The new millennium has brought about a number of dramatic changes in the computer industry. These days it's hard to keep up with "the best", as what is today will be replaced tomorrow. Monitors (along with keyboards) are, fin general, the most un-depreciating peripherals. A Trinitron CRT from 10 years back is still usable today and won't disappoint. LCDs are another story. Unlike processors and their misleading "more Mhz = better" label, in the gaming realm a lower pixel refresh rate sets the standard for TFT displays. Currently two values are prevalent: 25ms and 16ms, with the latter preferable by a long shot.
LCDs have obvious advantages over their bulkier brethren: space, weight, lack of glare, lower power consumption/heat output, and no eye strain. Their shortcomings consist of a higher price tag, ghosting issues (especially on 25ms+ models; for comparison a CRT has less than a 1ms response time) and the possibility of dead pixels, though I was very pleased to see my sample without any. Fortunately Solarism has a reputable dead pixel policy: three or more duds (regardless of type) = replacement. Apparently they also use "P" (Perfect) grade panels which should have no dead pixels.
That said, Solarism sent over one of their LM-1730s, aka the company's dip into the gaming community. As we'll see, this 17" Flex-View display ended up making quite a splash. If anything, Solarism knows how to market their product. Inside a larger brown cardboard box I found a nicely decorated handed version. Because of the display's compactness, this package itself is relatively small and with the handle is perfect for transport (say to a LAN party). It'll also protect the monitor from any scratches along the way.
All the parts were very professionally package. Inside said box are a couple foam pieces and the display in a bag. Also included was a small and somewhat useless (though obligatory by people's expectations) booklet, a two-piece power cord (one from monitor to transformer, the other from transformer to power outlet), and a monitor cable with protective caps. Unfortunately the LM-1730 doesn't make use of a DVI connection as would be expected on any LCD (due to a potentially clearer signal and slightly better image quality). The specs are as follows:
Glancing over the list, the LM-1730 weights in at only 9.3lbs (over 50% less than several other popular LCDs of equal screen width) and consumes a mere 36watts (and therefore doesn't heat up much). Solarism decided not to use their ABT (Advanced Brightness Technology) feature on this model because, although providing up to 700 nits of brightness, this 1) increases costs, 2) increases heat output and 3) isn't really necessary. As such, this model is rated at a more modest 260 nits with a 450:1 contrast ratio, but that's not to say it's underpowered by any means.
