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It seems that the 17in LCD TV is becoming a popular item, especially as a replacement for that ageing 14in portable TV that you’ve been using in your bedroom or kitchen. TrustedReviews has looked at a few 17in widescreen LCD TVs, like the Samsung 730MW and the Dell W1700LCD, but whereas those two models were clearly aimed at the user who wanted a PC monitor that was also a TV, the 17WL46B from Toshiba is definitely a TV first and a monitor second.

The reason that I say this screen is primarily a TV is that Toshiba hasn’t bothered to install a DVI port, and has, instead settled for a single analogue D-SUB port. Compare this to the AV connectivity of two SCART, one S-Video and one composite video, and it’s clear to see which direction this screen is leaning. Of course the lack of DVI doesn’t mean that you can’t use the 17WL46B as a computer monitor, it just means that you won’t get the crisp and clear picture that is associated with a digital DVI connection. It also means that you’ll end up having to adjust the monitor once in a while to keep the image spot on.

If you did want to hook up the 17WL46B to your computer, you’d still get a pretty good image, although the widescreen 1,280 x 768 resolution is well below the 1,280 x 1,024 resolution that you’d get from a standard 4:3 17in LCD monitor. The 17WL46B did seem to lock onto the analogue signal pretty well, and I didn’t notice the pixel clock drifting too much over a matter of days. What you’ve got here is a display that’s perfectly usable as a general PC monitor, but it’s not going to blow your socks off. Also, it has to be said that you can buy a larger TFT monitor, with a higher resolution and a DVI interface for considerably less than the 17WL46B.

But as I already mentioned, the 17WL46B is far more of a TV than it is a data monitor, so how does it fare in its native environment? Well, one of the first hurdles that a consumer electronics manufacturer has to get over is design – if a product doesn’t look good, no one is going to want it in their home. Thankfully, Toshiba has got this bit right, and the 17WL46B definitely looks good, finished in matt silver with a single blue LED adorning the front fascia. Below the screen is a mesh grille that hides the stereo speakers, creating a balanced look and avoiding the “big ears” appearance of screens that are flanked by speakers.

All the controls are located on the right hand side. Here you’ll find a row of seven polished silver buttons. The top large button is the power switch, next down is the TV/AV button, then the Menu button, followed by Channel up and down and Volume up and down. Of course you’ll probably be using the remote control most of the time, but occasionally you’ll find yourself using these controls, as I had to when one of my cats hid the remote.

The panel itself is a pretty decent example. The 17in diagonal physical dimensions are nothing to write home about, but it does produce a rich and vivid image while maintaining a decent viewing angle. Toshiba quotes a contrast ratio of 400:1, which isn’t anything amazing on paper, but in reality this screen outperforms its specification in this area.