Asus M201U: A Decent Alternative to an Apple Display
Pros:
Good $300 display for general use.
Cons:
Asus is not the most customer service oriented company.
The Bottom Line:
A good display for general use.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
Last August, I got a new Apple MacBook Pro 15" 2.2 Core Duo Intel laptop. I have been an Apple user since 1992. The college where I work supplies faculty with computers, but not external monitors. At the time, I debated whether to spend the money for a new 20 inch Apple Cinema Display (no longer offered by Apple).
At the recommendation of a friend who works in IT at our school, I settled on the Asus MW201U. I have always bought Apple Displays simply because they seemed to look so much better with Apple computers than non-Apple displays. But, in this case, I let cost be the deciding factor. I purchased this Asus from ZipZoomFly.com on August 8, 2007 for $300 ($299.99). There was a $50 mail-in rebate offered, which would bring my cost down to $250 -- a good deal, I thought.
The Asus MW201U is overall a good display, providing a reasonably sharp image with appealing color reproduction. It's color enhancement function called "Splendid" really does allow one the ability to set the picture for various uses, including scenery and theater. I keep it set on the "standard" mode, however, for best all around use. If you are an Apple user, you will find the MW201U a little tricky to calibrate with the OSX display preferences panel. Basically, you play around with the monitor selectable brightness and contrast controls before calibrating it with the operating system.
When I sat down to write his review (12/1/2007), I was still waiting on my $50 rebate. Since I had purchased it in early August and had promptly sent in all the materials, it seemed to me that the delay in sending it was unacceptable. The e-address Asus had set up to inquire on one's rebate status had been shut down; other company contact addresses were unresponsive. Then, not more than two days after publishing this review, the rebate check finally arrived. I'm happy, of course; but that does not change the fact that Asus could improve considerably in terms of customer service. I think if you investigate this in reseller forums, you will see that others have had experiences similar to mine == good product, poor customer service. Some have reported poor warranty service as well.
In general, however, and on balance, this is a good product, which I cannot help but recommend.
