Monitor takes a long time to "warm up" - stays darkened (about half-brightness) for up to 15 minutes while in use before it reaches normal brightness. it's not the computer settings, other monitor does not exhibit same problems
Computers & Internet - ViewSonic - VA721 17" LCD Monitor
Answers & Comments
Look for bad caps (leaking/bulging) as shown in my pictures:
http://s807.photobucket.com/albums/yy352/budm/Viewsonic%20VA721/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague
http://www.badcaps.net