Retro computing (IBM E 74M)

Member Name: ben-lloyd

Product:	IBM E 74M
Date:	30/06/09 (55 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It works

Disadvantages: Nothing apart from being a CRT and very BIG

The E74 from IBM really isn't anything special. A large, beige box with a clear, sharp display and five buttons to access the digital tuning menu to be precise. Legend has it that this model is also available in black for you aesthetes!

The digital menu contains all of the functions one has come to expect, including the option to change the language in which the menus are written. Navigating between menu items using the arrow buttons is relatively simple and it should not take you too long to get the picture set up to your liking.

At the rear of the unit is the power jack (standard kettle lead) and a 15 pin VGA lead fitted. There are no other inputs meaning that this is a one-PC-one-monitor setup.

The picture output of the display is relatively good, but in the day of the TFT, CRT monitors such as this are falling in popularity, particularly because of the sheer amount of deskspace this beast will take up! The glass front is also curved meaning that you will suffer from the age-old problem of unwanted reflections.

In terms of functionality, this monitor does exactly what you would expect, particularly with IBM's computer hardware pedigree and it does, in all fairness, do it pretty well.

For the £142 some retailers are flogging this unit at, I would be looking for a 15" TFT which has equivalent display real-estate or a 17" monitor with a flat glass front. However, if you have set your heart on an IBM E74, I strongly recommend attempting to get hold of this monitor secondhand - I did and it only cost £40.


© ben-lloyd 2009. This review appears on other websites under the same user name.

Summary: For when your cheap-o TFT fails, there is always good old CRT!

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