Viewsonic is launching two models now; The VOT530, and the VOT550. Both come with Windows 7 Home Premium, Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz processors and 802.11 b/g/n wifi. Both systems have six USB 2.0 ports, along with DVI, LAN, and eSATA ports on the back. The systems come with a remote standard as well.

The VOT530 PC Mini has 2GB of RAM, and a DVD drive. The VOT550, comes standard with 4GB of RAM and a Blu-ray drive. The VOT530 will be selling for $749 MSRP, and the VOT550 is expected to sell for $949. Both are available now.

[via eHomeUpgrade]

ViewSonic dove headfirst into the ultraportable notebook game yesterday, with the announcement of the “ViewBook” line of 12-, 13-, and 14-inch low voltage machines.

The 13.3-inch ViewBook 130 (pictured above) looks to compete directly with Acer’s 3810-model Timeline offerings, while the 12-inch ViewBook 120 (video below) bears a striking physical resemblance to the Lenovo S12 series.

The ViewBook line was announced in Taiwan but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that we would eventually see these machines in the U.S., since ViewSonic products are already represented reasonably well here.

The ViewBook 130 will be available in three different configurations ranging from $24,900 to $31,900 New Taiwan dollars, which is roughly $767 to $983 U.S. dollars. That’s not to say that we’d see those actual prices stateside — I’d guess they’d be lower than that in order to stay competitive, perhaps between $650 and $900 or so.

Specs for the ViewBook 130 line include:

• Intel ULV743 CPU at 1.3GHz, SU4100 at 1.3GHz, or SU7300 at 1.3GHz
• 13.3-inch screen with 1366×768 resolution
• 2GB of RAM
• 320GB hard drive
• HDMI/VGA output
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Six-cell battery good for up to 8 hours

The ViewBook 120:

• Intel SU2300 CPU at 1.3GHz
• 2GB of RAM
• 250GB hard drive
• VGA out, three USB ports
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• Six-cell battery good for up to 8 hours

Pricing for the ViewBook 120 is pegged at around $22,000 New Taiwan Dollars, which is about $678 here. Again, though, that’s not to say that it’d be priced at $678 through U.S. retailers.

Not much info on the 14-inch ViewBook 140, although my guess is that it’s likely similar to the ViewBook 130 from a features standpoint.

[via NetbookNews.de (translated)]

You’ve got six models; I’ll give you the quick rundown:

VT2042: $299, 20″, 1600×900, 10:000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
VT2342: $349, 23″, 1080p, rest same as above
VT2645: $449, 26″, 1366×768… why would you do that?
VT3245: $649, 32″, 1080p, 4000:1 static contrast ratio
VT3745: $799, 37″, rest same as above
VT4280: $999, 42″, 1080p, 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio

They all have a 5ms response time, which is solid. They also feature SRS TrueSurround XT technology, which is a fancy way of saying they have an extra-nice sound bar. Even the nicest sound bar in the world would be beaten by the cheapest set of 5.1 speakers out there, so do yourself a favor and pick some up.

I’d say the best deal of these is the 32″ at $649. Unfortunately, it does have the lower contrast ratio. If you’re really wanting a new TV but don’t want to spend more than that, I’d suggest getting one that doesn’t have a sound bar, and springing for some speakers with the money you save, if possible.

[via Electronista]

The machine features an 18.5-inch LCD at 1366×768 with a 1000:1 contrast ratio and 300 cd/m2 brightness.

Packed behind the screen is a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, Windows XP Home, a 1.3-megapixel web cam, four USB slots, a 4-in-1 card reader, DVD burner, and gigabit Ethernet plus 802.11b/g wireless.

The whole package is just 1.38 inches thick and weighs about 16.5 pounds, so it ought to fit just about anywhere you’re short of desk space.

If you’re still not convinced, check out this… ahem… high-quality and wonderfully-produced promotional video. It’s truly mesmerizing.

And with that, ViewSonic wins the Balls of Steel award for today.

