New Age Monitor? (Philips 170B6CS)

Member Name: Nar2

Product:	Philips 170B6CS
Date:	06/07/07 (142 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stylish, good size, good range of features.

Disadvantages: Inept instructions; have to download software/instructions online; stereo speakers have bad sound;

In 2006 my dad’s monitor decided to give up the ghost and being the old fashioned tube style, like a massive television monitor we decided to invest in the new age style of flat TFT style monitors.

So at PC World we went to get a new monitor. We chose PC World because we had bought an excellent Advent laptop which has given no trouble and the back up support for the laptop has been superb. PC World seems to have, at this moment the largest display of TFT monitors which offer consumers a lot of different features.

We had seen one model which stood above the usual statistics of most other TFT models but it was not available at the larger 19" diameter screen size that my dad wanted. An additional set of USB ports for extra peripheral use won the vote at the end of the day plus internal sets of 2 speakers on the monitor itself. Nigh on the flat screen tube size of 17", my dad settled for the Philips. He also wanted a good resolution factor - anything above a 1200 SXGA resolution figure and a good ratio rate together.


** Nar's Quick Skip Product Spec **

• Model: Philips TFT 170B/170B6CG/170B6CS
• Finally a removable Monitor to Hard drive cable!
• Two 2.0 USB cable ports (not just one according to official data!)
• Known 1280 by 1024 SXGA maximum resolution factor
• Removable power cord (2 metres)
• Audio cable and additional two ended USB cable for optional use.
• Rotational base disc allows TFT to move left and right
• Additional hinge for fore and aft includes "tidy" cable design.
• Digital video input, additional audio output 32mm jack
• 17" monitor tube size
• Wall mountable (but no additional frame installed for this)
• Twin "stereo" speakers fitted
• Headphone socket (32mm)
• Our PC World shop price, not online: £179-99 originally purchased 2006.


** Setting Up **


This was one of the most difficult to ascertain procedures to find out. For starters let me just say that the look of the Philips is classy. It is completely made up of silver fine glittery plastic which would probably look good on just about any household appliance and it reminds me by the feel and look of the same finish on our Panasonic combination microwave oven. Dusting it isn't a problem either as the Philips is squarish but organic looking at the same time.

Out of the box and onto the floor with a plastic bag to protect the screen, the worst problem we found with this monitor was bending the hinge to elevate the screen upwards. By lifting it out of the box what becomes apparent is just how heavy the TFT is compared to our old 19" monitor - not much of a difference I have to report! Infact Philips may well list this as 4.5 kg but I really had to struggle to take this out of the box.

We just couldn't fathom how to bend the screen so that it could be placed on the table beside our PC though. The hinge at the back is extremely tight and without being abrupt with it, the screen just wouldn't move.

And without PC World's useless assistance the screen hinge eventually gave way - the plastic points of this hinge aren't particularly well made. Although no cracks were heard in moving the hinge, we certainly felt as if the hinge was feebly made and squeaked in protest when the screen could be moved in such a way that it could be placed on the table the way a monitor should be placed. The connection which holds the hinge to the back of our Philips now moves loosely which it didn't before we pushed the hinge roughly and tightly to get it moving.

Of course it is fair to say that you may not find a problem adjusting the hinge on the back of the Philips model if you do buy it. Largely though I'm disappointed with the plastic quality. The quick user card supplied with the monitor shows that the cables can be hidden away via the plastic hinge but there is no instruction as to how to remove this hinge lid without severely breaking or bending the plastic out of its tidy.

An arrow is shown on the door where to push up to remove the door but we have not been able to do this as yet and already the sides of the door have revealed their black plastic colouring behind the cheap silver paint where this has been tried.

On the upside at least it has a plug and play format which effectively means you can install the monitor to your PC without necessarily installing the software. But for older computers which don't have XP software, best to be on the safe side and install the driver before you change over the monitors. Philips of course do not tell you this in their instruction guide.


** Instructions **


The only paper you get with the TFT is a hopeless designed piece of card which shows you a quick set up manual, but there are only arrows which show the user to rotate the base plate which moves the screen upwards. Does this work? Of course it doesn't!

The WORST aspect about the whole Philips experience is the bother of having to go online to download the main manual which Philips don't bother including with the monitor. And what a Manual it is; over 160 pages to download through the Adobe software - which you have to have installed on your PC before you can open it.

• My point is this, Philips and I hope you are listening and reading; why do owners have to go online and download a "paper free" manual when the rest of your household appliances such as irons, food processors and other products come with a paper manual in the box?

And to be fair, the manual is written clearly in good English with well drawn diagrams of what feature does what on the Philips. But in hindsight you have to go online before you install your monitor or unless you have another PC in the home before taking off your old monitor and replacing it with the Phillips. Doh!


