Many LCD monitors are becoming LED backlit, with their considerably less power consumption, brighter contrast ratios and faster response times. Today we’re taking a look at one of the latest from LG, the Flatron W2486L 24-inch monitor.

The Flatron W2486L is a 24-inch monitor with a 1920x1080 (full HD 1080p) resolution, a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and a 2ms response time that’s perfect for gaming. One of the things you’ll notice right off the bat about the W2486L is how thin it is–measuring only 22mm thin. The oval base and neck of the W2486L glows in red and pink tones, complementing the red power button and touch-sensitive OSD controls on the front of the monitor. Since we’re on the subject of design, there are no height adjustments available to the user, only the ability to tilt the display 25 degrees.

On the back you’ll find two HDMI ports, a DVI-D port, analog VGA port and a headphone jack all conveniently placed on the back (as opposed to facing down like most monitors) for easy access.

LG offers a variety of unique features to the user through it’s on-screen display menus. The Smart menu allows you to turn on or off the ambient light sensor for automatically adjusting the display’s brightness, depending on the lighting in the room and an automatic monitor power-off function (set to either one or two hours). The Fun menu gives you access to 4:3 aspect ratio mode (no clue how that is fun), and three photo effect buttons with settings for Gaussian Blur, Monochrome, and Sepia. The Engine menu gives you four distinct presets (Normal, User-defined, Internet, and Movie) for color settings depending on the content you’re currently viewing.

In our testing, the OSD was painful to access, since each button is invisible and only accessible by touch. Sometimes only one menu would actually appear and we wouldn’t be able to navigate through it, and sometimes the menus wouldn’t show up at all. This could have been a defect with our model, but user reviews on various websites show that the OSD is hard to access.

In our movie playback tests, colors didn’t pop as much like on standard CCFL-based LCD panels, and appeared washed out. When we loaded up games like Battlefield 2142, there were no signs visible of lag or ghosting during fast-paced movements. The W2486L also has a cooler tone that takes a little while to get used to, and something that we wouldn’t recommend for photographers or designers who live by exact color representation.

LG also sells a smaller 22-inch version with a 1680x1050 resolution. The LG Flatron W2486L retails for around $350 depending on where you find it. As of press time, the monitor is not available from Amazon.com, only it’s smaller 22-inch brother.

Pros

• Strikingly slim design.
• Fast response time.

Cons

• Washed out colors.
• Lacks height adjustment.

A lot of cheaper monitors these days don't bother checking their power consumption, and are somewhat inefficient in power management, until today. Dell has managed to focus highly on "greener" monitors, and have released their G2210 and G2410 monitors. They took out all the steps in providing one of the greenest monitors available, packaged to help reduce the carbon footprint and made with materials that are environmentally friendly. Today we'll be taking a look at the G2210.

The G2210, as the model number implies, is a 22-inch monitor with a 1680x1050 native resolution in a 16:10 aspect ratio. The design of the display is simple, with a thin black matte bezel, and a rectangular stand. However, the only ergonomic controls available to the user are tilt adjustments – no height or pivot adjustments are available.

On the back are the DVI and VGA inputs, no USB ports or DisplayPort connections are available, but would've been a nice touch. For those looking for the nitty-gritty technology behind the display, it uses the TN or twisted-neumatic technology, usually found in lower-end displays, and not the higher-end IPS or in-plant switching technology.

Three energy modes are preset into the on-screen display: Standard, Energy Smart, and Energy Smart Plus. The energy mode display shows an energy gauge in the corner showing how much (or how little) energy you're saving. Energy Smart Plus activates a feature called dynamic dimming, which dims the backlight when the screen shows a bright image. Energy Smart uses the built-in ambient light sensor to adjust the brightness according to the available light in the room. Standard lets the user control brightness, like most monitors already in use today.

The on-screen display is also one of the nicest OSD's we've used, it's simple and straight forward, not too confusing to the end user.

In our display tests, we found that text was crisp and easy-to-read, but color in photos was somewhat dull and washed out. Given the low wallet-friendly price however, the Dell G2210 is an excellent choice for both businesses and consumers on a budget.

Find the Dell G2210 22" monitor for $167 (as of June 23rd) at the Dell Small & Medium Business Store.

Pros

• Eco- and wallet- friendly.
• Built-in energy modes.
• Simple on-screen display.

Cons

• Dull and washed out images.

Edited 6/25 at 8:42pm Pacific: Corrected grammatical errors.

We reviewed the 2707WFP 27" UltraSharp LCD from Dell last October, and we were very pleased with it's performance. Today, we're taking a quick look at the Dell SP2208WFP 22" LCD. It has a built-in webcam, and an HDMI port for connecting a high definition source. Does it lack any other features users have come to love? Read on to find out.
The SP2208WFP has a slew of inputs: the aforementioned HDMI port, a DVI-D port with HDCP, and analog VGA. The 22" monitor has a resolution of 1680x1050 with a contrast ratio of 2000:1 and a 2ms response time, excellent for gamers. You also have the ability to connect a soundbar to the bottom of the monitor, complimenting it's silver design. There's also a built-in 4-port USB 2.0 hub.

