AOC 15IN LCD 29MM 1024X768.75HZ LM520 SILVER/CHARCOAL (AOC International-LM520)

WHAT'S HOT: At a mere $299, the newest flat-panel monitor from AOC has the enviable distinction of being one of the lowest-priced LCDs around. You'd be hard-pressed to find a 15-inch panel that costs less than this. And it earned the highest graphics quality score among LCDs we tested via a VGA connection in March 2003. Although it didn't place at the very top, it was quite good for viewing photos or graphics on Web pages.

WHAT'S NOT: Text quality isn't the LM520's strong point. Its fonts and letters were legible but not as crisp as those on many competing models. We saw jaggy edges and uneven focus on some screens, too.

A low price often signals cost cutting on the production side. In this instance, the panel's gray-and-black case didn't feel as solidly constructed as those of pricier displays, nor was its industrial design as stylish or current. AOC's tech support--12 hours daily during the work week--falls short of its competitors', as well; many LCD vendors provide around-the-clock phone support.

WHAT ELSE: For adjusting screen images via the on-screen controls, the LM520 includes a large dial in the center of its bezel. It has common controls--for example, those for adjusting the vertical and horizontal size of the image. Easy to use, it also doubles as a navigation wheel to cycle through the on-screen menu.

You won't find many features beyond the basics: This panel doesn't swivel on its base or pivot into landscape mode.

Paper documentation consists of a rudimentary setup sheet that also offers a few troubleshooting tips. A more thorough manual, which includes a description of on-screen controls and how to use them, can be found online at the company's Web site. A short manual would have been handier.

UPSHOT: Though its construction feels a little flimsy, this bargain-basement LCD offers acceptable image quality for basic graphics viewing.

SUMMARY

AOC LM520 $