Chimei CMV-633A

The trend in the display industry is heading toward larger and wider panels, so we had to readjust our eyes to the small 16 inch wide screen CMV-633A from Chimei, a Taiwan based company whose products can be found at specialty retailers like PC Club and Newegg.com.

While we are reluctant to recommend this display as an everyday monitor for most users, it makes a handy secondary display.

Even when situated next to a 17 or a 19 inch standard aspect monitor, the CMV-633A is dwarfed in comparison. (Its actual diagonal measurement is 15.6 inches.)

As a desktop PC display, we can't think of anyone who would rush to get a display this small, except maybe people who work in extremely tight spaces like a closet or an RV. The CMV-633A would make a great secondary monitor, however, for displaying instant messaging apps or iTunes.

Because of its size, the CMV-633A is fairly light (6 pounds) and easy to tote around. It has a native resolution of 1,366x768 (WXGA), a pixel response time of 8 milliseconds, and screen brightness of 270 candelas per square meter. Although you won't get the real estate offered by screens that are 20 inches and larger, the 16 inch panel is still comfortable to view. In fact, at a close distance, the screen is easier to view than larger panels, and it's perfect for watching DVD movies.

The CMV-633A's build is a bit flimsy, particularly the stand that easily snaps into the back of the screen. You can only tilt the screen up and down. The only video input available is a VGA/D-Sub connection, so you won't be able to view protected digital content. The design is simple but boring, with five onscreen display (OSD) buttons on the bottom right of the bezel. The OSD menu, however, is easy to navigate. The CMV-633A also has integrated speakers, but as expected, sound quality lacked volume and bass.