Customer Reviews

Sony XBrite SDM-HS95P/S 19" LCD Monitor (Silver)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

You will be spoiled forever once you see this LCD monitor in person. If you use the computer a lot like I do - a clear, sharp display is an amazing thing - which I've never had until now that I own this LCD display.

After looking and comparing many monitors I purchased this one even though it was slightly more in cost than others. The reason I purchased this LCD display was because after comparing apples to apples with the display images produced by all monitors I was looking at - this one stood out very quickly.

This monitor has a technology called XBrite as well as a glassy looking screen which makes you think at first you will see a glare - but it's just the opposite. Not only do you not see a glare but it totally makes the words and images pop out of the display.

The clarity and sharpness provided by this display are just simply incredible. It is worth every extra penny you pay for it. It also has a $50 rebate right now.

Once you have a display such as this you'll never want to go back to the more traditional monitors that don't have the XBrite technology or go back to the ones that have the antiglare screens (which I can now see now after having this display that does not have the antiglare screen - that the monitors that do have the antiglare screens only take away from the clarity of the image you see on the screen!).

This LCD display I know has many technologically advanced features I can't begin to talk about as my main concern was the ease of being able to view words on the monitor but I'm sure the product review above goes into all that it has.

See this LCD display before deciding on an LCD display!! It's a must see! You won't regret making this purchase!

I'm a designer, and I wound up settling for this because professional CRTs have been killed off (even though LCDs are STILL inferior to top CRTs). Professional series LCDs (such as the LaCie 321) are $1k, so I had to go with the best thing I could get in my budget--and this was it. While I'm still not sure, as a designer, that I should be working from this, as color-wise it's not pro-level accurate (not to mention the 1280x1024 max resolution)--but nevertheless, it's a pretty darn good LCD and it is a clear step up over your garden-variety consumer-grade office LCD.

OK, OK, Sony overpriced this monitor by about $100. You have to pay for the Sony name which is annoying. However after comparing all the LCDs in this price range extensively, I do think it is worth it. This monitor just looks a lot better than the compeitors (only the NEC, which is the same price, is really comparable clarity-wise from my standpoint).

I do turn the brightness down some though. X-Brite is right. So bright it burns your retinas out. LCDs are bright already. Insanity!

And the 3 year warranty is a good thing. Some comparable monitors are only 1 year.

If this monitor were $350-$400 I'd give it 5 stars. At this price though, and with a rebate to deal with just to get it down to reasonable price levels...gotta go with 4.

I couldn't be happier with this monitor. The color and contrast are very good, the best I've seen so far. The speed seems to be very fast, no blurs.

The first one I ordered from Amazon had one green pixel stuck on, very irritating on the eyes. I contacted Amazon and they arranged a home pick-up, shipped the second one overnight and did not charge anything for the shipping costs. This monitor has no bad pixels. I love it! and Amazon too!

Pros: Clear Screen, No dead pixels on my two units, Good Color, Weird front of screen is actually part of a well-designed and very solid integrated base which I like now that I've used it, I use it in PC mode, although I have made specific adjusts to it. The screen turns itself off automatically to conserve power if no signal is received- a good feature.

Cons: DO NOT PAY $400 or $500!!!! Its great, but not that great. Instead, save your pennies for a big 1080p. I will note that one monitor must have slightly different color adjustments to match color tones and hues, therefore uniformity of production quality may be an issue. Still, both monitors are great.

If you spend most of your day in front of a monitor, and if you want something that will make it easy to manipulate large images or multiple applications, you can't do better than this, IMHO. I run two monitors simultaneously, and run this one side by side with the old type, and there's no question that a second monitor--just like this one--is in my future. I have been happy with every Sony product I've purchased, and this monitor is no exception. The brightness and picture clarity is unsurpassed. We looked at a alot of monitors side by side, and this one won, hands down. I have not regretted the additional $$. Make sure you send in the rebate before the deadline runs out.

I've used this monitor for about 6 months and have no complaints. I did not have a dead/stuck pixel with my monitor, but users should always display full-screen solid colors to check. The monitor provides multiple inputs with all the usual connections (VGA/DVI.) Another nice feature is that both VGA and DVI cables are included in the box, a feature not present with many low end monitors. It is my suggestion that you also invest in a video card that supports DVI. I noticed a flickering effect over VGA that I can't explain.

The screen is actually glossy, which helps render truely inky blacks. This monitor is great for viewing DVD's, but some might find the 4:3 aspect ratio unacceptable for this purpose.

The monitor has a native resolution of 1280x1024, and doesn't look very nice at anything lower. Users with failing vision might want to look at a monitor that handles the lower resolutions better.

The monitor is extremely bright, making it a good choice in a well lit room. If you choose to use this monitor in a darker enviroment, make sure you turn the brightness down as it will strain your eyes.

Gaming performance is acceptable, but serious gamers should use CRT displays for improved performance.

