stretching horizontally), and the monitor's pair of built-in 10-watt stereo speakers produced better-than-average sound (though I recommend buying separate speakers for use with any of the three test displays).

Picture-in-picture TV viewing, a common feature on high-end standard televisions, comes into its own on the ViewSonic monitor, allowing you to watch a show or a movie while simultaneously using your desktop computer.

The ViewSonic also offers compatibility with the highest standard of HDTV (1080i).

ViewSonic's tuner is actually a separate box, the VXP25 TV module. It comes with cable, component, and composite video inputs, as well as RCA audio and mini-stereo 3.5mm audio jacks. The module lets you easily hook up DVD players and the like. However, connecting your PC via the display's rear RGB (VGA) and DVI inputs is a bit awkward: You have to reach around, in, and up. The TV module and the display's large AC power adapter make for a cluttered desktop, too.

The ViewSonic's only other shortcomings: The bezel buttons, which the company touts as "touch sensitive," are a bit too sensitive for my taste. And the unit's flat remote control fit the hand poorly and had sticky-feeling buttons.

Pricey Future

The BenQ H200 LCD TV's whimsical design--all modernistic silver plus round, oversize built-in speakers--seems to take itself a little less seriously than the elegant ViewSonic, until you see the humbling $1995 price tag.

Compared with the ViewSonic, the 4:3-aspect-ratio, 20-inch BenQ offers more real estate, which makes it better suited to group viewing. Its dismally low 800 by 600 native resolution can't match the ViewSonic's, however. Cable broadcasts looked fine (the lower resolution might actually help there), but DVD playback wasn't quite as good. The BenQ didn't look too hot as a PC monitor, either, and the 3-watt speakers had little kick.

A built-in handle makes the 25-pound BenQ model relatively easy to tote from room to room. In general, it's easier to drive than the ViewSonic, with fewer built-in buttons and a more traditional TV-style remote that has a good feel. Plus, all of the important connections--cable TV, composite, S-Video, component, and RGB--lie within easy reach and are nicely labeled on the back. Unfortunately, the monitor has no DVI input, and it lacks the picture-in-picture function that I found handy on the ViewSonic. It does offer HDTV compatibility up to 1080i, however.

BenQ says that the H200 is for buyers who feel they're not ready to make the jump to a large plasma TV screen. But given this LCD's unexceptional image quality, I have a hard time recommending it, particularly if you also were to use the unit as your PC monitor.

Monitor, Improved

If you're strictly a DVD viewer, or if you have already invested in a TV-tuner card for your PC, Samsung's 17-inch, wide-aspect, $649 SyncMaster 172W might be your best bet (the company also offers a line of LCD monitors with built-in TV tuners). This 10.8-pound monitor supports the best DVD and PC viewing of the three, delivering stunning detail at its 1280 by 768 native resolution. It also has MagicBright technology that lets you adjust brightness for different purposes.

DVD movies looked particularly nice on this affordable unit, but the 1.5-watt speakers aren't very good. The LCD has DVI and RGB inputs.

If you spend much of your work and play time in the same place, you'll likely enjoy a display with TV features. If you're a DVD-movie buff (or you have a TV-tuner card) and you also want a quality PC monitor, go with the Samsung 172W. But if you're looking for a product that lets you work and play simultaneously, the ViewSonic N1700w is the clear winner.

SUMMARY

BenQ H200 Higher price and iffy monitor capability--a no-no for PC multitaskers. List: $1995

SUMMARY

Samsung SyncMaster 172W Beautiful text, graphics, and movie viewing, but no built-in TV capability. List: $649

SUMMARY

ViewSonic N1700w Excellent LCD TV performance and features, along with great monitor capability, make this a winner. List: $999