ViewSonic VG2230wm

You might think that being the priciest LCD here, ViewSonic’s VG2230wm would also be the most packed with goodness. In fact, when it comes to features, it falls somewhere between the Dell and HP models. Its traditional antiglare, antireflective screen is framed by a stylish but subdued bezel complete with a built-in speaker (pshaw!); DVI and VGA ports; and a smooth-as-silk telescoping neck, lazy-Susan stand, and tilt function for ample adjustability. The OSD provides sufficient user-control of the picture, but trying to work the buttons along the outer right side of the bezel is a lesson in frustration.

The VG2230wm does rise to the top of the heap in DisplayMate, however, showing no difficulties with the utility’s various test screens. Prominent backlight seepage along the top and bottom edges of the screen, though, isn’t anything to brag about. And we’re especially perturbed that the VG2230wm doesn’t feature HDCP—we could watch copy-protected HD DVDs only through the analog port. ViewSonic says HDCP will be “cut in” over the next few months as new units are produced.