This review has been edited from my original post! I received my Viewsonic LCD and have re-tested the N4. Scores and opinions have changed.
The N4, as you may or may not know, belongs to a line of stand-alone video processors made by Viewsonic. The more known product on their line of video processors is the N6. Many users on this forum have this unit as a part of their projector, and a vast majority of them love it. However, the unit is relatively expensive (160-200 US), and out of reach to some users. This is where the N4 comes in.
Priced around $100, the N4 provides some of the features of the N6 at a slightly lower cost. The unit provides S-Video, composite (RCA), coax, and audio-in and audio-out (1/4") inputs. There is a VGA Input and VGA Output so you can switch between a DVD player/game console and normal applications (Windows) on your screen. It is important to note that the N4 only supports up to 1024x768 @ 60Hz, whereas the N6 supports higher resolutions and various modes of HD.
Setup: A very easy process, just plug all the cables into the box, which are clearly marked on the unit. I connected my Xbox & PS2 using the S-video input, my Sony DVD player to the composite inputs, and also my monitor to the VGA input.
8/10
Layout & Controls: When the unit is setup, you can turn it on and start to configure it; a process that is ultimately fruitless which I will explain. Viewsonic has included a small remote control unit that resembles one used with Car CD decks. Besides being uncomfortably small, the remote has a fairly poor button layout, which includes buttons very close to the bottom of the remote.
The unit is only decently responsive to button presses on the remote.
4/10
Video Quality: Now we get to the good stuff. The question everyone is probably wondering is: "How does the N4 look on the screen compared to the N6." Well I am going to answer that. The highest resolution that the N4 supports is 1024x768 @ 60Hz, and this looks OK.
The Xbox & PS2's output in S-Video looked blurry.
I tested Tony Hawk Underground, Burnout 3, and Kingdom under Fire on Xbox, and I tested Hot Shots Golf Fore! and Gran Turismo 4 for PS2. They looked OK, worse than a normal CRT TV, the games were lacking sharpness. DVD's played on these systems looked better than games did, but still were of decent quality.
The Sony DVD player looked similar to the components hooked up using S-video, perhaps slightly worse, on screen. Screenshots/Digital photos to come soon.
The unit would be much nicer if the blurriness was lessened. But other than the slightly blurred picture, the colors and contrast seemed to be OK.
7/10
Overall: 6/10