Dell G2210t

Dell has tapped into the current focus on the economy and the environment by producing the G2210t, a $240 22-inch monitor designed for both the wallet- and green-conscious. Dell claims the display is manufactured using recycled materials, and that its cabling is free of PVC and other harmful chemicals.

But the G2210t doesn't stop there when it comes to green features: It offers several energy modes, accessed through the display's on-screen controls. You get three choices--standard, energy smart, and energy smart plus--from which to select the level of brightness and energy consumption you wish to work with. When it's switched on, a built-in ambient light sensor detects the level of brightness in the room and adjusts the screen accordingly. After dimming the lights in the room, we noticed that the sensor did adjust the screen accordingly. When we turned the lights back on, the screen scaled back its brightness.

In our image quality tests, which were conducted at the standard energy setting, the G2210 showed easy-to-read text and nice color, though on some screens we saw some dullness in photos. The display adjusts vertically, but it does not pivot. The G2210 includes VGA and DVI connectors, but omits HDMI and DisplayPort. The screen has no antireflective coating, so it is easy to view with ambient light sources and does not produce a glare.

Given its appealing price and its ability to lower energy consumption, the G2210 just might be the ideal choice for users seeking a solid display that can help curb overall costs.

--Kalpana Ettenson