Acer intros Business, Value LCD series

Acer today made sweeping changes to its LCD lineup with two whole new display lines. The Business line is tailored to both workers and home users who want an essentialist design with flexibility: the built-in arm tilts up 15 degres or down by 5 and also allows 35 degree pivoting in either direction without adjusting the stand. Despite the name, contrast ratios are also vivid enough at 2,000:1 or 3,000:1 for most models, with a 5ms average pixel response time eliminating most ghosting.

The B-series screens include the standard-ratio, 17-inch B173 and 19-inch B193 as well as widescreen models that include 19-inch (B193W), 20-inch (B203W), 22-inch (B223W), and 24-inch (B243W) models. Prices range from $205 for the B173 to $399 for the B243W flagship.

A sister line, the Value series (or V-series), sheds the flexible arm in return for a lower cost and portability: users can collapse the display flat to carry it between rooms. All share the same contrast ratios and response times as the B-series. The range is smaller than for the higher-end models and includes the standard-aspect V173 (17 inches, $185) and V193 (19 inches, $229) as well as the widescreen V193W (19 inches, $199) and V223W (22 inches, $249). Both Business and Value LCDs should already be available today.

Business series B243W