LG Shines The Light On Displays

Rock-bottom pricing has trapped many solution providers into a margin-shrinking environment. Adding insult to injury, those lower prices often translate to inferior quality, leaving the solution provider with a support nightmare.

Without question, the name of the game is margin, but what solution providers seem to keep forgetting is what got them the business in the first place, which is the result of selling quality goods.

LG Electronics recently unveiled a quality 20.1-inch LCD, which retails for $849, and although there are cheaper alternatives out there, CRN Test Center engineers recommend that solution providers take a gander at the Flatron L2013P based on its display properties.

However, though the unit offers up a sweet view, it lacks an integrated microphone and headset jack, and oddly enough has no USB ports built into the base. The USB ports many times can be used for easy integration of third-party digital solutions, and including these accessories is perhaps the easiest way to enhance VAR margins. Whether solution providers offer keyboard and mouse sets, speakers designed to match the decor in a given setting, or the brackets needed to configure a multiple display setup, there is almost always an opportunity to add a high-margin accessory sale to an existing deal. The subtraction of these ports could result in a lack of additional upsell or add-on options for integrators.

Typical of 20-inch flat-panel displays, the L2013P has a 1,600 x 1,200 pixel native resolution. The Flatron L2013P is a dual-input analog/digital LCD display with VGA and DVI inputs. It has a contrast ratio of 400:1, an extra-wide viewing angle of 178 degrees both vertically and horizontally, and a response time of 16 milliseconds.

Many of the larger display vendors are shipping LCD displays with 8-millisecond response times, and there are even some shipping with 4ms response times. However, for the majority of business applications where the L2013P display will be used, the 16ms response time should suffice.

Even though LG's 20-inch display will work well in any business environment, the adoption rate may take a little more time to transpire, according to CRN Test Center engineers. There are still some cost barriers to overcome in the business-to-business market to justify the transition from 17-inch displays to 19-inch or 20-inch displays. There is less of a productivity benefit for users in this move than there was during the transition from 15-inch to 17-inch displays.

The display is good for use with spreadsheets, CAD-CAM and everyday workstation and business application use, and is perfect for corporate users who simply like having a big screen. Where the screen really earned its keep was the way text was displayed. The clarity and crispness of all text, regardless of color or size, was exceptional. Further, the resolution on the screen was just as dynamic with black scales, white scales and color scales bright and true.

The pivoting base on the Flatron L2013P allows for both landscape and portrait modes and can be mounted on a wall. With the base, the display measures 17.6 x 8.8 x 17.6 inches and weighs 18.6 pounds. With flat panels becoming a commodity, vendors are looking for other ways to make their wares stand out, but so are solution providers. When an LCD purchase is being evaluated, the entire package needs to be considered, from the panel and performance to the support available.

LG's channel program includes various compensation programs based on the types of products sold and sales volume. Collateral tools, presentations and other sales and technical resources are available at the LG Web site. The vendor customizes its marketing assistance and other support to the specific needs of its partners. The average solution provider margin ranges from 12 percent to 15 percent, and there are no authorization requirements to meet.

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