<Introduction><The Good><The Bad><Conclusion><Rating>

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Introduction

  For just about every computer user, the monitor is the main output interface we have with the system. Many have to stare at monitors several hours a day. Hence, it is imperative that we chose our monitors carefully to avoid damaging our eyes. A stable and crisp display can make work more enjoyable while a flickering display can lead to fatique or even a host of health problems.

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The Good

  The GS771 has a short depth (ie. The length from the back of the monitor to the front viewable part of the monitor). See the comparison with 2 other monitors below :

  The usual depth for a 17" monitor is about 420 mm (e.g MAG DJ707, CTX VL950S, NEC Multisync 70). Newer "small footprint" models sport a 380 mm depth (e.g NEC Multisync E750). The new GS771 clearly belonged to the latter class.

  So how significant is 4 cm ? Click on the picture below for a close comparison between the GS771 with the DiamondPro 87TXM.

Click for a larger picture The GS771 is on the right.

The 4 cm savings can be crucial if you have a small tabletop like mine. Many of us place our keyboards in front of the monitor. So 4 cm might determine if you can place your keyboard on the table or not. It can also provide room for a wrist rest.

  In the resolution department, the GS771 looks good up to 1152x864. It would have been good at 1280x1024 too if not for the visible flickering. I shall elaborate more in "The Test" later.

  For the discerning, GS771 comes with ICM color profile files for Windows 98 color matching. Put simply, ICM color profiles allow you to match what you see on the screen with your output.

  The monitor controls are good. In the picture below, monitor controls comes in the form of an On Screen Display (OSD) and 5 buttons (including the on/off switch). The control system is highly intuitive. It is great for people like me who don't read the manual unless I really can't figure out the controls (or have to write a review :p ). Brightness and Contrast - the 2 most used monitor controls are directly available by pressing the "up" and "down" buttons, bypassing the main OSD menu. Then there is also the very useful Viewmeter which can display the current refresh rates. Again, this dandy feature is within easy reach by pressing the "2" button.

Click for a larger picture
On Screen Display main menu	Viewmeter showing the refresh rates.	The 4 control buttons. "1" provides access to the OSD. "up" brings up brightness control. "down" brings up contrast control. "2" brings up the Viewmeter. On/Off button is somewhere to the right of these buttons.

  Another useful detail is simply that the data cable is detachable from monitor. This allows you to position the monitor without the hassle of a cable dangling around.

The Test

  The monitor was supplied with different video resolutions to see the visual quality of the picture. I found that the refresh rate of the GS771 is the deciding factor in the quality of the picture between resolutions. Color contrasts, shading transistions, text clarity/sharpness and line clarity are about the same at different resolutions. Hence, I've focus mostly on refresh rates.

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The Bad

  There are no major problems with the monitor. Some minor complains below though.

  Refresh rate at 1280x1024 resolution. At 66 Hz, the flickering is too much for me. That is why 1152x864 at 78.6 Hz is my recommended resolution.

  Moire distortions. These distortions turns closely spaced vertical or horizontal lines wavy and make them look like ripples. They are not obvious in most situations unless regular, closely spaced patterns are involved. Anyway, it is a common problem to many monitors.

  The GS771 screen is not professionally flat. The pictures below illustrates my point.

  Horizontally, I would say GS771 is fantastically flat. The horizontal curvature is, as far as I can visually tell, as good the DiamondPro. The vertical curvature is significantly greater than the DiamondPro (which is completely flat vertically). What all this means is that unless you have been using high end monitors with screens that are nearly as flat as a sheet of glass, you will find GS771's screen somewhere between "it looks good" to "wow, it's pretty flat".

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Conclusion

  As far as 17" monitors go, the GS771 is "above average" enough to warrant a higher price than many peers. It is not a high-end monitor, but certainly is quite a performer in its own niche. So for most typical PC users, this monitor is a good investment. Personally, I would definitely cough out more money on a monitor. Afterall, it is the window into your computer and is not something you have to upgrade often.

RATING

Rating (Out of a maximum of 5 stars)
Installation	***
Performance	****
Price	***

Overal Rating : 3 1/2

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