We were very fond of the monitor's color performance but we didn't like the limited viewing angle. We also didn't like that the stand wasn't height adjustable or that the monitor cannot be used in portrait mode. No ghosting was visible in our gaming performance tests, thanks to the fast 2ms response time.

It would have been nice if the panel had a higher (1920x1200) resolution for HD sources connected through the DVI or HDMI connections. The built-in webcam was a nice touch however, eliminating the need for bulky external versions.

The Dell SP2208WFP monitor is available from Dell starting at $299, a steal for those still with a huge CRT monitor.

Pros

• Built-in webcam.
• High contrast ratio and response time.
• HDMI port for connecting high definition sources.
• Great performance.

Cons

• Non-height adjustable stand.
• Limited viewing angle.

The ThinkVision L220x is the only 22-inch monitor available today with a 1920 x 1200 resolution and support for full 1080p video content. Is it up to today's standards with HDMI and DisplayPort emerging on new displays? Read on to find out.

The L220x is a business-oriented display from Lenovo that complements their ThinkCentre desktops and ThinkPad notebooks. The $500 price tag is affordable for most consumers and the display has very good performance. Thanks to its 6ms response time, the L220x is perfect for games and business alike.

One of the things you'll notice when you unpack the L220x is it's size and weight. Heavier than most 20" and 22" monitors at 17 pounds, and thicker than most in the bezel department at 2 inches deep. We didn't quite understand why Lenovo says the display is HD ready, since it doesn't have an HDMI port for connecting things like game consoles and DVD players. The L220x only has two inputs, a DVI (digital) port and a VGA (analog) port. It does however also have a 4-port powered USB hub for connecting flash drives and memory readers and a ergonomic stand that tilts, swivels, pivots, and has height adjustment.

We immediately started testing the L220x on a ThinkCentre A61 desktop, which we'll be reviewing next week and complements the L220x quite nicely. The display didn't need any adjustments out of the box whatsoever, and color was rich and vibrant. We then hooked up the monitor to our homebuilt gaming PC and tested the monitor under Call of Duty 4 and Unreal Tournament 3, both games looked great and there was no apparent blur.

Lenovo offers a three-year warranty on the L220x as well. Be ready to pay up $499 for the ThinkVision L220x at Lenovo's website or other fine online retailers.

Pros

• The only 22-inch LCD with 1920 x 1200 resolution.
• Vibrant and rich colors.
• Ergonomic and flexible stand.

Cons

• Lacking HDMI port.
• Heavy and bulky design.

Final Verdict
4 out of 5 stars.

There have been a few contenders in the 30-inch LCD range for the past couple of months: Dell, HP, and Apple. Gateway recently joined the ranks with the XHD3000 30-inch LCD and we've put it through our paces.

The XHD3000 is a 2560 x 1600 resolution display, with a plethora of inputs including HDMI, VGA, DVI, Composite, S-Video, and Component Video. The display has a response time of 6ms and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. You can view the XHD3000 from nearly any angle, thanks to the 176 degree viewing angle. The XHD3000 is also pretty heavy at a little over 27 lbs. and floats above the aluminum stand with swivel and tilt adjustment. We would have liked the ability to adjust the height of the display.

Like all the 30-inch displays on the market, the XHD3000 requires a dual-link DVI port to get the maximum resolution. If you use a single-link DVI connector, you'll be limited to a resolution of 1920 x 1280. The XHD3000 also as a built in Silicon Optix's Realta® HQV video processor, which increases video quality and clarity. Not to mention, the XHD3000 upscales all video to 1600p. Gateway includes a speaker bar with the 30-inch display as well and a universal remote control.

We tested the Gateway XHD3000 using a variety of sources, including a Canon HV20 HDV camcorder and the HP xw8600 professional workstation (which we'll be reviewing in a couple of weeks.) Everything looked stunning and we were speechless at to how gorgeous this display really looks in real life. Colors were very accurate, whether it be from still digital photography to HD movies. This is a godsend for multitaskers who use programs like Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Excel on a daily basis.

The sound quality from the speaker bar was also very impressive, delivering great bass and full-sounding mids and highs - compared to some other smaller-scale speakers which sound tinny and low in bass.

For those who can justify the price of $1699, the Gateway XHD3000 is a great investment for those who need the most screen real estate whether at work or play.

Pros

• Built-in video processor.
• 1000:1 contrast ratio and 6ms response time.
• Plethora of inputs.
• Included speaker bar with great sound.
• Stunning image quality for both work and play.

Cons

• No height adjustment.
• Expensive.

Final Verdict
4.5 out of 5 stars.

Dell has always been a key player in the LCD market, providing consumers with reliable, cost-effective, and full-featured models that suit the need of graphics designers and budget computer users. Today, we're taking a look at one of their highest end models, the 2707WFP 27" UltraSharp widescreen flat panel monitor.

