Dell Ultrasharp 1900FP

WHAT'S HOT: Dell's fluidly designed 19-inch LCD sports an attractive silver bezel and an overall look similar to that of the Samsung SyncMaster 191T, one of our February 2003 Best Buys. It doesn't come with certain frills, such as a USB hub or the ability to pivot to portrait mode, but it provides razor-sharp text and lively graphics for a reasonable price of $899. The monitor also comes with 24-hour daily telephone tech support--a more generous program than most LCD vendors provide.

WHAT'S NOT: The monitor swivels via a turntable at the bottom of the base, but the edge for the base often rubs against the desktop, making adjustments nearly as clumsy as simply turning a monitor with a base that doesn't swivel. We also found the 1900FP's tilt mechanism to be a bit tight, forcing us to apply a lot of pressure to move the panel. Furthermore, the manual didn't explain the on-screen controls very well.

WHAT ELSE: The 1900FP features one of the widest horizontal viewing angles we have seen on 19-inch LCDs, measuring 153 degrees in our tests. That will make it easier for a group of people to see the screen if you use it in presentations, for example.

The 1900FP's thin silver bezel is a bit swankier than the standard white or beige.

UPSHOT: Impressive image quality and a stylish design make the 1900FP a good choice for those who can do without extra features.

SUMMARY

Dell UltraSharp 1900FP $