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The Sony SDM-HS74P has the same elegant curves, glassy screen, and cord-concealing back cover as its predecessor, the SDM-HS73, but it also offers a digital input and improved graphics performance. When we tested the SDM-HS74P using its digital video interface, it treated our jury to the richest colors and sharpest detail we've seen from a 17-inch monitor recently--a slam-dunk for an Outstanding graphics rating. Though a few testers noted jaggies on the Microsoft Word screens, the text remained highly readable; the monitor's overall text rating was also Outstanding.

If you sit a comfortable distance from the SDM-HS74P its image quality improves. When very close to the screen (12 inches or closer), a few testers noticed a faint grid pattern in solidly colored areas. Most testers quickly adapted to reflections on the shiny screen, but some found it distracting at a distance of several feet, which suggests that this monitor is better suited for desktop work than for presentations.

Upshot: The elegant SDM-HS74P's graphics quality is head and shoulders above the competition, but positioning yourself a proper distance from the screen is key.

Laura Blackwell