Full press release:

ViewSonic Ships All-in-One PC, First Model of Computer Initiative

VPC100 now shipping in the United States

WALNUT, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ViewSonic® Corp., a leading global provider of visual display and computing products, today announced the commercial availability of its VPC100 All-in-One PC at an MSRP of $599. With 20 years of display experience as a leader in desktop technology and partnerships with computing market leaders, high quality computing products are a natural extension of ViewSonic’s product offering. With its slim design (35mm thin), ease-of-use, eco-friendly design and affordability, the VPC100 is ideal for every lifestyle – from home and office settings, to call centers, libraries, school computer labs and any location where space is limited.

“When people talk about office clutter, it’s not just about paperwork. Traditional computing solutions can be expensive, unattractive and take up an entire desk,” said Jeff Volpe, vice president and general manager of ViewSonic North America. “We designed the VPC100 to overcome that ‘computer clutter’ problem with one cable ease and a clean, All-in-One design. We’re excited to bring this product to market in the US and give our channel partners and customers a solution that further merges technology and lifestyle.”

A built-in Intel® Atom 1.64GHz processor with Microsoft® Windows® XP Home provides a powerful desktop computing solution. The 18.5-inch display features a 16:9 aspect ratio LCD screen so users can experience razor-sharp images in crisp detail. Keeping eco-friendly by offering one unit instead of two (a monitor and a tower PC), the VPC100 All-in-One uses about 50% less plastic for reduced waste. Additionally, the device requires about 45% less power than a traditional computing set so users save resources and get a better ROI.

Additional features include:

• Four high-speed USB 2.0 ports for connections to peripherals
• DVD/CD Super Multi RW optical disk drive
• A 4-in-1 card reader for file transfers
• Wireless connectivity within any 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi network
• LAN network integration through the 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN connection
• An integrated 1.3-megapixel webcam for enhanced interaction with friends and co-workers
• Two built-in 2.5-watt speakers
• Full size keyboard and optical mouse included
• The VPC100 is backed up with an extended one-year limited warranty, as well as 24/7 customer support to ensure buyer satisfaction. Additional purchase details, specs and a video introduction can be found here.

ViewSonic also offers its Finch Club resellers an opportunity to benefit from specialized product training and discounts. To sign up, please visit www.finchclub.com.

For more information on ViewSonic products, please visit www.viewsonic.com or follow ViewSonic on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

ViewSonic also announced the PJD6381 this morning and it, too, is a DLP projector with the one of the shortest throw ratios (0.68) on the market. Screen resolution is the same as the others, but it has 2500 ANSI lumens and a 2500:1 contrast ratio. The refresh rate is same and it also includes an RJ45 jack and will be available in August for $1249.

So, lets say you’re one of the top display makers in the world. Congratulations! Except you’ve grown bored of making all these monitors – you want to mix it up a little. What do you make? Toaster ovens? Nah. Hello Kitty kitchenware? Hell no. You make cell phones. The jump is oh-so obvious, isn’t it?

Read the rest of this entry >>

ViewSonic might be known for their line of computer monitors, but their HDTVs aren’t too shabby. Today, they released the VT2230, a 1080p 22-inch LCD for $349. With an 8000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 16:9 aspect ratio and a 1920×1080 native resolution, the VT2230 just might bump my VX2240W out the door.

Viewing angles on the 2230 are 170º horizontal and 160º vertical, which is exactly the same as my VX2240W and that’s not good at all. Not even the 5ms response time, 300cd/m2 brightness or the built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM television tuner can make up for the horrible viewing angles on this TV. And it only has one HDMI port. But at $350, it’s a pretty good deal for a full HDTV. Maybe I should put my monitor at eye level and quit complaining.

