Not sure if many of you value you spending dollars when it comes to computer monitors. ViewSonic use to rank pretty high in my book. I had owned a Professional Series PS790 for almost six years until it died. Felt good enough to go buy another ViewSonic.
Well, I discovered a couple of things in buying a new CRT monitor: forget retail as they do not exist, and even good companies can become bad. What I learned from this [expensive] adventure was to stick to my intuition in not buying monitors by mail. First, ViewSonic no longer makes its Professional Series. I guess ViewSonic thinks there are no more professionals.
So, buy one of their Graphics Series and what is delivered is worse than their bottom of the barrel retail products. Spent $440 on a G225fb only to find that the tube itself is mid-gray, which sets the black level (Brightness) rather high. Then, there is the problem that the voltage level (this is an analog device) is set just too high internally. The G2 setting on this thing presumes I'm watching NTSC video.
Ok, maybe its a dud, as someone suggested. I take this into account and calculate the cost of returning it, or exchanging it. Already spent $40 on shipping, which I'd need to repeat for exchange. Add to this 15% restocking fee if returned. Then someone suggests enrolling into ViewSonics Express Exchange program since its only $23. Only problem is in the fine print: Program allows for the exchange of a non-working ViewSonic product with a comparable refurbished unit ...
So, the unit can't be working*. Under their current business model of no-more professionalism, if it turns on and shows an image (quality aside), its working. And in the worse case scenario (not working), you get something comparable? Used (ahem, refurbished)?
And the idea of working is amiss. Working means its displaying an image at any of the resolutions defined in the product specification, although ViewSonic is allowed to not be responsible for technical misinformation in their product literature, website or in print. Hmm, so what are they willing to be professionally responsible for?
Ok, I call them and ask if my monitor would meet their description of a non-working monitor. Nope, its working. Its a Graphics Monitor and not designed to meet the needs that the Professional Series did. Talking to them on the phone is most frustrating. Professional on the phone, but very unwilling to take responsability for their lackluster performance in production quality.
ViewSonic, is no longer a part of my life. I will avoid them like the plague.
Well, I discovered a couple of things in buying a new CRT monitor: forget retail as they do not exist, and even good companies can become bad. What I learned from this [expensive] adventure was to stick to my intuition in not buying monitors by mail. First, ViewSonic no longer makes its Professional Series. I guess ViewSonic thinks there are no more professionals.
So, buy one of their Graphics Series and what is delivered is worse than their bottom of the barrel retail products. Spent $440 on a G225fb only to find that the tube itself is mid-gray, which sets the black level (Brightness) rather high. Then, there is the problem that the voltage level (this is an analog device) is set just too high internally. The G2 setting on this thing presumes I'm watching NTSC video.
Ok, maybe its a dud, as someone suggested. I take this into account and calculate the cost of returning it, or exchanging it. Already spent $40 on shipping, which I'd need to repeat for exchange. Add to this 15% restocking fee if returned. Then someone suggests enrolling into ViewSonics Express Exchange program since its only $23. Only problem is in the fine print: Program allows for the exchange of a non-working ViewSonic product with a comparable refurbished unit ...
So, the unit can't be working*. Under their current business model of no-more professionalism, if it turns on and shows an image (quality aside), its working. And in the worse case scenario (not working), you get something comparable? Used (ahem, refurbished)?
And the idea of working is amiss. Working means its displaying an image at any of the resolutions defined in the product specification, although ViewSonic is allowed to not be responsible for technical misinformation in their product literature, website or in print. Hmm, so what are they willing to be professionally responsible for?
Ok, I call them and ask if my monitor would meet their description of a non-working monitor. Nope, its working. Its a Graphics Monitor and not designed to meet the needs that the Professional Series did. Talking to them on the phone is most frustrating. Professional on the phone, but very unwilling to take responsability for their lackluster performance in production quality.
ViewSonic, is no longer a part of my life. I will avoid them like the plague.
Facebook
Twitter