After you unbox the 2707WFP, you'll be amazed at how good it looks without even being turned on. It almost looks like it's something Apple designed (after removing all the protective tape and plastic, of course). The 2707WFP has a plethora of inputs: DVI (with HDCP), S-Video, Composite, Component, and last, but not least, analog VGA. On the sides, you'll find a 9-in-2 media card reader for downloading photos from your memory card, and 4 USB 2.0 ports (2 on the side, 2 in back) for connecting webcams, MP3 players, and other devices.

For gaming, the Dell sports a 6ms response time that prevents ghosting and smearing of images on screen, and a high contrast ratio of 1000:1 for excellent color. The native resolution of 1920x1200 provides you with plenty of screen real estate for photos, videos, and other applications on your computer. Dell's TrueColor technology provides a 92% color gamut, which provides rich colors for video and photo editing, perfect for videographers and photographers alike.

A feature I was fond of in the design was the height adjustment, which was similar to the iMac G4's gooseneck design of 2002, as you could literally adjust it with the push of a finger. One common feature in most flat panel displays  is missing in the 2707WFP and that is the ability to rotate the display in portrait mode.  The stand of the 27" also does a good job at hiding the cables that typically clutter your desk.

In our testing, we played various high-definition content including movie trailers and television shows which looked bright and crisp on the display. In gaming, we tested the 2707WFP using games such as Flight Simulator X and Company of Heroes, both of which looked great and had no ghosting thanks to the aforementioned 6ms response time. The built-in picture in picture function worked great, I had two computers plugged into the monitor, with one playing full screen video and one playing a game, the monitor handling it flawlessly. The 2707WFP isn't just fun and games either, Dell says the monitor is ideal for business use and perfect for boardroom presentations and desktop publishing.

I couldn't have been happier with the Dell 2707 27" UltraSharp widescreen flat panel monitor, it is by far the best monitor we've tested thus far, and the extra features make up for the missing ones. It is available at Dell's website for just under $1,100, a bit pricey for my budget and twice the price of Dell's 24" offering, but if you're looking for the best of the best, by all means, go for it.

Pros

• Plethora of analog and digital inputs.
• Fast 6ms response time for gaming.
• Stunning design.
• Bright, crisp images.
• Built-in card reader.

Cons

• Expensive.
• Does not rotate into landscape mode.

Final Verdict

4.5 out of 5 stars.

EDITOR'S CHOICE

LCD monitors have become bigger in size since the first displays marked a new era in computer monitors just over a decade ago. Today, we'll be taking a look at two similarly priced 24" LCDs from NEC (above left) and HP (above right).

HP LP2465

Most of HP's largest monitors are marketed towards businesses, and the LP2465 is no different. It offers two DVI inputs but no VGA input - we have no clue why they made this decision, but it was a bad choice. Most business computers only provide a VGA output and using a DVI monitor would require the use of an adapter.

The LP2465 has a high 1000:1 contrast ratio, and a response time of 6ms - which is great for gaming. The screen can be tilted, swiveled, and adjusted height-wise as well as pivoted for portrait viewing. HP was also kind enough to build in a 4 port USB hub.

In performance, the LP2465 was amazing. Movies and games looked great on the display and color was accurate. In addition, since this is an office monitor, text looked sharp and crisp.

One feature missing left us somewhat disappointed, a built-in memory card reader. For $700+, this monitor could have offered more.

NEC MultiSync LCD2470WNX

The LCD2470WNX is NEC's biggest monitor in the MultiSync 70 series and it doesn't disappoint. Unlike the HP LP2465, the NEC has both DVI and VGA inputs, and offers the same built-in 4 port USB hub.

The NEC also had a 1000:1 contrast ratio, and a 6ms response time. It also had the same amount of brightness and costs nearly the same! We loved the built-in cable management system of the 2470WNX as it pretty much disguised the cables from our view. NEC was also smart enough to build in a four-way ergonomic stand which allows for pivot, height adjustments, and a very nice swivel function which is very similar to a lazy susan.

Out of the box, the display required no adjustment to the settings with NEC's No Touch Auto Adjust feature. Inside the box, the 2470WNX came with all required cables, no need to spend more on a DVI or USB cable.

Performance-wise, the 2470WNX is truly 'the' best LCD display we've ever used. No ghosting, great performance, all in a sleek black or white package. The only thing missing is a built-in memory card reader, but for what it lacks, the NEC LCD2470WNX makes up in other features.

Final Verdicts

HP LP2465

Pros

• Excellent performance.
• High contrast ratio.
• Fast response time for games.

Cons

• No VGA connecton.
• No memory card reader.

Final Verdict
4 out of 5 stars.

NEC MultiSync LCD2470WNX

Pros

• Great performance.
• Nice ergonomic stand.
• Intuitive cable management.
• No adjustment needed.

Cons

• No memory card reader.

Final Verdict
5 out of 5 stars.