ViewSonic VG930m

ViewSonic's (as of January 12, 2007) VG930m is a good, utilitarian display, though it has some design quirks.

The VG930m performed well in the text section of our image quality tests, showing particularly sharp text in a Microsoft Word document and on a page of multisize fonts. In the graphics portion of our tests, however, the VG930m didn't make as strong a showing. Colors seemed slightly bland and muted, though some hues in a photo of a fruit tart looked realistic.

You can access the VG930m's on-screen adjustments via buttons that are inset into the side of the bezel. Though options are not plentiful, we had no trouble maneuvering through the menus to make changes.

The VG930m tilts, but it rocks a bit when it's moved. Swiveling the model entails moving the base as well, though it does swivel smoothly. The display does not pivot. Speakers built into the bottom of the display are adequate for system sounds, but you'll want to invest in a set of stand-alone speakers for movies and music. The VG930m does not have built-in USB ports.

The accompanying user guide is on a CD. It explains what each on-screen adjustment does and how to use it, as well as providing general troubleshooting information.

Overall, the VG930m's strong representation of text makes it a good candidate for general office work.

Size (inches): 19
Resolution (pixels): 1280 by 1024
Contrast Ratio: 700:1
Adjustments: Multiple adjustments
Weight (pounds): 13.3
Interfaces: Analog and digital

Samsung SyncMaster 305T

The SyncMaster 305T performed well in our image quality tests, showing sharp text and nuanced color. Jurors were impressed with the 305T's rendering of text in a Microsoft Word document, as well as in a screen of repeating E's and M's.

The 305T showed a couple of photos in which colors appeared a bit muted in comparison with the other displays in the test group, but color representation seemed good overall.

This SyncMaster has a smooth black bezel and a circular stand. It tilts and swivels smoothly, though it is not height-adjustable, and it does not pivot. It is wall-mountable.

The only control it has to adjust the screen is one for brightness--buttons on the front of the bezel increase and decrease the brightness of the display, and that's it. Currently no on-screen components are available to support the 305T's high resolution of 2560 by 1600, but Samsung states that future versions of this model should include an on-screen display for adjustments.

Two downstream USB ports reside on the back of the display. Samsung also includes a power-saver mode--this switches the monitor to a low-power status when it has not been in use for some time.

At $1800, this SyncMaster is certainly pricey, but it falls well within the range of what other 30-inch LCDs cost. If you seek a monitor on which to spread out and see lots of documents at once, the 305T would be a fine choice.

Size (inches): 30
Resolution (pixels): 2560 by 1600
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Adjustments: Multiple adjustments
Weight (pounds): 26.5
Interfaces: Digital only

HP LP3065

HP's 30-inch LCD monitor, the LP3065, turned in impressive image quality in our tests. It also has a nice design and unique features that set it apart. Like other 30-inch displays, it's pricey, but it might be worth it if your work demands lots of screen real estate.

The LP3065 performed well in our text and graphics tests, showing extremely sharp text in both a Microsoft Word document and an Excel spreadsheet. Black text on a white background was quite easy to read, even at very small font sizes. However, because of the display's high resolution of 2560 by 1600, icons and text can appear rather small. You can remedy this by increasing the font display size in Windows.

Colors on the LP3065 looked bright and lively, both in photographs and on a screen of a Web site. Again, its high resolution helped the display excel at showing fine detail.

With three DVI ports, the LP3065 is more versatile than other displays--it can be hooked up to several PCs at once using a digital connection, which is a nice extra. All of the ports are dual-link DVI, so they all require a dual-graphics card setup. If you don't already have such a graphics card, you'll have to shell out for one to accommodate this monitor.

The LP3065 lacks an on-screen display (OSD) for adjusting the image--because no components yet exist that support its high resolution. HP states that future versions of the LP3065 will include an OSD. The only adjustment you can make is to brightness--several buttons on the front of the unit dial brightness up or down.

The monitor has a nice streamlined design, with a thin black bezel and a silver stand. It can tilt and swivel, but not pivot. It's also height-adjustable and wall-mountable.

But the LP3065 costs $1699, which is quite a bit for a display. Granted, you do get excellent image quality and lots of room to spread out in, and if you crave viewing detail in your photos and documents, the LP3065 might be worth the splurge.

Size (inches): 30
Resolution (pixels): 2560 by 1600
Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
Adjustments: Multiple adjustments
Weight (pounds): 29.5
Interfaces: Digital only