ViewSonic’s latest LCD monitor is a 20.1-inch widescreen model suitable for both work and play. While it doesn’t produce the best image quality available - and its connectivity options are basic - the built-in speakers and widescreen aspect ratio make it a relatively attractive offering for those tight on deskspace or those running a home theatre PC (HTPC).
The first widescreen monitor in ViewSonic’s VX series (designed for consumers and enterprises), the silver-and-black VX2025wm (£320) boasts a 16:10 display format and is equipped with ‘invisible’ bezel-mounted speakers to deliver an all-round authentic multimedia experience. And due to its elegant (if a little boxy) styling, it is sure to make a design statement in any modern setting. Having said that, the screen’s stand doesn’t swivel and it can’t be raised, but it can be wall mounted.
With horizontal and vertical viewing angles of 176 degrees as well as a relatively high contrast and brightness specifications of 800:1 and 300cd/m² respectively, the VX2025wm (485x201x441mm, 7.7kg) should suit all but the most demanding graphics users and gamers. Indeed, in our tests the screen was far brighter and crisper than most laptop displays we’ve reviewed, and is certainly as colourful and fast as the current crop of widescreen displays.
The widescreen display offers plenty of space (1680x1050 pixels) to view wide spreadsheets at a single glance or to display two A4-sized pages next to each other. What’s more, even the sidebars will find ample room to be displayed. As such, this model will directly help to increase productivity. There’s no pivot functionality, however, so you’ll have to look elsewhere if you need a screen that spins round to view documents in portrait format.
Its widescreen format, integrated speakers and a speedy response time of only 8ms (grey-to-grey, 16ms white-black-white) also helps to ensure that movies and games zip along and are free from distracting black bars or irritating blurs. We tested the screen with both action-packed DVD-Movies and FPS games, and it held its own very well.
The biggest disappointment with the VX2025wm is its basic connectivity. While it’s equipped with both an analogue and digital (DVI) inputs, which is ideal if you intend to replace you current computer screen or add a second display to your laptop, but the lack of S-Video, USB, SCART or HDMI connectors means it can’t used as a regular TV for hi-def videogaming or movie watching.
Software supplied with the screen is relatively comprehensive, allowing you to setup up the display and take control of SRGB colour management. On-screen controls are a little more basic allowing you to alter horizontal and vertical size and position, contrast, sharpness, brightness, input source, and colour temperature (sRGB, 9300K, 6500K, 5400K, user colour).
The OSD and power lock prevent accidental changes to your monitor settings, while the Kensington security port offers theft deterrence. ViewSonic also bundles a power cable, 15-pin VGA video cable, DVI cable, Quick Start Guide, and ViewSonic Wizard CD-ROM. The display comes with a 3-year limited warranty on LCD, parts and labour.
Switched off, the ViewSonic VX2025wm looks equally businesslike and an understated multimedia centre, thanks to its solid-footed design and robust build quality. It’s not in the same league as Sony when it comes to chic consumer appeal, but once you fire up the 20.1-inch widescreen display you’ll discover vivid colour reproduction and sharp text aplenty.
Images looked sharp, but subtle shadows and highlights sometimes struggled. Both text and graphics were displayed crisp and cleanly, and its resolution of 1920x1200 pixels is generally high enough for single-GPU systems. Video quality was excellent with very little motion artifacting, though it couldn’t match the motion display quality of a good CRT.
Overall the ViewSonic VX2025wm displayed excellent still images and reasonably good moving images. It’s just a shame the speakers aren’t very powerful, the connectivity ports are lacking and it can’t pivot.
[7.5]
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