This monitor's frame isn't ideal for multiple display set-ups because of it's size. In addition, this monitor is to expensive to be economical. Users who desire this feature should persue less expensive alternatives designed for this use.

Final Verdict: This monitor is a worthy pick for movie buffs, designers and the casual gamer. This monitor offers higher performace than other alternatives, but only advanced computer users will notice the difference. Others should persue less-expensive alternatives.

Well like any LCD display the color quality has only average merit. If you were expecting a Sony LCD to be different then any other LCD, think again. The color purity on this monitor is mediocre at best, but slightly better then the majority of LCD's. This LCD cannot match a CRT in color purity. The overpriced Sony LCD can't hold a candle to even the chintziest CRT's color quality. This monitor has settings for Movie, pc game, and PC use. I prefer however to always use the PC setting on this monitor, the movie setting is abominable! I think the PC setting gives DVD's a more authentic look. Although it makes the colors look on this setting less washed out and more bright and vibrant, the movie setting gives the picture an unnatural red hue. Actors look sunburnt on this setting and everyone looks like they have russet or auburn hair. The color clairty is off on this monitor, even on a sony, the LCD's just don't have the color clairty that the CRT's do. However movies and pictures look a lot more crisp on the LCD vs my old CRT monitor. Image definition and clarity is definitely improved over my old CRT monitor. The picture looks crisp even from the sides and corners of the TV. A word of warning if your going to watch movies. Watch them from a distance from your monitor. Movies on LCD's look grotesque from a couple feet away. If your too close to the screen on an LCD the picture will look blury and pixalated. However if you stand about 10 feet back when watching a movie the movie looks very crips and clear. If you want to watch a movie that close up watch it in windowed mode. The reason it looks better in windowed mode is because a very simple reason, LCD's look best in their native resolution. If your monitor has a resolution of 1280 x 1020 the picture is going to look the best on an LCD in a window mode where the picture is only using 640 x 480 pixels. I just happened to have sample high definition movie clips I downloaded from micosoft. I played these clips on this flat screen monitor and the picture quality was riveting, unlike my old 19 inch CRT monitor where I couldn't tell the difference between regular vs high definition. The LCD is resplendent when you watch a movie in high definiton, and that is because you are watching the movie in its native resolution, or close to its native resolution. If you read some of my other reviews I mused over the difference between the high definition and standard DVD of Terminator 2. My cogitation was that the high definition version of terminor 2 looked exactly as the standard DVD on my CRT monitor, however on my LCD Terminator looks surreal! Incredulous, its like the picture is lurching out at you.

Games: despite all the critism that video games look awkward and repulsive on LCD displays, I found the graphics eye-popping and riveting on this monitor. Great response time, no visible problem with pixels. Image quality was stunning at high resolutions.

web surfing: I am a voracious reader. The eye strain I usually get from CRT monitor's is greatly alleviated with this monitor. Web surfing is so much more enjoyable now without the flicker. Text is crisp, clear and easy to read. I don't have to squint like I use to when trying to read text at a high resolutions.

The only thing I abhor about this monitor is it's price. The noticible visual quality this monitor has over other similar monitor's is scant and insignificant. I don't think the premium on this monitor is worth the marginal benefits. Sony made a chump out of me with its advertising and touting its XBRITE technology. It's not all that great folks , don't let Sony's advertising create lofty expectations in your minds.

Pros: Big, Beautiful display is very bright, sharp and clear, great for Photoshop sessions. Distinctive style. Apparently well-made.

Cons: Unique stand is wider than many monitor risers. The adjustable "rear leg" is too easy to adjust, meaning the leg could shift quite easily and cause the monitor to fall. The Power switch is in an awkward place. The shiny finish of the screen show dust and figerprints and is tricky to clean well.

After using this monitor for several months it is my favorite to date. Only 1 competitor is in the same class, an NEC. I've found that a microfiber glass cleaning cloth cleans the screen well with no smearing. The shiny surface does not cause a lot of glare as one might suspect.

Very bright, very colorful, and very clear. This is the best LCD computer monitor I'v ever seen so far but only just bit thin picture character like seeing a slide-film straight on the light. Sophisticated design can match to Mac.
In my experience almost 50% of Sony LCD monitors had a dead pixels (You can refer to others Review). As a matter of fact I have exchanged Sony LCD monitors three times in the past but SONY still don't consider as a defect. They just disappoint SONY VAIO user and ruin SONY name. May be becaus they are made by SAMSUNG as you know SONY don't make any LCD or PLASMA TV's but only Trinitron CRT.
If you don't like to be irritated by a dead pixel I recommend you to buy it from the store near you so you don't have to waste your time and money for exchange.

Nobody is perfect.

Ive had one of these in use for 6 years now, no problem no issue not even a dead pixel!!! And now that Id like to go wide and bigger, I cant find a monitor near as bright or sharp! Not even LED/LCD What's the deal here monitor makers? Even Sony's new ones lack!