Product Page

You’ll need a perfect storm of the following three elements in order to enjoy this bit of news:

• Must live in China
• Must like ViewSonic products
• Must want a netbook or an overwhelmingly large notebook

If you meet those criteria you might be happy to know that ViewSonic will be branching out to netbooks and notebooks, according to DigiTimes. The company is currently best-known for its LCD monitors and TVs, which are available in the US and typically carry lower-than-average price points. It’s unknown at this point in time whether or not the company will bring its portable computers here to the states.

It’ll apparently be leveraging its expertise in LCD screens to build a mammoth 22-inch notebook, which we can all agree is crazy and should be called an “all-in-one computer that folds in half” instead of a “notebook”. Whatever the case, I can’t wait to see this monster.

[via DigiTimes]

Here’s a relatively affordable full HD TV from ViewSonic. The VT2430 is a 24-inch, 1080p LCD with an ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner, 10,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 5ms response time, 300cd/m2 brightness, a VGA input, composite/component/S-Video inputs, and a single HDMI input. The company’s positioning the TV for “the other room,” meaning the bedroom, children’s playroom, kitchen, or office. You could use it in a small living room, though, provided you didn’t need to hook too many HDMI-based devices up to it.

MSRP is $399, but you’ll able to find it for less online ($375 at Amazon, for instance).

ViewSonic VT2430 LCD TV [ViewSonic.com]

I know, I know. The VGA HD AV cable has been out for three years, but I was in between TVs and only had a monitor to game on. I’ll keep this review short and sweet.

My gaming setup consisted of my Xbox 360 Elite, Razer/THX Mako 2.1 speakers and a Viewsonic VX2240W monitor. The monitor itself has no built-in speakers, so I had to connect the audio to an external system. Luckily, there’s enough separation between the VGA cable and the RCA cable so the speaker system didn’t have to sit on top of the monitor. Perfection.

The kit claims to support video resolution up to 1080p and I have to say that it works as advertised. I streamed Netflix and even hooked up my HD DVD player just to make sure. Viewsonic’s monitor has a 1680X1050 resolution, so I’d say the content was as close to full high def as you can get.

On that note, I might as well give you a run down on the VX2240w. I believe the specs are relatively impressive, but I’m not much of a peripherals guy.

Overview and Features:

• 22-inch (diagonal) widescreen LCD at 1680×1050 resolution
• 300 cd/m2 brightness
• 1000:1 static contrast ratio, 4000:1 dynamic
• 170° horizontal, 160° vertical viewing angles
• up to 2ms gray-to-gray; 5ms black-to-white
• Connections: 15-pin mini D-sub/DVI-D (with HDCP)
• Only 2.4-inches thick (not counting the stand; 8.8-inch with) and 14 pounds (including stand)
• Three year warranty
• MSRP of $450, although it can be found for less than $300 in many places

There’s no visible blur/smear when viewing high frame rate video and the contrast ratio is high enough that the colors are very distinctive. You’ll have to calibrate for a bit to get it right, though. The viewing angle is weak so you’d better be sitting right in front of the monitor for optimal viewing. The round stand that comes with the VX2240w is limiting (ugly) and only offers tilt adjustment forwards and backwards.

Overall, it’s a decent monitor but considering the price and specs it falls into the ‘worth buying’ category. Other monitors with similar specs are priced about the same. You can find it on Amazon for as low as $250.

I already reviewed the Makos this year, but it was nice to get them out of the office and really crank them up in my apartment. I love these things.

Xbox 360 VGA HD Cable

Viewsonic VX2240w Product Page

Razer/THX Mako 2.1 Product Page

Short Version: A full-featured 22-inch HDTV with a built-in DVD player for under $400, the N2201w from ViewSonic is a great option as a bedroom TV, office TV, or dedicated gaming TV.

