The Sony PremierPro SD-P234 is a sleek, stylish display that's heavier than it looks, although the weight of its round base helps keep the unit stable and wobble-free.

Like most modern displays, the SD-P234 supports plug-and-play, so it's easy to set up. The display automatically adjusts its image position and sharpness when it picks up the signal from your video card, so it's ready to use with almost no effort on your part.

Adjustment options are limited. You can tilt the display 5 degrees forward and 30 degrees backward, and swivel it 175 degrees right or left, but there are no height adjustment options and no pivot options. The SD-P234 is VESA mount-compatible, so you can add an arm or wall mount for additional adjustment options.

Control buttons are hidden in a control panel on the right bezel. When you touch the control panel, the buttons light up and then disappear again when not in use. A backlit Sony logo on the bottom bezel spoils the sleekness of the display, but you can turn the logo off if you find it annoying.

The OSD (on-screen display) is easy to use, and lets you adjust brightness, contrast, zoom, horizontal/vertical size and centering, and other settings, and it lets you access the help menu.

Sony is known for the quality of its displays, and the SD-P234 doesn't disappoint. Images are bright, text is crisp (even at small text sizes), contrast is excellent, and colors are vivid and true to life. The display has an optimal resolution of 1,920X1,200, so not only can you display two document pages side by side, you can actually read them. Viewing angles of 176 degrees horizontal and vertical help eliminate blurring and color shift if you view the display off-center. The 16-millisecond pixel response time helps eliminate ghosting in fast-moving images, including video and games.

The SDM-P234 includes an audio input, two HD-15 analog ports, and a DVI-D port, but no USB hub or S-video input. There are no built-in speakers, which isn't much of a loss considering the quality of most integrated speakers.

The package includes a power cord, an analog cable, a DVI-D cable, an audio cable, and a CD with drivers and an electronic user guide.

Pro:  Above-average image quality. Digital and analog inputs.
Con:  No S-video input or USB hub. No pivot options.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Sony Electronics
3300 Zanker Road
San Jose, CA 95134
800-236-1877
http://www.sonystyle.com

Warranty
3 years, parts, labor, and backlight