NEC MultiSync LCD1980FXi

NEC's MultiSync LCD 1980FXi is all about function over form. The 19" monitor sports an extremely basic design, with a thin black bezel edging the screen and otherwise blocky appearance. Although the 1980FXi isn't as sleek as most other 19" monitors, it boasts a stunning on-screen image, great ergonomic adjustment and both VGA and DVI inputs (you can switch between the two).

The screen runs in a native resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels and measures 40 x 20 x 50cm. It weighs in at 9kg, making it one of the heavier screens around, but the base is solid and it doesn't move around on the desk.

The ergonomic enhancements are outstanding: the unit employs a telescopic stand that includes internal springs to keep the screen floating. It's possible to grab the screen and move it up and down to suit different users, and the monitor face is mounted on a ball joint for even more movement. What's more, the 19" screen can pivot between landscape and portrait modes, making it ideal for people editing long passages of text on screen.

Seven buttons adorn the bottom bezel, providing quick and effective navigation of the on-screen menu. The auto-adjustment feature does a reasonable job of setting up the monitor, but with a little extra tweaking we found the image quality soared. Internal 10-bit colour correction ensures that images are rich. In fact, brightness, contrast and colour balance are all excellent, and the screen is ideal for workers looking at images all day--graphic designers and CAD operators take note. NEC offers a software package called GammaComp that allows the user to define a gamma curve. There's no direct ICC support, but the curve lets the knowledgeable user fine-tune the image ad infinitum. The screen brightness also be adjusted based on ambient light if desired.

There are numerous extra elegant touches to help make this monitor appeal to different markets. One is support for tile mode, where you can use a group of 1980FXi screens to display a single image at a trade show or public demonstration. Of course, the screen features a VESA mount.

NEC provides a three-year warranty, which you would expect for a monitor in this price bracket. The image quality and ergonomic adjustments more than justify the price.