PivotPro
The ability to pivot the
screen 90 degrees to a ‘portrait’ orientation is a nice touch for people laying
out single pages or posters, or working on a long list or form, and the software
worked flawlessly in my evaluation when using it as a single display. The
PivotPro software is provided by Portrait Displays,
Inc.
In a multi-display setup
with a 19” CRT monitor as secondary, the software exhibited a minor but annoying
limitation – it only seems to support a 60Hz refresh rate, which is hard enough
on the eyes using a CRT straight on – but with it off to one side in your
peripheral vision, the incessantly flickering screen is intolerable. (A 60Hz
refresh on an LCD screen is perfectly acceptable.)
The software authors claim
that this is a limitation in the Matrox driver software, and while that may be true, it doesn’t
help. Workarounds would include a different dual-head adapter (The Appian Jeronimo is mentioned on
the Portrait Displays web site) or
using an additional PCI adapter. See the Portrait Displays web site for configuration
specifics (of both OS and hardware). Some configurations will let you rotate
both displays, others only the main display.
I also noted that while
the PV720 offered refresh rates of either 60 Hz or 75 Hz before installation
of the PivotPro software, 60Hz was the only option
under PivotPro.
It’s obvious once you
think about it, but the Pivot software doesn’t take effect until Windows is
started. This means entering the bios and boot-up menus sideways, which isn’t
a tremendous problem, just peculiar. Any DOS apps run outside of Windows will
display sideways.
Physically rotating the
display panel itself seems a bit more difficult than necessary, but design
alterations to make it easier would hamper the monitor in it’s
more typical horizontal duty. For instance, the monitor’s stand isn’t tall
enough to allow the monitor to be rotated without tilting it back a substantial
amount first. Also, it requires two hands to steady the monitor while rotating,
and then once in position, to straighten out the tilt you had to employ to
allow clearance between the corner of the monitor and the desktop.
Games and DVD Movies
Judging from the performance
of LCD screens when run in anything but their native resolution in Windows,
I was prepared to be disappointed in the same way when it comes to games –
but the PV720 does a fine job with quickly refreshing images. After jumping
through some configuration and command line hoops, I managed to get an old
favorite, Need For Speed – Porsche Unleashed to run on our Win2K test
bed (no small feat) and it looked very nice, even at 640 X 480 – a pleasant
surprise.
DVD movies are pleasing
to the eye as well, but chances are good that you might prefer a traditional
CRT for a more natural look. Dark nighttime scenes are often disappointing
– but then, no LCD I know of can produce anything approaching a true, natural-looking
black. But if film noir shows the monitor’s weakness, brightly animated programs
such as Toy Story display its strength. The PV720 also draws the moving images
from a DVD without the jerkiness or jagged edges familiar in many laptop displays.
Finally, the viewing angle
is sufficient for most work. A co-worker standing over your shoulder need
not get cheek-to-cheek with you to see what you’re doing, and you can count
that as a plus or minus, depending on your particular situation.
Speakers
The PV720 I received included
a “Smart Medium System” SAB801, which is a small
audio amplifier and pair of speakers that affix easily to the bottom of the
monitor frame. If LCD panels remind you of a laptop, these speakers will really
bring the illusion to life. They’re fine for voice reproduction and system
sounds, but music and movie soundtracks are disappointing.
Conclusion
|
PLUS
|
MINUS
|
|
- Razor-sharp Images
- Reduces
Eye Fatigue
-
Excellent Value
|
- No DVI Input
-
Weak Audio
- Awkward
Rotation Procedure
|
This CTX PV720 is as nice
an LCD monitor as I’ve seen yet, and the $600 street price makes it worthy of
consideration for many. To me (on the verge of needing bifocals) the reduction
in eyestrain alone is worth it. The sharp images and brilliant colors are pleasing
to the eye, and the screen is viewable from a reasonably wide angle. Anyone
looking for a general use monitor would be pleased with this unit. Once you’ve
used a good LCD panel, there’s just no going back – except, perhaps, for gamers.
Graphics professionals
may want to sample other, higher-priced units before deciding on an LCD display
for shop use, but at ~$600, the PV720 is worthy of consideration, especially
if you are just wanting to gain some initial experience with the technology.
I am looking forward to
comparing some of these higher priced units to the PV720, as I’m curious as
to how much it will cost to improve on it’s performance.
The pickier you get about your nits, the more it costs to avoid them, and
I’m sure any significant improvements will come with a hefty price tag. It’ll
also be interesting to see if other competitively-priced models from other
manufacturers can equal the performance of this colorful, sharp, and affordable
display.
A FINAL CAVEAT TO LCD
BUYERS
There are older LCD displays
on the market at attractively low prices, particularly in the 14” and 15”
sizes. Be careful! LCD technology for desktop displays has improved dramatically
in the recent past, and you may be disappointed by the performance of an older
unit, especially using an analog video card. Some models, even recently discontinued
ones, suffer from dim output, jerky video playback, and uneven illumination,
among other foibles. Many of them (in the 14” and 15” sizes) are simply laptop
screens adapted for desktop duty. Make sure you know exactly what you’re buying
before you place an order.
Scott Salveson
02.02.01
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