Solarism 15" TFT LCD Monitor LM1530

[james8547]

I bought this monitor three weeks ago for $269 (including UPS 2nd Air) from ZipZoomFly.com (the vendor formerly known as googlegear ). The specs are located here. It is an excellent low-priced LCD TFT monitor for those who are strapped for cash.

What made me buy this monitor?
Well 1st off, I was using a 5 yr old Acer CRT. The screen is really dim. I needed a cost-effective (ultra-cheap) LCD monitor. I decided to buy LCD since I have a very small desk. I need all the real estate I can get. Panama Red suggested this monitor (thank you for that ).

I was torn between the KDS 15" LCD monitor and this Solarism. They are both in the same price range with Solarism being a few bucks more. I ended up buying this one since it boasted better features.

Features that I like:
1. Brightness: 260 cd/m, Contrast: 400:1, Response time: 16ms. I was truly impressed by the response time. By far, it is the best response time I've seen in this price range. The brightness and contrast are also higher compared to other low-priced LCD. From my research, the typical 15" LCD has a brightness range from 200 to 250, while the contrast is 300:1. My mom says that the brightness strains her eyes but it works just fine for me.

2. The base is also admirable. It easily adjusts the screen to a comfortable angle. When I 1st got the monitor, the screen was horrible. I was really going to RMA this. But after playing with the screen angle for a few minutes, the screen was crisp, clear and bright. The base doesn't take much space and is very stable.

3. The black frame looks extremely nice. The monitor appears to be a picture frame. The cpanel is located on the right side on the side.

4. Easy plug and play setup. It took me 5 minutes to unpack and install the monitor. No drivers to install or any annoying plastic film to remove off the screen.

5. The one touch screen setup is very impressive. Just press the button and the monitor adjusts the contrast, brightness, screen positioning, and size.

6. Well packaged. ZipZoomFly shipped my monitor by it's manufacturer's box. They didn't bother placing it in another box. The box has a sturdy handle for easy carry. The monitor is firmly secured and well-protected by two styrofoam-like material. The screen has a firm plastic taped over it.

7. Low price. This monitor gives the most features for the less $$$.

8. Durable. I have a 3yr old sister that pokes the screen like a maniac. So far the LCD hasn't leak and the pixels are looking fine.

9. No dead pixels. My LCD has not one dead pixel.

10. No glare. I noticed that LCD monitors, in general, do not produce glare.

11. great monitor to play movies. I watched cowboy bebop, lodoss, animatrix, samurai x DVDs from my PC. The movies play great but nothing beats watching them over a real tv.

Things that I don't like:
1. The "Solarism" logo on the base. It looks ok but I dont want to see their logo. Good thing I have the keyboard to cover it up.

2. the wall mount option is useless. Personally, my best viewing angle is when the screen is tilted up a bit. If the screen isn't tilted, the upper part is considerably darker than the bottom part of the screen. If I mount the monitor, it won't be tilted and the screen will look horrible.

3. The screen is a dust magnet. For some reason, dusts accumulates fast on the screen. I have to clean it with my eye-glass cleaning cloth every two days. It must be because of the up tilt.

How does Solarism compare to other LCD Monitors?
I have four other LCDs that I use from work/school. The one from the school is a Dell. The three from work are Hitachi, Viewsonic, and something that came with Compaq.

Aside from the Compaq and Hitachi LCDs, the LCDs are almost identical. The Compaq screen is a bit darker compared to the rest. The Hitachi's response time is bad. It has ghosting issues when I move a window fast across the screen. Keep in mind that I didn't play games on the school and work LCDs. I used photoshop to view images and regular business apps.

How does Solarism compare to a CRT?
Well it came pretty close, like hair thin close. However, the CRT still has a VERY SLIGHT advantage over image sharpness. The difference is unnoticeable over regular use. One would only notice it if he/she is actually looking for a difference. They are about equal in brightness. The CRT has a better refresh rate over Solarism. If I was viewing a web page with with many thin horizontal lines as the background, the CRT provides better viewing of the page when you scroll up/down fast.

How does Solarism perform under gaming conditions?
Well that's the million dollar question. However, due to the limitations of my $25 32mb vid card, I can't test CS, Halo, or Unreal in my systems. I am thinking of bringing my monitor to a friend's house to test it for gaming. However, I don't trust them to give it back. I am lucky to get out of there with my clothes intact. Another solution is that one of you guys can send your ATI Radeon Pro vid card over here so I can test it However, I don't think anyone will volunteer.

I played Broodwar and Doom. The performance is just fine.

Bottomline
Considering the overall features, I'd rank this LCD among the top and give it a nine out of ten. It's a great cost-effective LCD with high-end specs for $269. Perfect for my needs and I am quite happy with it

I'd be happy to post pictures and link them here if anyone is interested. I did not post this thread over to the Hardware Reviews since I felt that I didn't made a complete review of the product and therefore unworthy to be placed there.

[Panama Red]

Nice write up, James. Glad you're enjoying it! Just curious tho'. How does a guy with a machine having such nice specs as in your sig end up with such a wimpy vid card? JK

[glc]

How is the warranty coverage? That's KDS's biggest selling point. 3 years, 800 number, cross ship a replacement.

[Panama Red]

Also 3 year according to Solarism website. No toll free number however. 24/7 (?) email tech support. Zipzoomfly web site says 3 year on product, 1 year on panel. More than 3 pixels lost for warranty. Warranty link

http://www.solarism.com/html/home.html

[james8547]

They have a 3 year warranty coverage too with a few fine print: you have to be the original purchaser, you have to have your receipt, and they are not responsible for Acts of God, etc.

They lack a toll free number tech support but they have a 408 area code phone and email. As far as I know, they don't cross ship a replacement.

I don't even recall a registration card with the LCD. I have to double-check the box. I might have been so excited that I didn't notice it

Warranty service was not a top priority when I was doing my product research. Hopefully, this monitor will lasts for at least 2 years. I was aware of the good warranty policy of KDS. But I decided to throw caution to the wind and go for the better features.

The wimpy vid card is a necessary evil My worst enemy is myself. I am a serious game addict. I don't drink (much ), smoke, gamble, party, or flirt. My weakness is games. That's the number 1 reason why my GPA is shot down and I got kicked out of my 1st college. I stopped going to class and got married to the computer lab. I had to transfer my major from Comp Sci to Accounting so I can get a fresh start somewhat. That's why I don't own a PS2, xbox, or gamecube. Now if I can only channel this obsession to Accounting...lol

[Panama Red]

Ahh, I see, Kinda like a computer 12 step program. "Hi, my name is Jim and I'm a gamer addict!"