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Two Cents: IBM ThinkVision L190p

LCD monitor offers style and saves space.

A sleek yet hefty (16.8 lbs.) 19-inch flat panel LCD monitor, IBM's ThinkVision L190p offers crisp color and contrast.

The anti-reflective, anti-glare, anti-static screen makes eye strain a thing of the past. The thin-film, transistor LCD screen provides 1280 x 1024 resolution, which took a little while to adapt to, being used to a puny 15-inch CRT monitor. I felt like I was at a drive-in theater, where the "show" for my co-workers was a view of my daily computer tasks.

Direct access buttons on the front allow for a wide range of user customization, including auto adjustment, brightness and input select; contrast; horizontal and vertical image position; color settings; on-screen display language (English, French, German, Italian or Spanish); menu positioning; information screen; image setup; image size to show normal or expanded format; reset to factory default settings; and lockable settings. The buttons are stylishly shaped like ocean waves -- a rather nice calming touch.

Setup was simple, and I confess I didn't bother with the setup CD. For physical adjustments, the monitor offers the usual tilting forward and backward, as well as a vertical-slide height adjustment. The base also swivels to make showing documents to colleagues easier.

The ThinkVision's sleek design cleared a much-needed corner of my desk -- it was worth giving up the space on top of the monitor formerly used for the desk menagerie that keeps me company during the day (a few of which now use the swivel base as a sort of dance floor). Unfortunately clearing that corner forced me to evict several angry dust bunnies that used to live behind my old clunker of a monitor.

The L190 is a hybrid monitor, with both analog (15-pin D-shell) and digital (digital visual interface) video connectors on the back, which let the monitor connect to different graphics adapters simultaneously. Dual input also allows two PCs to connect at once, allowing users to switch for input from both systems.

Users can purchase an optional radial arm for wall or desk mounting. The monitor also comes with a locking device keyhole to attach an optional cable lock. The integrated cable management in the stand gathers the cables nicely out of the way for less clutter.

The only complaint I can think of is that the monitor comes in "stealth black." Nothing wrong with the color. The name just gets to me. Though it's quite slim, there's nothing stealthy about a monitor this size. It also comes in "ash grey."

The product retails for $599, which is down from its initial price of $779.


Specifications:
  • Dimensions: 15.2"-18.4" H x 17.4" W x 9.3" D
  • Tilt: 0 degrees forward, 30 degrees backward
  • Swivel : 135 degrees left, 135 degrees right
  • Lift: 3.2 inches
  • Frequency: Multifrequency (supports sync on green)
  • Max addressability: 1280 x 1024
  • Video input (maximum): 1280 x 1024 at 76 Hz (135 MHz maximum pixel rate)
  • Corresponding screen refresh: 1280 x 1024 at 60 Hz
  • Vertical frequency: 55 to 76 Hz
  • Horizontal frequency: 31 to 81 kHz
  • Pitch: .25 mm
  • Contrast ratio: 500:1
  • Brightness: 250 cd/m2
  • Response time: 25 ms
  • Power consumption: 40 watts, 3 watts in power save mode


    Rating: 5 out of 5
  • Miriam Jones is a former chief copy editor of Government Technology, Governing, Public CIO and Emergency Management magazines.