Overview and Features:

• 22-inch LCD with 1680×1050 resolution
• 1000:1 contrast ratio
• 300 cd/m2 brightness
• 160-degree horizontal and vertical viewing angles
• 5ms response time
• Two 3-watt speakers
• Inputs: VGA, coax, RCA, YPbPr/YCbCr, S-video, HDMI 1.3 with HDCP
• Headphone jack
• ATSC, NTSC, QAM tuner
• HD: 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i
• Available online for under $400

Pros:

The ViewSonic’s bright and vibrant picture, integrated DVD player, multiple hookup options, and relatively low price point make it a good choice for people looking to add a flat screen TV to the bedroom. Despite the integrated DVD player, the 22-inch N2201w is only about three inches thick and weighs about 20 pounds, so it’s easy to move around if needed. High-definition content looks really good, too, which is hopefully what you’ll mostly be watching on this TV. Standard definition stuff looks just fine as well – I tested this TV using Comcast digital cable, with nice results.

The TV has one of each of the standard connection options (RCA, YPbPr/YCbCr, coax, HDMI 1.3 with HDCP, VGA with audio in) and the integrated tuner pulls down ASTC, NTSC, and QAM signals. The inclusion of a headphone jack makes for a VERY nice feature when hooking your Xbox 360 up to this thing. I have mine hooked up via HDMI and the sound gets cleanly routed through the headphone jack, making late-night gaming and Rock Band/GHWT drumming much, much easier.

Using the VGA input will allow you to use the TV as a 1680×1050 computer monitor, which would make it a great choice for your home office. You could use it for work during the day and then take a break to watch a DVD, play some video games, or see what’s on TV. So the office is where the true 3-in-1 functionality would hit home most.

Finally, the remote control is actually – GASP! – thoughtfully laid out and easy to use.

Cons:

Those who have subscribed to the 1080p-or-die mantra will want to forgo this TV as the highest it’ll do is 1080i. Also, it won’t make for a great main TV if you need to hook a bunch of different components up to it because, as mentioned, it only has one of each port. That’s still plenty of stuff, though, considering your DVD player would be taken care of already. However, the single HDMI port might make life tough for people who wanted to hook up a cable box, Blu-ray player, and Xbox or PS3 via HDMI.

Recommendation:

If you’re looking for a nicely-priced TV for the bedroom or game room that’ll also allow you to watch TVs and will function as a 1680×1050 computer monitor too, the N2201w’s nice picture, low price, and relatively full feature set make it a great choice.

ViewSonic N2201w 3-in-1 LCD HDTV and DVD combo [ViewSonic.com]

Short Version: At well under $600, the 25.5-inch ViewSonic VA2626wm is a good monitor for those of you who want to get into the huge LCD game at a reasonable price. While considered to be somewhat inferior to the comparable Samsung 2693HM, the ViewSonic carries an enticing $50 mail-in rebate until the end of November. Also, it’s good as a computer monitor but it’s even better hooked up to an Xbox 360.

Overview and Features:

• 25.5-inch widescreen LCD at 1920×1200 resolution
• 450 cd/m2 brightness
• 800:1 static contrast ratio, 6000:1 dynamic
• 170° horizontal, 160° vertical viewing angles
• 5ms response time
• Connections: 15-pin VGA, DVI-D, and HDMI
• Two 2.5-watt speakers
• Only 3.6-inches thick (not counting the stand) and 22 pounds (including stand)
• Three year warranty
• MSRP of $586, although it can be found for less than $500 in many places

It’s good for…

…people who want to get into a huge monitor at a relatively low price. The best deal I’ve found is $429.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate at MacMall, which includes free shipping. That rebate is good until the end of November (click here for the PDF file).

The VA2626wm is plenty big, yet thankfully it’s relatively easy to move around. It’s only 22 pounds and less than four inches thick, which makes getting behind it to hook stuff up a painless process. Brightness is above-average, too, at 450 cd/m2. You’ll find that most monitors in this class hover around the 300 to 400 cd/m2 range. Also, going from a 19-inch LCD to a 26-inch LCD is like seeing color for the first time. I can finally have both CrunchGear and my fave Jonas Brothers fan site up and at full-width all day long.

