Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 720 NF > Reviews (1)

CAN YOU READ THIS? Can you really read this? Is the text sharp? Is the image crisp and vibrant? If it is as clear as crystal and sharp as a pins head then you probably don’t need to look for another monitor just yet!
If on the other hand the screen is flickering, the text blurred and dull (endless hours on ciao do not count!) and you’re sure you aren’t drunk then it may be time for a look at a new monitor.

Purchasing a monitor is one of the most important purchases you can make that will enhance your PC experience. Whether it’s downloading vibrant images off the web, editing photos, analysing large chunks of data or reading text; a good quality monitor is essential. Investing in a good quality monitor initially will provide you with hours of stress free viewing without the need for frequent updates. Whilst computers can get outdated before you’ve even had chance to get it out of the box; a monitor offers long term investment and allows many happy hours of viewing!

Before I explain the Mitsubishi Diamond Pro monitor, I would just like to emphasize some basic terms you may come across in the specifications of monitors (if you are already familiar with these please scroll down to the Mitsubishi monitor).

The BASICS – Terminology
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While there are many terms used in Monitor descriptions I will only highlight the basic ones that may be of importance to you whilst deciding which monitor to buy.

· CRT = Cathode Ray Tube (most monitor specifications list the CRT size e.g. 17”. Please note a 17” CRT size listed for a 17” monitor does not mean that the viewable screen area is 17”. The viewable area is always smaller, probably only 15 –16 inches. Check “viewable area” before buying. The viewable area is quoted separately on all monitors these days.

· Aperture grille pitch (or dot pitch) = this is measured in mm, and is typically 0.24 - 0.28mm. It is the amount of space between each pixel. The smaller the dot pitch, the sharper the image. So a 0.24mm dot pitch will provide a sharper picture than a monitor with a 0.28mm dot pitch.

· Refresh rate = this value is expressed in Hertz (Hz). It is the number of times per second the screen is refreshed (redrawn). To avoid flickering, the refresh rate should be at least 72 Hz. Most modern monitors show a refresh rate of 75Hz, which means the image is refreshed 75 times per second.

THE MITSUBISHI DIAMOND PRO
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I bought this 17” monitor 14 months ago with my PC (from MESH) the deciding factors for me whilst making this purchase were, high specification, a reputable customer service, warranty and price, without compromising on quality. I had looked at similar specification models from SONY, IIYAMA etc but MITSUBISHI came out top due to introducing a fine product at a fraction of the cost! MESH were also good enough to let me choose the monitor of my choice as opposed to the one being shipped out in standard PC packages and gave me a discount, well it helps if you haggle:)

Since my purchase of this monitor Mitsubishi have merged with NEC and the new company is called NEC-Mitsubishi.

Both companies are renowned world leaders in monitor development so are now setting their combined product knowledge and experience to cutting edge CRT and LCD technology. Mitsubishi are best known for the DiamondtronTM NF CRT, the technology used in this monitor.

Installation
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Setting up this monitor was straightforward; everything required was in the box. An AC power cord, signal cable to connect the monitor to PC, as well as a clear easy to read manual were provided. It comes with a Tilt/Swivel base so you can set it up at the angle for you and tilt it back for comfortable viewing. It can be used with PC’s and Apple Mackintosh. There are 5 on screen display (OSD) buttons to ensure an easy set up.

IMAGE
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SEEING IS BELIEVING!!

The first thing I noticed as soon as I plugged in this monitor was that the images were so clear, crisp and sharp…. almost life like, it was unbelievable. The colours were vibrant, absolutely brilliant, even viewing at a resolution 800 x 600, 16 bit colour. This monitor has a maximum resolution of 1200 x 1600 (which is 1600 dots x 1200 lines, so it can get pretty sharp!)

Features
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The Diamond Pro 720, 17” monitor uses the Diamondtron NF CRT technology is exceptionally flat tube offering super sharp images. It is an intelligent microprocessor based monitor offering digitally controlled auto-scanning. This allows the monitor to scan both horizontal and vertical frequencies with the precision of a fixed frequency monitor.
It has a wide auto-scanning compatibility range that basically allows you to upgrade video cards/graphiccards without having to buy a new monitor.

This monitor has most of the features found on the new generation of monitors such as OSD (On Screen Display) allowing you easy access to adjust contrast, brightness, horizontal or vertical screen etc by pushing on screen buttons and seeing the visible changes made. There is also a power management Function that reduces the power consumption of the monitor. If you are not using it for 5 minutes it will go into power saving mode.

Specifications (the boring bit:,)
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This is a 17” monitor (with 16” viewable diagonal screen image). It has an aperture grille of 0.25mm which means it has a pretty sharp image! The maximum resolution is 1600 x 1200 at 75Hz. It is TCO 99 compliant which means its environmentally and ergonomically friendly. It weighs in at 17.5Kg. It’s predecessor (the Diamond Pro 710 was 19Kg, also a 17” monitor.)

Dimensions
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So will this 17 incher fit on your desk? Here’s the low down..
16.1 inch (W) x 16.2 inch(H) X 17.1 inch (D)

Price
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As mentioned earlier I bought this through MESH computers as part of my chosen PC package. However this is available at places such as Dabs.com, Jungle etc at around £199 to £233 for the Diamond Pro Monitors. Mitsubishi also do a cheaper range of monitors called the Plus range that would be under £199.

Warranty
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All Mitsubishi Monitors come with a 3 year warranty. This also includes a FREE of charge loan monitor should yours need to be repaired.

Customer service
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Well having all these warranties is all well and good, but how good are they when it comes to contacting customer services?

Recently I had a minor problem with my monitor with the screen increasing and decreasing in brightness, not knowing whether this was a monitor problem or my graphics card playing up I contacted Mitsubishi, using a national number(0870). I got through within 5 minutes. Due to merger both calls for NEC and Mitsubishi products are taken on this number with separate menu options for either company’s product.

My monitor was booked, no further questions were asked. Collection of the monitor was arranged by courier within 3 days and a replacement free loan monitor was dropped at the same time. On opening my replacement loan monitor I got a pleasant surprise it was a new 19 inch monitor, absolutely stunning!

Mitsubishi decided they would replace my 17 inch monitor instead of repairing it, so I awaited arrival of the new 17 inch monitor which they were awaiting stock of. Within a few weeks it arrived, and the beautiful large 19 inch loan monitor was taken back.

Finally, I cannot fault this Mitsubishi Monitor. Perfection, its sharp images and vibrant colours are underrated and the warranty is superb. Every few months Mitsubishi updates its models with subtle changes this monitor started with the 710, then 720, the current model is the 730. The specification is more or less the same with slight enhancements.