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.