I’m also happy to report that sitting five feet from a 26-inch monitor and playing Xbox 360 games is way more fun than sitting 15 feet from a 26-inch LCD TV in my living room. If you haven’t hooked your Xbox 360 up to your HDMI-enabled computer monitor, go ahead and treat yourself. Playing Madden on this thing is unbelievable. This monitor would make a great addition to a game room or a den or whatever it is you kids have as your own area to play video games without disrupting TV time.

This is a hook-up-and-go monitor. There aren’t a whole lot of frills here. You just plug it in, hook it up, and start using it. I’ve futzed around plenty with the on-screen controls and options and ultimately ended up resetting everything to the default settings.

Not so good for…

…the discerning monitor snob or people who expect great audio out of LCD speakers. Images and text always seem to be a tad bit washed out and colors don’t really “pop” as much as they do on a couple of my 19-inch LCDs (a Gateway and an Acer). So this is more of a “I need a big monitor so I can spread out all my files and folders” than a “I need a big monitor to watch movies, look at photos, and play games” type of deal. The color isn’t bad, it just won’t blow your hair back like that Maxell guy. It’s fine, though.

The audio out of the 2.5-watt speakers sounds just like what you’d expect from 2.5-watt speakers. It’s underwhelming and a bit tinny. That should be no surprise, though, as speakers on an LCD monitor aren’t really a selling point any more. It’s nice that they’re there and they work fine for system sounds and YouTube videos.

The on-screen display is like solving a puzzle. You have four buttons: 1, 2, Up, and Down. Don’t press 2, or you’ll switch video sources! Press Up to go straight to brightness and contrast settings. Press Down to adjust the volume (whaaa?). Press 1 to access a list of all the functions, then press 2 to choose that function. You’ll know whether to press 1 or 2 because the on-screen tip shows the 1 button as a door with an arrow pointing to the right and the 2 button as a door with an arrow pointing left. Huh? Luckily, you don’t have to change the settings all that much (if ever).

If you’re just looking for resolution and don’t care about the actual size of the screen, keep in mind that you get 1920×1200 standard with 24-inch monitors and even some 22-inch monitors now. Both sizes generally cost far less than the 25.5/26 inchers. This monitor is big. Not heavy, but big. It takes up a fair amount of desk space.

Finally, do a search for this monitor and you’ll find numerous comparisons to Samsung’s 25.5-inch 2693HM – mostly ending with “the Samsung is better and cheaper.” I can’t comment on that since I haven’t used the Samsung but I can tell you that the current $50 rebate actually makes the ViewSonic less expensive for the next few weeks. As for quality, I have no idea which one is better. I just felt the need to report that there’s an inordinate amount of comparisons between the two monitors.

Recommendation:

If you can get the VA2626wm for less than comparable models, it’s a good choice – anything in the low $400’s seems to be a great deal. It works especially well when connected to a next-generation video game console via HDMI, so consider it as a gaming monitor. If you’re looking for a high-end 26-inch LCD or simply for something with a 1920×1200 resolution, you’d likely have more luck with something different or smaller depending on your needs.

VA2626wm [ViewSonic.com]

If anybody buys this, will you please leave a comment so I can live vicariously through you? Unfortunately all my monitors are currently working just fine, otherwise I’d buy this myself. Buy.com has the 20-inch Viewsonic VA2026W monitor for $179.99 with free shipping, plus a $30 mail-in rebate that’s good until November 2nd.

Specs include a 1680×1050 resolution, 2000:1 contrast ratio, 5ms refresh time, and VGA/DVI inputs. Sure, it’s missing HDMI and built-in speakers but, hey, that’s still a lot of screen real estate for not a lot of money.

ViewSonic VA2026W [Buy.com]

SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 25, 2008 – ViewSonic® Corp., a worldwide leader in display technologies, has once again demonstrated display leadership with the unveiling of its first 120Hz desktop LCD technology at NVIDIA’s NVISION 08 event in San Jose, Calif. (www.nvision2008.com). The 22-inch 120Hz prototype delivers rich, colorful, blur-free video performance on traditional gaming, entertainment and graphic applications, while also delivering eye-popping stereoscopic 3D when used with NVIDIA’s GeForce Stereoscopic 3D gaming technology.

