IBM 15IN 1024x768 FLAT PANEL T560 STEALTH BLACK (IBM-6656HG2)

WHAT'S HOT: In our tests using its digital video input, this thin, black LCD displayed crisp text. The panel can be adjusted to a variety of angles, including flat against its base, convenient if you're toting it around on sales calls or transporting it from room to room.

WHAT'S NOT: Though its price has dropped by more than $250 since we first reviewed it, the T560 still costs more than most competing models we've reviewed, and it lacks some extras that less-expensive monitors have.

Its pixel response time--45 ms--is slower than that of competing models, most of which clock in at 25 ms. A slower response time can cause fast-moving images in games and videos to streak and ghost.

WHAT ELSE: Colors looked realistic in test photos but weren't as vibrant or rich as those we saw on the Sony SDM-X52 or the NEC MultiSync L1560M.

On our test unit, the hinge that holds the bezel in place allowed us to slide the panel smoothly and easily into several different angles. Plus, it can pivot into portrait mode, good for surfing the Web or working with legal-size documents.

A large, well-illustrated, multiple-language manual accompanies the panel; it includes sections on troubleshooting common problems and making on-screen adjustments.

UPSHOT: Great for corporate employees who work on lots of text documents, the T560 also has the portability to be a good presentation tool.

SUMMARY

IBM T560 $