Acer's G773 is perhaps the least expensive 17-inch (16-inch viewable) true flat-panel Cathode Ray Tube monitor the planet. It's perfect for small offices watching their budgets and home users who need an inexpensive second monitor for another room in the house. We don't recommend running the G773 at its maximum resolution of 1,280 x 1,024, but if 1,024 x 768 will suffice for all your computing needs, then take a look at the G773.

The monitor is housed in basic beige with a typical tilt-and-swivel base. Being 17.2 inches deep, the G773's dimensions conform to the rule of thumb that a monitor's depth is almost the same as its screen's diagonal measurement. The front panel design is clean, with an onscreen menu system that is relatively easy to navigate. You'll find a full complement of geometry controls, including pincushion and corner settings. There are only two colour temperature settings--9,300 degrees Kelvin or 6,500 degrees Kelvin--which seems limited for a monitor intended for graphics applications (there are usually three settings). You can, however, adjust the colour channels separately if you want.

Pros and Cons Pros Upgradeable firmware Wired remote Folder-based navigation ID3 tag display Cons No rechargeable battery

We tested the G773 using test patterns generated by DisplayMate. At XGA resolution (1,024 x 768), the display was very good. The monitors grey level response is excellent, it has good colour tracking and only slight blooming on bright images. We saw good screen uniformity and no noticeable moiré patterns. Convergence was excellent, and the edges of the image were nearly straight, though it required some tweaking with the pincushion adjustment. The biggest weaknesses were poor image size regulation between dark and light images (the screen was enlarged when mostly white) and some slight regional deformities in screen geometry that caused circles to look slightly out of round. These problems aren't bad enough to be an issue for anyone but the most sophisticated users.

When we set the G773 at its maximum SXGA resolution (1,280 x 1,024), we were left staring at an image that leaves room for improvement as this mode is a bit of a challenge for the monitor's specifications. At SXGA resolution the monitor's refresh rate is 67Hz, but the DDC settings used by Windows is set for a flicker-generating 60Hz. Also, CRT monitors generate pixels by firing an electron beam at phosphor dots laid-out in clusters of three called triads. If the size of the phosphor dot triad is larger than the pixel, then the display cannot create an accurate image at that resolution. The 0.25mm dot pitch is marginally sufficient, because at SXGA resolution the pixel size works out to just a bit smaller than that, making it difficult for the monitor to display pixels that small. As expected from looking at the specs, at 1,280 x 1,024 the focus was off at the top of the screen, there was annoying flicker and jitter, and the monitor could not resolve single-pixel lines.

The three-year warranty with express service for the first year makes the G773 an attractive monitor (if you don't mind boring beige), even before you get to the low price. Acer positions the G773 for Internet and corporate business use, and it is suitable for these tasks so long as you keep it at XGA resolution. The bargain pricing makes it appealing to cost-conscious buyers as well.

Acer G773 flat-panel monitor
Company: Acer Australia
Price: AU$550
Distributor: Acer Australia
Phone: 1300 366 567

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