The VX1945wm widescreen LCD computer monitor is part of ViewSonic's ViewDock line, and it integrates music, video and photos into a single device. The most unusual feature of the VX1945wm is the built-in iPod dock. Additionally, the VX1945wm incorporates an eight-in-one memory card reader, speakers and a subwoofer, a microphone and a four-port USB hub, with one port on the back of the stand and three ports on the front. That's a lot of extras for a 19-inch widescreen display.

Your eyes will be immediately drawn to the base, which houses the iPod dock, but there is a lot more to see here. The VX1945wm has a typical native resolution of 1,440X900. This isn't enough to support 1,080i and 1,080p HD signals, but it's more than adequate for the popular 720p HD format.

You'll probably want to quickly turn down the brightness controls, rather than don shades. Contrast is above average, and the VX1945wm delivers decent performance in the darkest blacks and brightest whites. The 5-millisecond response time practically guarantees good motion performance, with few annoying artifacts in games or video.

The VX1945wm supports analog (VGA) and digital (DVI) formats, and an audio line-in drives the two speakers built into the display's lower bezel. The iPod dock can handle almost any iPod, thanks to a selection of included docking adapters. Power for the ViewDock stand can be controlled separately from the display, so you can charge your iPod without turning on the VX1945wm.

The VX9145wm is remarkably versatile, with good color fidelity and a very fast response time. The wide bottom bezel houses the two stereo speakers and all display controls. The five buttons are arranged in an arc. One button controls power, while the other four serve multiple purposes, depending on what mode the display is in. We like having controls on the front of the display for easy access, but we prefer multiple buttons to multifunction buttons, particularly when the various functions aren't well detailed via names or icons. On the other hand, the onscreen display is uncomplicated and easy to navigate.

The ViewDock is also straightforward. Drop an iPod into the dock, and the iPod syncs with your iTunes library and charges. You can control the iPod from the iPod screen, using the dock for power and a connection to the built-in speakers. The speakers are surprisingly good, but don't plan on them serving as your main speaker system, as they aren't capable of distortion-free high volumes.

The ViewSonic VX1945wm widescreen monitor is a decent multimedia system, if you don't mind trading a few adjustment capabilities for the built-in iPod dock and other extras.


Pros:  Fast response times, good image quality, built-in iPod dock, iPod can be charged without turning on the display
Cons:  Limited video inputs and adjustment options

Warranty
3 years, limited