NEC MultiSync LCD1760V

Text on typical business documents looked sharp, and the unit's graphics quality was another strong point. Colors on photo screens appeared lively, but in a few cases they looked overly bright and saturated--particularly reds and blues. A desktop test screen had crisp, colorful icons.

WHAT'S NOT: We didn't find much to complain about--though for its $530 price, we would have liked built-in speakers or a USB hub.

WHAT ELSE: On a gray-scale bar, which shows a panel's ability to display subtle shades of blacks and whites, the LCD1760V was less successful than others. The bars' colors seemed to blend together, rather than appearing as distinct shaded segments.

The seven control buttons are small but designed for easy use: They're legibly labeled, and they're not hard to learn--once you get the hang of exiting out of menus. Clock and phase controls, among others, are given plain English names--a help for new users.

If you do have problems with the small control buttons, the company includes a link for NaViSet software, a proprietary application that allows you to make on-screen adjustments using a keyboard and mouse.

UPSHOT: Despite its too-vivid colors, this attractive panel is a good bet for those who want a monitor for making presentations.