The 22-inch 120Hz display coupled with 3ms gray-to-gray response time provides much better Motion Picture Response Time (MPRT) than the typical “fast-response” displays on the market today, virtually removing the appearance of motion artifacts and ghosting. This makes it the LCD of choice for extreme gaming, entertainment, computer animation, precision graphic work and traditional computer applications. Features, such as integrated 2Wx2 stereo speakers and Dual Link DVI digital input, combine to expand entertainment options and make the monitor the must-have display for 3D gaming.

The display offers excellent front-of-screen performance, including Professional Color Certification, 1680×1050 resolution, 300 nits of high brightness and 1000:1 contrast ratio, as well as wide viewing angles for getting the most out of fast action games, downloaded video content and full-length movies. When coupled with NVIDIA’s GeForce Stereoscopic 3D technology, the ViewSonic 120Hz display provides game enthusiasts with realistic depth, intense motion, rich graphics and detailed images that literally leap off the screen.

“ViewSonic continues to deliver innovative technology that leads and supports the growing trends and demands in digital entertainment,” said Jeff Volpe, vice president of Global Brand and Emerging Technologies, ViewSonic. “The 120Hz technology will deliver superb front-of-screen performance and will drive new standards in desktop entertainment igniting the next evolution in digital viewing capabilities.”

The first displays with ViewSonic’s 120Hz technology are expected later in the year at select resellers, retailers and etailers. Pricing is not yet available.

At 5,000 lumens, the new ViewSonic PJ1173 could function as a bat signal. This high performance projector supports 1080p with a native resolution of 1024×768 (wait, what? Ask them.) and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. They say it produces large crisp visuals, even in well lit rooms.

With its picture quality and added features, the PJ1173 was developed to create an ‘experience’ for the user and audience at a competitive price,” said Jeff Volpe, vice president of Global Brand and Emerging Technologies, ViewSonic.

Bold words. If you are looking to pick up the PJ1173, it’s only available now through authorized ViewSonic professional audio-visual resellers for a street price of $3,799. So cheap!

Here’s ViewSonic’s 47-inch 1080p LCD TV with built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM TV tuner. Contrast ratio is pretty good at 6000:1 with 11 input connections that include three HDMI 1.3 ports. Yay! I like it. I want one. I must have one.

Next we have the LED backlit VLED221wm. This is also something I like and want. It’s 22-inches of widescreen goodness. It boasts a contrast ratio of 12000:1, which is a world’s first for LED. It has a gloss black display with native 1680×1050 resolution and 5ms response time. Power consumption is low at 38W. It drops next month for $799.

Rounding out the monitors worth noting is the VX 62 series. It has a contrast ratio of 6000:1 and it’s wicked shiny. Response time is also pretty wicked at 2ms with 300 nits of brightness. Unfortunately, this own’t come out till April and should retail for $369.

There are also some digital photo frames that range in price from $99 to $129. I’m told there will be a 30-inch photo frame coming down the road, too.

here. Picture quality is crisp and clear. You can also see the difference the 4000:1 contrast ratio makes as well as the 2ms response time. I haven’t had a chance to do any gaming on it, but from the videos I’ve watched on it, I’m sure I won’t be disappointed. Get one, better yet, get two for yourself this holiday season.

Product Page

Not bad! This thing’s got some good customer reviews to back it up, too.

22-inch widescreen (16:10) LCD with 1680×1050 resolution, 5ms response time, 700:1 contrast ratio, digital and analog inputs, and built-in speakers.

If you’re worried about the "refurbished" part, you could add a 2-year warranty for $30.

Delivery only (free shipping, though). Enjoy!

ViewSonic REFURB¹: VX2235wm 22-inch LCD Multimedia Monitor, Black [CompUSA.com]