Review: Philips Brilliance P-line monitor

The Philips Brilliance P-line uses 65% recycled plastics and PVC, and can reduce energy costs by up to 80%.

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The Philips Brilliance P-line monitor is the ultimate in green technology. Not only does it use 65% recycled plastics and PVC, but it also features PowerSensor technology, which Philips claims saves up to 80% in energy costs.

Described as "the perfect tool for the power PC user with a green conscience", I put it to the test, and was not disappointed.

A monitor is a monitor. However, what sets the P-line apart, besides its massive 27-inch Advanced Multi-domain Vertical Alignment (AMVA) LED screen realty, is the ergonomically adjustable base, which allows users to adjust the height of the screen, to tilt it upwards or downwards (between 20 and -5 degrees), and to swivel it left or right (65 degrees in either direction), depending on preference.

Users can also pivot the screen from landscape to portrait positioning (90 degrees). I expected an accelerometer to adjust the display accordingly when doing this, in the way a cellphone would if you turned it on its side to watch a video, but this was not the case, and I ended up staring blankly at the screen with my head tilted at an awkward angle.

The screen is framed by a matt black edging, at the bottom of which are a number of capacitive control buttons that allow the user to switch the monitor on or off, toggle PowerSensor on or off, choose between different inputs, change the screen setting mode, and adjust the volume and brightness of the screen, among other options. These buttons are a bit difficult to see, however. They're small and grey, and I could only make out what their functions were if I put my face right up to them.

In the centre of the stand is the PowerSensor, which registers if a user is sitting in front of the screen or not, but more on that in a bit.

The P-line comes with an embedded 2MP Web cam, found at the top of the screen. The microphone is positioned next to the Web cam.

Although the P-line comes with a lot of cables and connectors (power, signal cable, PC audio cable USB upstream, USB downstream), set-up is pretty much plug and play, with the only real work coming in when connecting the monitor to the base, which is a simple process itself.

The Philips Brilliance P-line has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels - and it really likes operating at this setting; set it at anything else, and a notification will pop up letting the user know what it should be set at for best results. Users can switch this off if it gets annoying, which it can.

Screen quality is excellent; images are sharp and clear and colours are bright. I cannot fault the display of this monitor.

The P-line features SmartImage technology, which is essentially a number of pre-set display options tailored to different content, such as office, movies, gaming, photo viewing and the energy-saving economy option. Each mode has unique brightness, colour, contrast and sharpness settings; for example, the Gaming setting is considerably brighter than the Office and Economy settings, which are more subdued and easier on the eyes.

The monitor also features SmartContrast technology, which, when activated, automatically analyses content to adjust colours and control backlight intensity. So, when viewing text documents, for example, brightness will be lowered, which makes for better readability and fewer headaches, but when playing games or watching videos, contrast will be enhanced.

For the more tech-minded among us, you can customise your display and other settings via the SmartControl software, which features too many options to list.

PowerSensor is both an innovative and annoying technology. Infrared signals detect if a user is sitting in front of the screen. If so, the monitor will remain lit. If it detects that you've walked away, the screen will dim and slip into power-saving mode, snapping out of it when you return to your desk. Nifty, yes, but not quite good at picking up slouchers. I found that if I leant too far back in my chair, the monitor assumed I had fallen off and switched to power-saving mode, forcing me to wave my hand in front of the sensor. I guess one good thing that comes out of this is that it forces you to sit upright.

The monitor can register a user up to 120cm away, and Philips notes that you might have to turn up the sensitivity if you're wearing dark clothes, as these tend to absorb infrared signals. PowerSensor also only works in landscape mode. If it gets too annoying, PowerSensor can be switched off easily.

The SmartDesktop feature allows users to divide the screen into two to four partitions. Windows can then be dragged and dropped into the partitions, letting users view up to four windows simultaneously.

The Theft Deterrence feature allows a user to protect the monitor with a PIN. While users can protect against theft, they're not likely to be able to perform top-secret work when there are others in the room. The monitor's 178-degree viewing angle allows for a clear view of the screen from virtually anywhere in a room - handy for watching movies or displaying photos though.

The monitor is HDMI ready, meaning it can connect to any multimedia source, such as DVD players, video cameras, etc. It also has built-in speakers or the option to receive audio via earphones - handy for office use when you don't want to disturb your colleagues.

It also features DisplayPort technology, which enhances the link between PC and monitor with greater interoperability, offering 10.8Gbps data transfer and zero latency, says Philips.

The Web cam seems tiny compared to the screen size. As such, I expected a narrow angle result, but was pleasantly surprised at the wide angle achieved. At 2MP, the quality is not the greatest, and this is amplified by the large screen, but it was more than adequate for Skype calling. The camera connects to the PC via USB.

There is also a cluster of three USB ports at the back of the screen, which essentially expand the number of connectivity options for your PC. Plug a USB into the screen and access the content as you would for any other USB - handy for those juggling multiple hard drives.

At just over R4 000, the Philips Brilliance P-line monitor might be a bit too pricy for the average home user, but is a budget option for professionals such as photographers and graphic designers that need large screens that play nicely with graphics cards.

The incorporation of a Web cam, speakers and USB hub eliminates the need for additional hardware, freeing up desk space and, in the end, justifying the price. Add to this the excellent picture quality and innovative green features and you get a product that well worth its price tag.