All-out monitor assault

Philips PC Peripherals has kicked off its product campaign for 2000 with the release of 11 new models.

The range includes two Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitors in 15.1 and 18.1 inch sizes. Each has 160 degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles and 256 colours, and they retail for $2299 and $6999 respectively.

The LCD's small footprint, wide viewing angle and free display positioning have helped its acceptance in the corporate sector. Philips is organising orders primarily for clients in the financial sector, with French bank SG buying 40 of the 18 inch 181AS model in February. Hong Kong Bank, meanwhile, is planning to buy either 18 inch LCDs or 21 inch business series Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) displays for its planned call centre.

Philips is also negotiating installations in St George, Westpac, Ord Minnett and Rothschild.

NEW CRT RANGE

Nine CRT models complete Philips' new offering, with Standard and Business series models available in 15, 17, 19 and 21 inch sizes. All have performance configuration for Mac and PC, and have been redesigned with a wedge shape to occupy 15 per cent less space on the desktop.

The two 15 inch models have a maximum resolution of up to 1280 x 1024 at horizontal frequencies of up to 70kHz. Both models have a dot pitch of down to 0.27mm, and include Philips' new On Screen Display with uniform plain English controls.

Philips' professional series produces a flat image on CRT.

The 17 inch business models offer maximum resolutions of up to 1920 x 1440 at horizontal frequencies of up to 92kHz, and a dot pitch of down to 0.25mm.

The 19 inch models have maximum resolutions of up to 1920 x 1440 at up to 92kHz horizontal frequency, while the 21 inch business series model has a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1440 at up to 107kHz horizontal frequency.

This series of so-called 'traditional' CRTs is complemented by Philips' Brilliance Professional series monitors available in 17, 19 or 21 inch sizes.

These displays use Philips' Real Flat colour monitor technology to offer a true flat image particularly useful for design or CAD drawing applications. Philips also uses Image Clear Enhancement (ICE) to remove distortion and even out contrast across the screen, while the screen itself displays one million colours.

All of the new CRT screen tubes have been developed with shadow mask and high contrast technology to improve image resolution, definition and contrast.

Philips will also begin selling an optional multimedia base for the monitors in May, that includes stereo speakers and a microphone. The larger Business and Professional displays also include Customax monitor control software that connects to the display via its USB hub.

Prices for the Standard series start at $329 for the 15 inch monitor, the Business series starts at $379 for the 15 inch model, and the Professional series retails from $899 for the 17 inch display.