nec

Updated on September 16 at 6:30 a.m. PDT: adding information from Hironori Kasahara, a professor of computer science at Waseda University

Large electronics companies are building a chip for consumer electronics devices in Japan, while a China-based device manufacturer said it is working on devices using the ARM chip design, according to reports.

In Japan, some of the country's largest electronics and chip manufacturers are collaborating in an effort to develop a new low-power processor design for consumer electronics devices, according to Nikkei, which Forbes reported earlier.

The Japan-based group includes Fujitsu, Toshiba, Panasonic Renesas Technology, NEC, … Read more

You know, I'd almost forgotten they still make these. When i say "these," I'm of course referring to standard aspect ratio monitors. With the advent of wide-screen 16:10 and now 16:9 monitors, the last three to four years has seen 4:3 and 5:4 monitors go the way of the Dodo.

NEC seems determined that we don't forget standard aspect ratios and in September will be releasing the 19-inch MultiSync EA190M. According to NEC, the display is designed for "a variety of business environments, government applications, and education users."

Just what government applications are we talking about here? In every episode of "24" I've ever seen, everyone uses wide-screen, 24-inch Dells. This monitor must be for less well-funded government divisions.

According to NEC, the EA190M consumes 50 percent less energy and contains 50 percent less mercury than traditional LCD monitors. It has a one-touch button to go into EcoMode. This most likely puts a cap on the brightness since a display's brightness is the main determining factor for power consumption.

Here are a few other features of the EA190M:… Read more

As a follow-up to a monitor we recently reviewed, the NEC MultiSync EA221WM-BK, on Tuesday NEC announced the 23-inch NEC MultiSync EA231WMi.

The EA231WMi is a 16:9 aspect ratio monitor with a few notable improvements over the EA221WM-BK. First off, the new display uses an IPS-based panel as opposed to the TN panel the EA221WM-BK used. Also, the EA231WMi is the first NEC desktop display to feature a DisplayPort connection.

DisplayPort is a rare, but powerful connection that has been heralded as the future of digital monitor connections.

Additionally, the monitor includes a one-touch button for Eco Mode and … Read more

No, I don't mean 22-inch rims. I mean monitors, silly. Why the heck would I be talking about 22-inch rims on Crave? Hmmm, I guess I could be a spy from Car Tech, in which case talking about 22-inch rims wouldn't seem so out of place.

Alas, no. As much as I'd like to be an Antuan Goodwin, a Wayne Cunningham, or especially a Cooley, I'll have to settle for boring little old me. Talking endlessly about aspect ratios, color temperature, and bezel widths.

Monitors are really just smaller TVs. Interest in TVs has never been … Read more

While I would not call these pics of the NEC MultiSync EA221WM creepy per se, some of them are pretty intimate. I feel the NEC and I really got to know each other during this photo shoot. Really, I think I've made a friend for life.

Hey, I guess that's what you get when you combine a couple of bottles of wine, friendly debates about David Sedaris books, and some good-natured teasing thrown in for good measure.

Anyway look for a review of my new BFF later this week, but for now, behold...your muse!

As I've said previously, CNET (or in this this case, me) doesn't review enough professional-grade/intended for graphics artists and photographers, monitors. I'm hoping to change that soon.

Over the next few months be prepared for reviews of the Eizo ColorEdge CG222W and NEC P221W. Also, look for a review of at least one of the two new pro monitors NEC announced on Monday, the MultiSync LCD2490WUXi? and LCD2490W2-BK-SV.

Each monitor includes NEC's SpectraViewII Color Calibration Solution, a 16:10 aspect ratio, 1,920x1,200 native resolution, and an IPS panel.

The displays also include a … Read more

Remember those "wider is better" Pontiac commercials from several years back? NEC will probably need a marketing campaign at least as effective (was that one even effective?) to sell the following behemoth.

On Thursday, NEC officially announced its CRV43 monitor, a 43-inch curved display with a 32:10 aspect ratio and native resolution of 2880x900.

NEC says the display will be available in July with a street price of $8,000. That's right, $8K for a single monitor. Not sold? Will never be sold? Are sold but won't have the money until you finally pull off … Read more

A couple months back, I talked about Dell's new Eco-friendly monitors, the G2210 and G2410, which feature on-screen displays (OSDs) that allow you to see, in real time, how much energy your monitor is using depending on its current brightness level. In the original blog, I commented that I hoped more developers would follow Dell's lead, and it looks like NEC will be the first to try--perhaps even topping Dell.

On Tuesday, NEC announced the MultiSync E222W, a 22-inch LCD monitor with a host of ergonomic and Eco-conscious options.

The monitor includes 110 millimeter height adjustment, pivoting, swivel, and tilt. It also includes an Eco Mode that purportedly reduces power consumption and heat generation.

Also, according to NEC, its Intelligent Power Management and off timer will help conserve energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by switching to a low-power state or automatically powering down when the monitor is on but is not in use. This feature apparently circumvents OS-based power options.

Taking a page out of Dell's aforementioned unique OSD options, the MultiSync E222W will allow users to track their carbon footprint savings, with what NEC calls the display's carbon footprint meter.

According to NEC, the tool takes the concept used in the Dells one step further by actually calculating the reduction of green gas emissions, unlike Dell's tool, which only shows energy readings relative to the monitor's brightness.

Queue the spec list!… Read more

I'll be completely honest: LCD computer monitors intended for graphics professionals are not my area of expertise. Most of the monitors I've reviewed have been consumer-focused.

Monitors like the Dell SP2309W and Samsung P2370, while great for gaming or just looking nice in your apartment (respectively), would not be caught dead on the desk of a graphics professional. (Of course, if I'd found a monitor could actually die at all, well, I probably would not be writing this, as the prospects of an inanimate object possessing a soul would be far too exciting to continue sitting at … Read more