NEC Multisync 4FG. (Evaluation)
by Tom Benford

The MultiSync 4FG features a 15-inch "flat square" screen that is certainly one of the best computer video displays I've ever seen.

The 4FG's screen is almost flat (or at least much less curved than those of other monitors), and the screen's corners are at right angles rather than rounded as on other monitors. Consequently, you have a viewing perspective quite different from that of traditional CRTs with their curved screens and rounded corners.

Viewed directly from the center, the screen appears to bow in slightly at both sides, but if you move your head slightly to the right or left of center, the sides then appear to be perfectly straight. I found the video display very easy to view from any angle. A built-in, nonremovable tilt-swivel base facilities positioning the monitor at the ideal viewing angle for any user.

You'll find all controls on the 4FG front-mounted for easy access. Look for the power switch with illuminated indicator at the lower right front corner; knobs for adjusting the brightness and contrast are bottom-mounted next to it. NEC provides 11 other controls for configuring the display; these are hidden from sight behind a door on the lower left portion of the front panel. Soft-touch push-button controls allow you to adjust the image size and position; four buttons laid out like a cursor keypad are provided for these functions. A special degauss button instantly demagnetizes the CRT, eliminating any accumulated static electrical charges that may have collected. A three-position N-1-2 switch, located next to the degauss button, selects normal, amber, or rose-tinted screen backgrounds to aid visibility under certain lighting conditions. To compensate for some nonstandard video adapters, you can use the monitor's sync switch, which adjusts the screen's synchronization signals.

I found the overall image quality of the 4FG superb, with very little "strobing" on those troublesome fine dot patterns and absolutely no moire patterning at all. Although there was some slight image lag (also referred to as persistence) with fast-moving graphics on high-contrast backgrounds, this was negligible and much less noticeable than on most of the other monitors reviewed in this month's Test Lab.

The MultiSync 4FG can handle all video modes and resolutions up to and including 1024 x 768 with 256 colors, interlaced or noninterlaced, which makes it compatible with just about any video adapter available. I used a Truevision Video VGA with Overlay card which has 1MB of RAM and a Tseng 4000 chip set on it during my review of the NEC, and the video from this card never looked better.

The MultiSync 4FG's excellent color and resolution, luxurious 15-inch screen, and innovative technological features make it an excellent choice for anyone who needs--orwants--outstanding video even in the Super VGA modes. Circle Reader Service Number 309