Photograph: Rick RiznerThe PC World Test Center evaluated 20-inch wide-screen LCD monitors for the first time this month. These roomy displays support everything from clear, sharp text quality to enjoyable TV watching. We analyzed Acer's AL2051W and Ferrari F-20 models, Asus's PW201, Dell's UltraSharp 2007WFP, NEC's MultiSync 20WMGX2, Philips's 200WB7, Sony's MFM-HT205, and ViewSonic's VX2025wm.
On the glossy screen of the NEC MultiSync 20WMGX2, text looked crisp, colors appeared delectably saturated, and photos were nicely detailed. Not just a monitor, this NEC houses an NTSC (analog) TV tuner and composite, component, and S-Video inputs. The TV image quality doesn't live up to that of a full-fledged TV, but it's fine for the news. The included TV remote control is a convenient touch.
The $539 Asus PW201 has the same inputs (but no TV tuner), plus a built-in, vertically swiveling Webcam. It's one of the few wide screens we tested that offers not only tilt adjustment but posture-saving height adjustment, landscape-to-portrait pivot, and swivel as well.
Our image-quality champ, the $470 Acer Ferrari F-20, is a looker in both design and picture quality. There's no denying that the F-20's shiny black-and-red cabinet and stand look fantastic. Unfortunately, the F-20 provides a DVI connection only through a separate box that mounts on the rear of the unit. Still, like an exotic sports car, this Acer model offers great performance (albeit with a few quirks).
The $469 Philips 200WB7 focuses on productivity aids, such as all four physical adjustments. Many office workers won't need to use the included screen adjustment software, as the 200WB7 received the highest score on our real-world Microsoft Word test.
Dell's $488 UltraSharp 2007WFP comes with the full range of physical adjustments, plus composite and S-Video inputs. At default settings, the 2007WFP proved a letdown for photos: Detail eluded the dark areas, and skin tones appeared orange. Choosing the correct image mode for the content type made a huge improvement.
Of those that missed the chart, Acer's $409 AL2051W slipped due to a dearth of features and support hours. ViewSonic's $380 VX2025wm is very easy to use, and Sony's $855 MFM-HT205 offers the same range of inputs and TV features as the NEC does (plus a comfortably curved remote); the generally good image quality of these two didn't suffice in this competitive arena.
Find the Very Latest Monitor Charts
Click on the links below for the latest online LCD monitors rankings or a comprehensive list of all monitors we've tested.
- Most current Top 20-Inch Wide-Screen Monitors chart
- Most current Top 23-Inch and Larger Wide-Screen Monitors chart
- Most current Top 17-Inch LCD Monitors chart
- Most current Top 19-Inch LCD Monitors chart
- All Monitors
Top 20-Inch Wide-Screen LCD Monitors From the August 2006 Issue of PC World Magazine
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