** PC World's Response **


After an hour on the phone with PC World who was as usual, at times neutral yet disappointing with their feedback (all on a premium rate telephone number) PC World is partly instrumental to this review in the way they handled the problem. They couldn't for example direct me to a sales person who had installed the monitor in the first place and could not advise me to return the product back to the shop so that the sales person could move the screen, damage the product and then PC World would have to replenish me with a new monitor again. Even their technical department where monitor repair calls come in could not tell me how to move the hinge despite the fact that it may have "frozen" up whilst in storage at the PC World store! Me being pedantic? Don't get me started. For the price of nearly £200 on a product which is designed to leave out "60%" of workspace, it would have been beneficial to know just exactly how to move the screen to place it properly on the table before using it.


** In Use **


Thanks to its stylish flat design, the Philips has a set of user controls just about the speakers at the front of the monitor. These consist of several controls to adjust the sound, colour, adjustment etc but it's a shame that they are colour coded in silver to blend in with the silver colouring of the monitor. This means people with poor eye sight need to print out the fascia instructions from Adobe to know what button is for which. Of course Philips have written words below the buttons in capital letters so that you know what each button does - but its in silver just like the rest of the monitor - which in my mind is disappointing for a model that appears to be designed for ease of use. Even the On button located to the right hand side of the monitor is just as small as the rest of the controls, despite being set farther away so they are not the best designed here.

The colours which the Philips convey and display are largely better than both the CRT monitors we had despite my old Mitsubishi Diamond monitor having the same resolution factor. There is no glare, no flickering and the screen will adjust automatically whereby online and several different internet sites offer resolutions at different rates. An example which is most evident is watching BBC News on the monitor when connected online. Our old monitors had problems adjusting and showed black shadowing compared to the TFT here. To boot, the colour display is spot on and it shows the difference here between TFT and CRT style monitors. The auto button on the monitor really does a splendid job of automatically adjusting colour, dimension and screen levelling. It does it quickly too and it is not noticeable to the naked eye unless you finely tune to your needs yourself.

Another factor and a complete difference compared to old, is just how bright and sharp images and colours are on this TFT. At times it can prove to be too bright but it can be easily changed by the controls on the Philips.

What can I say about the lack of space? Well it would be great if the power cord was longer than 2 metres. An extension cable has had to be installed so that the monitor can be pulled forwards for more accessibility and thanks to the fact that we can't open the hinge to install the cables inside, the cables have been neatly stacked in a pile for a moment - but it doesn't prove an easy installation where the power cord is short.

Yes largely, space is freed up when this TFT was placed - more everyday things can be stacked behind it and because the PC and monitor is placed behind a window, there's no fear of the curtains becoming warm - a known fire hazard - when a monitor is placed in front of them by a window.


** Any Other Downsides? **


Just a minor aspect; any time you access the controls on the Philips, the pop up digital windows hang around for a long time before you can actually get rid of them.


** Sound Quality **


This is one aspect which is bad for my musical ears. The sound quality is disappointing for a model which is priced close to £200. Okay it's not disappointing - it's downright awful. Imagine you have a Philips kitchen radio with a high tone and no bass and you will realise the similarity here. I have since bought a splitter which I have added to the back of the hard drive audio card which splits the sound between the Philips and our Creative 5.1 sound system. The splitter is a normal 32 mm audio jack which cost me buttons but for the most musical of ears, the speakers on the Philips alone don't give out a good sound quality without additional support from other devices.


** Conclusion **


If you are going to buy this monitor from Philips then here's what I suggest you do:

• Make sure your PC has Adobe software installed.
• Download the instructions from Philips BEFORE you install the monitor OR take away your old monitor.
• Install the Monitor Driver first before installing the monitor.
• Buy a 2 way splitter for the audio cable input if you have additional devices.

Largely the Philips looks like an excellent monitor on paper thanks to its leading features where ratio, resolution, USB ports and additional features such as extra ports here and there have been added. But the looks deceive in my mind, especially near the brand new price of £200. The silver paint finish is cheap looking; the hinge at the back isn't made to a good qualitable standard and to download a full instruction manual online is a bit of a nonsense. The fact that the official company website states that it has an embedded power supply, which it doesn't should say it all - you don't always get the correct information even from the company who make the product!

It gets 3 stars here from me and a recommended potential to buy - but don't go thinking you are buying better quality. Thanks for reading. ©Nar2 2007

Additional info from Philips can be viewed at:

http://www.consumer.philips.com/
http://www.philips.co.uk

Summary: Not quite a qualty item despite the high price.

Processing/Quality:
Reliability:
Ease of use:
Installation:
Picture quality: