IBM L170M

IBM ThinkVision L170m Review

by Laura Blackwell

- The IBM ThinkVision L170m displayed text ably in our tests, particularly on our spreadsheet and Microsoft Word screens, gaining the second-highest text score awarded to a recently tested 17-inch LCD. Colors, however, appeared somewhat cold in our graphics tests; for example, flesh tones looked pallid in our photo of people, and peaches had a greenish cast in our test photo of fruit. Tweaking color and brightness settings with the on-screen display menu can yield more appealing graphics; doing so is neither particularly easy nor particularly difficult. The L170m includes built-in speakers, a first among IBM LCDs. A volume dial and a mute button on the bezel come in handy for quickly adjusting volume. Unlike IBM's ThinkVision L170p, the L170m permits no physical adjustments besides tilting. We measured the L170m's angle of view at 127 degrees--one of the smallest ranges we've seen in a 17-inch LCD lately. Overall, the L170m's performance and features don't measure up to those of its more adjustable older sibling, the L170p.