Planar PL150M 15

WHAT'S HOT: Colors looked rich and realistic in photos, and text usually appeared sharp, though it blurred a little at smaller sizes. Our tests measured a 180-degree viewing angle for this monitor.

The Planar PL150M's controls are well organized and intuitive. You likely won't need to consult the manual--but if you do, you'll find clear definitions of all the on-screen controls. Making changes required few button presses. The base conveniently folds back to serve as a wall mount.

WHAT'S NOT: As is the case with most similarly equipped LCD monitors, the PL150M's built-in speakers sound tinny, and they distort at high volume. In addition, changing their volume takes an inordinate number of button presses. The on-screen menu is slow to disappear, and you cannot set it to time out sooner.

WHAT ELSE: No software for color adjustment comes with this LCD, and we couldn't see the difference between the monitor's two color presets.

The headphone jack is a nice feature, but it's inconveniently located on the back of the monitor. Other than the tilt hinge, which feels stiff, the base is fixed. The height isn't adjustable, and you can't swivel the screen from side to side or rotate it 90 degrees for portrait mode. The PL150M accepts only an analog video input.

Planar's toll-free phone support is limited to 11 hours on weekdays.

UPSHOT: The Planar PL150M provides good image quality in a basic, analog-only monitor.