TEST DRIVE
Flat screen's cool but disappointing

By Simson L. Garfinkel, 10/28/99

lat panel displays are the hot fashion accessory for desktop computer users this year. Less than 2 inches thick, they take up much less desk space than a video monitor, offer a display that is said to be rock-solid, and are unimpeachably ''cool.''

They also are far more expensive than the equivalent tube. Are these new screens worth it, even for the computer user who can afford the very best?

To settle this question, I've had Acer's AcerView F51 15-inch flat panel on my desk for the last month. This 15-inch panel is designed to replace a 17-inch video display. To hook it up, I simply unplugged my standard monitor, plugged in the F51, and rebooted my computer.

My first disappointment was the F51's resolution: Because of the limitations of liquid crystal display (LCD) technology, resolution is fixed at 1024 x 768 pixels. My 17-inch monitor, by contrast, can run at five different screen resolutions, from 640 x 480 pixels up to 1280 x 1024. The F51's resolution is fine for writing, but can be limiting for programming, graphic design, and building Web sites.

A second problem was flicker. Although the F51 is supposed to be rock-solid, it wasn't. This is because the video signal is converted from digital to analog and back to digital before it is displayed on the flat panel. These multiple steps invariably introduce distortion and jitter. Future flat panels will interface directly with the computer's bus. On the other hand, the F51 doesn't have a refresh flicker, the way my video monitor does.

A third problem was color rendition. The flat panel is not good at displaying subtle colors. A light gray in one document faded into white. On-screen photographs lacked depth.

One good thing about the F51 flat panel is its electricity consumption. My video screen has a 250-watt power supply, but the flat panel draws just 150 watts, which means it costs less to run. It also means less heat. That makes a big difference in a small room, especially in the summer, and in crowded offices, where dozens of monitors can really warm up the place fast.

Flat-panel displays make a lot of sense for a few key applications. I recently visited a biology lab that had spent several thousand dollars on a 19-inch flat-panel display for one of its grad students, because space on the lab bench was at such a premium. And I have a friend who designs model airplanes who prefers a flat-panel display because straight lines are really straight, horizontal lines are horizontal, and vertical lines are vertical. They also make sense for people who move around a lot, since they weigh one-fifth as much as a large monitor.

Flat-panel displays like Acer's F51 are sure to be a mark of status in the coming year, and in 20 years' time, they will surely dominate. But for the moment, I'll stick with my tube.

(The AcerView F51 is priced at $999. Acer's Web site is http://www.shopacer.com, or call 800-368-2237.)

This story ran on page C04 of the Boston Globe on 10/28/99.
© Copyright 1999 Globe Newspaper Company.