BenQ FP91V+

Most glossy screens show remarkably crisp text and saturated color, and the bright, "polish type" screen on the BenQ FP91V+ is no exception. On our graphics tests, only the pricey Sony SDM-HS95, performed better. On text, the BenQ, though less of a standout, ranked it in the upper third of recently tested 19-inch LCDs. Overall, the FP91V+ received ratings of Very Good in both text and graphics.

With its fancy speakers and two movie modes, the FP91V+ is clearly a model for the entertainment-minded. The attached speaker bar produces richer, louder sound than I've heard from most monitors. In addition to having standard color presets, the FP91V+ offers two preconfigured movie modes. These can be useful for getting the best out of a training video or a movie trailer, but we haven't yet seen a monitor that could replace a TV for an evening's entertainment.

The FP91V+, like every other recently reviewed 19-inch LCD, received an Average rating in our motion tests. Vendors report response time in different ways: In the case of the FP91V+, the 12-millisecond response time quoted refers to the rise-and-fall, or black-to-white, response time. Its intergray, or gray-to-gray, response time clocks in at 6 milliseconds.

You can adjust contrast and volume on the FP91V+ with control buttons, saving you the dive into on-screen menus. It's a good thing the FP91V+ is easy to use, because BenQ's ungenerous support hours--8 hours on weekdays, 0 on weekends--could make getting help a chore. Providing only workweek support on a leisure product is a logical disconnect, one that I hope BenQ will rethink for future monitors.

When we tested this unit, it was not yet available for sale in the United States. BenQ assures us that it will be available here by the time you read this review.

The BenQ FP91V+ sports a glossy, bright screen that makes graphics look great, but the stingy support policy leaves you alone on weekends.

Laura Blackwell