Philips boasts of "sharpest-ever images" with new LCD monitor line

Philips sure seems to be confident in the new line of LCD monitors it's introduced at IFA, with the company boasting that they deliver the "sharpest-ever images." Apparently helping the monitors meet that dubious claim are their PerfecTune and SmartImage features, the former of which supposedly ensures that each monitor boasts "laboratory-quality display performance," while the latter apparently analyzes the content on the screen and "dynamically enhances the contrast, color saturation and sharpness of images or video" to meet a selected scenario. What's more, Philips is also claiming that the monitors boast the lowest power consumption in the industry, using "up to 30 percent less power" that their competitors. Each model also comes equipped with Philip's SmartAcessory feature, which'll let you use multifunction clips to keep webcams and other gear off your desk. While complete specs are still a bit light, you'll get your choice of 17 or 19-inch standard aspect ratio monitors or 19, 20, or 22-inch widescreen models, although it seems that only some of them come will come with the aforementioned do-it-all PerfecTune and SmartImage features.

[Wonderkid @ Aug 30th 2007 4:46PM]

I own a Philips 200XW 20" widescreen monitor, probably the most underated pieces of kit out there. I bought it from Micro Anvika (London, England) and it is excellent in every way. a) Beautiful image quality, whether as an expanded work area for my MacBook or for watching DVDs and streaming video. b) Swivels in all directions, incuding to portrait (90 degrees) making browsing the web or doing pagemakeup a breeze. (Yes, the Mac supports rotating monitors out of the box!) c) Excellent ergonomics and industrial design. d) Very well made. So, if my 200XW is anything to go by, these new models should be excellent.

[Bad Beaver @ Aug 30th 2007 4:57PM]

I wish Philips would stop building system after system "dynamically" screwing with the picture that in the end translate to more mush and artifacts.

[sr1329 @ Aug 30th 2007 5:28PM]

Yes, thank you. It had to be said. Enough of all this bullshit "enhancement," it only makes it worse.

[Evan @ Aug 30th 2007 5:05PM]

"laboratory-quality display performance" contradicts "dynamically enhances the contrast, color saturation and sharpness of images or video".
Laboratory-quality would require a consistent and correct image. Dynamic enhancements are never consistent nor correct.

[Bad Beaver @ Aug 30th 2007 5:35PM]

Exactly. Especially since Philips has been sinking endless capacities into these systems since the 90s - without much improvement ever since. Smearing, ghosting... Problem is that at Philips' usual price points, all effort is pointless. This is a computer display now, but when you look at TVs, a halfway decent standalone scaler will easily exceed the price of your regular run of the mill Philips set that is crammed full of "enhancers". All you can hope for is that all of them can be turned off.

[bjorn_ahlm @ Aug 30th 2007 5:13PM]

Pfft, I'm looking for a new monitor, but I won't buy anyting smaller than 24".

[sr1329 @ Aug 30th 2007 5:47PM]

Yeah just what I've been wondering. I've had my 24" Dell for more than 2 years now. Why are these stupid manufacturers releasing a new 20" or 22" every day now? Who cares the Dell 24" are around $450 (if you know where to look) and easily available.

Why are these companies bringing out these low-margin products that sell for less than $450 every day? Can't they make a 27" or 30" or something like that and actually make some decent profit? They can mark up those right now because a lot of us are willing to pay for bigger monitors with good features (don't count the Dell 3007 or 2707 among them, unlike the 2407 they took out the component video input and other inputs on the bigger models).

[randy @ Aug 30th 2007 10:25PM]

A pixel is a pixel. 'Sharpness' is irrelevant.

[Hans @ Aug 30th 2007 11:28PM]

"sharpest-ever images," because the "sharpest images ever" title was already taken?

[Ralph Wiggum @ Aug 31st 2007 1:09AM]

Screw this, go pick up a used Trinitron from your local thrift shop for 10 bucks.

It'll blow away any LCD in existence

[tekdroid @ Aug 31st 2007 3:08AM]

I was always looking for meaningless hype like "lab quality" in my monitor.

Now I can have it.

[Bad Beaver @ Aug 31st 2007 6:01AM]

Oh, you can have lab quality! Philips has a medical branch, they will surely sell you something highly reliable and most likely free from "dynamic" BS of any kind for three to five times the price of a consumer item. Is that what you are looking for? *g*

[CanoSpinach @ Aug 31st 2007 12:48PM]

Hahahahahaha - lol - hahahahaha