ViewSonic VX500+

WHAT'S HOT: Our judges gave the VX500+ high marks for its ability to display rich colors and subtle details in photos. The monitor comes with Colorific, a software utility that helps match on-screen colors to print jobs--a plus if you work extensively with graphics. The unit's 550:1 contrast ratio is among the highest we've seen on a 15-inch LCD.

Controls for onscreen adjustments mirror those on the company's CRT models; but the 1, 2, and adjustment buttons (+ and -) are easier to see than on their CRT counterparts. All of the buttons (including those for adjusting speaker volume) are fairly easy to use, and they respond with a beep when lightly pressed.

WHAT'S NOT: In our text quality tests, the VX500+ faltered at times, even though LCD monitors are typically used for text-heavy work. On a screen containing various typefaces, the fonts and letters weren't completely smooth in some places, and judges noted sharpness at smaller type sizes. (If you run Windows XP, enabling Clear Type--which is hidden in the control panel's display menu--could help.)

The panel doesn't pivot into portrait mode, and it tilts up and down less easily than some we've seen. Also, the bezel seemed somewhat lightly constructed: We pried off the speaker panel without too much effort.

A separate AC adapter provides power to the unit. To connect VGA cables, you must remove two plates on the panel's back, complicating its setup.

WHAT ELSE: Cast in a dark silver matte finish, the VX500+'s pedestal rests on a 5.5-inch oval base. Speaker and microphone jacks are placed in the back, and a black panel that spans the bezel's bottom edge holds the unit's fixed speakers. Their sound quality is reasonably good--suitable for voice chats and streaming audio, but (like many built-in other speakers) too small for the high-decibel demands of heavy metal or a full symphony.

Standard on-screen control offerings include options for tweaking brightness and contrast levels. The VX500+ also comes with an image auto-adjust and an OSD settings lock.

UPSHOT: This is a better display for people working in the graphics arts than for those who do a lot of word processing or spreadsheet work. The built-in speakers are a plus if your desk space is tight.

SUMMARY

ViewSonic VX500+ 15-inch screen, 1024 by 768 native resolution, 14.2 by 5.5 by 13.5 inches, 8.6 pounds, active-matrix TFT panel, digital and analog inputs. Three-year warranty (including backlight); 24-hour daily toll-free tech support. $519 800/888-8583 www.viewsonic.com