Review: IBM tops list of best 10 monitors

From...

By the PC World staff

(IDG) -- IBM's new 17-inch professional display, the P77, steals the limelight this month, snagging the top spot on the chart and a Best Buy. Its crisp, dark text and brilliant colors make it ideal for just about any task.

Two other new models also climb aboard: NEC-Mitsubishi's MultiSync FE700+ lands in third place with fine text and lovely graphics. The MultiSync's low price makes it especially appealing. Dell's M782 finishes at number five, with solid image quality and a moderate price. An ADI display and another NEC-Mitsubishi model fell short. Next month we'll look at 19-inch CRT displays.

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Top 10 monitors

Click monitor names for a full review.

1. IBM P77: Pricey professional model outshines its competitors with clear, detailed text and rich, lifelike colors. Controls are comprehensive but can be confusing.
2. Samsung SyncMaster 700NF: Renders sharp text and beautiful color graphics. A nifty retracting panel on the front bezel holds easy-to-use on-screen controls.
3. NEC-Mitsubishi MultiSync FE700+: Crisp text and bright colors make this inexpensive newcomer suitable for all purposes. On-screen controls require a lot of button pressing.
4. ViewSonic G75f: Text is clearly readable and colors appear well saturated. On-screen controls are well organized, but button combinations take a while to figure out. Drops $64 in price.
5. Dell M782: Displays clear, dark text and bright colors; appropriate for general home or business use. Help button in on-screen controls provides useful tips. Has a stylish black case with silver buttons.
6. Iiyama Vision Master Pro 413: Produces bright, vibrant graphics. Controls are woefully confusing. Dual, switchable inputs allow you to share the monitor. Price falls $49.
7. Compaq P720: This sleek black-and-silver monitor has eight navigation and shortcut buttons. Image quality looks great all around, with sharp text and realistic colors.
8. Sony CPD-G220S: Impressive image quality at a relatively high price. While the controls are a bit confusing, the manual explains them and includes a thorough troubleshooting section.
9. KDS XF-7i: Still boasts the lowest price on the chart. Text and graphics look generally detailed, though not outstanding. On-screen menus and documentation cover the basics.
10. Eizo Nanao FlexScan T565: Colors in photos and Web pages look lovely, and text is sharp. But far less expensive models perform even better, and tech support hours are minimal. Includes a USB hub.