EPI AOC 193P+
EPI AOC 193P+
Innovative stand combines tiny footprint with tilting ability
Cons: Tended to wash out lighter colors
Price: $329
Image quality: B
Features: B
Value: B+
The AOC 193P+ is a 19-inch monitor designed to fit comfortably into a tight space. It's one of two monitors in this review with a thin, wire-frame-type stand (the TBD is the other). However, the 193P+ goes beyond the normal design by putting a pivot point where the monitor pole intersects with the base. This lets the LCD slide up and down (though it also moves slightly along the horizontal axis when adjusting this way). A second pivot point lets the monitor tilt up or down. The combination gives users superior control over how they configure the LCD, even in cramped workspaces.
In terms of image quality, the 193P+ benefits from a speedy four-millisecond response time, which makes it perfect for displaying video. Lighter images over dark or black backgrounds also came out looking great, as did colors in a stepped test where the intensity of the color, but not the hue, changes. In short, the 193P+ is great for tracking motion.
Two areas where the 193P+ did not do so well were in displaying light text (a fatal flaw for a monitor that must support office apps) and images over light backgrounds. Pinkish images over white, for instance, were nearly wiped out in the bright glow. And text was difficult to read below 12-point size.
The 193P+ sells for $329, making it the least expensive digital LCD in this roundup. If you're stretched for cash, it's a good choice and offers reasonable performance, especially in video applications.
Envision Peripherals Inc., Fremont, Calif., (305) 591-0266 x16,
www.aoc.com
About the Author
John Breeden II directs the GCN Lab.