Sony SDM LCD Monitor - Sleek and Clear!

Author's Rating:

Pros: Great image quality, pretty appearance and rock solid construction

Cons: None

The Bottom Line: 
Good price, great image, pretty appearance. Sony continues its production of high quality monitors!

Author's Review
I am normally a fairly quite adopter of new technology. In the PC monitor area however, I have been slow to move to LCD monitors, as I have several PC's at home and office which nice, fully functioning CRT monitors. As fortune would have it, one day a trusty Sony 15 inch CRT failed to wake up. It moved on to Silicone-Heaven. (that’s where all the calculators go)It was time to make my entry into LCD monitors.

I have been a long time user of Sony and Viewsonic monitors, for their quality construction and sharp image quality. I decided on the Sony SDM H75, 17 inch LCD display in part for its great looks, and for its sharp image quality.

The Sony SDM come ready to run, needing only to plug in its cables. There is a funky panel on the rear of the monitor which helps hide the cable connections. I see this as a valiant effort on Sony's part to aid in the aesthetics of this monitor. The rear end of CRT monitors are notoriously ugly. The SDM looks quite a bit more presentable from its rear than big CRT boxes!

Windows XP found the new monitor via plug and play with no problems. A few adjustments was all it took to have a clear and pretty picture. The controls are located on the right bottom edge of the screen. Menu options include Screen position, Brightness, Contrast, Backlight, Menu Position (what decadence!), Sharpness, a 3 position Gamma selector and a Color warmth selector. The control buttons feel substantial with no detected rattles or flimsiness. Good old Sony; solid construction.

I love the speed of this monitor. It wakes up quickly and delivers an image within 2 seconds of being switched on. I have always hated the delay of CRT monitors. All of those wasted moments, waiting for a CRT to turn on; no more at this desk!

The monitor has a substantial physical heft, weighing about 8 pounds. Its streamlined, modern appearance, however it is not an over-the-top design. It is modern, yet understated. There is a strong, spring loaded tilting angle support at its rear. This mechanism works very well, enabling the user to easily adjust the viewing angle. It maintains the angle very well.

All told, the image quality, the excellent physical appearance of the monitor and its price makes the Sony SDM monitor a winner in my book. I would like to have built in speakers, however, for a work monitor, it is excellent. My next monitor will no doubt be another Sony SDM; probably with built in speakers!

My bottom line: this is a no brainer. The Sony SDM has been working flawlessly on my desk for about 4 months now. If it maintains its performance, Sony has a real winner on its hands!