LaCie PHOTON19VISION

LaCie's first 19-inch LCD, the Photon19vision, has the features you'd expect from years of experience in monitor-making--and with good reason. A frequent PC World chart contender, LG Electronics, made the panel for this monitor. Devotees of LG displays may recognize the LightView screen presets, which address not only the type of image on view, but also the ambient lighting conditions. The plain-language labels, such as Day/Text and Night/Photo, can be very useful for users who want to optimize their monitor for particular tasks and don't think of color temperature in terms of Kelvins.

Though the Photon19vision's cabinet and stand are a distinctive dark blue, its ergonomic adjustment options stand out among its physical attributes. The height-adjustable screen can tilt, swivel left and right, and pivot. PivotPro software is included. Two USB 1.1 ports are likely to come in handy, though they may not be as useful as faster USB 2.0 ports for newer devices.

Rich color, especially on a photo of a fruit tart, helped the Photon19vision gain a Very Good rating for graphics. It rendered our photo of people well, though some jurors noticed loss of detail in the darkest and lightest areas of the photo. Fuzzy detail in Microsoft Word and Excel documents held the monitor's rating for text to Good.

Upshot: Physical adjustments and user-friendly settings increase the value of this good--but not spectacular--monitor.

Laura Blackwell