The ViewSonic VX2025wm is a sleek, stylish 20-inch LCD display, but it is a little short on features. The package includes analog and digital cables, so the display is ready to set up out of the box. Support for analog and digital inputs means you can share the VX2025wm between two computers and save money as well as desktop space.

The VX2025wm's 20-1/10-inch screen has a native resolution of 1,680X1,050. Image quality is generally good, with accurate color reproduction, sharp contrast and good detail in highlights and shadows. Text is clear, although it is occasionally a little fuzzy at smaller font sizes. Grayscale images are smooth with little banding, and they generally don't show any color tints.

The 8-millisecond pixel response time helps reduce blurring and ghosting in video 3-D games, and we saw little evidence of either in our tests. The antiglare coating reduces reflections from background lights, and unlike some antiglare coatings on competing monitors, the VX2025wm's isn't overdone. Viewing angles of 176 degrees horizontally and vertically prevent image distortion when viewing the display off-axis, which is helpful if you review documents on-screen with colleagues.

Adjustment options are limited to tilting the display forward or back. There are no height adjustment, swivel or pivot options. If this is insufficient, the VX2025wm is VESA-compatible, but an arm or wall mount will partially cancel out the benefit of the display's budget price.

Control buttons aren't clearly labeled, but they provide quick access to the easy-to-navigate on-screen menu. The base is stable and has a cutout design that provides enough room for you to accumulate clutter on your desktop, which may be a good thing or a bad thing. The built-in rear speakers are of slightly better quality than you find with most included monitor speakers, although you will probably want to invest in a pair of standalone speakers at some point, especially for listening to music.

The ViewSonic VX2025wm is a good choice for an affordable 20-inch LCD display, as long as you don't mind its lack of features.


Pros:  Very competitive price, good image quality, analog and digital inputs, a good deal for a 20-inch LCD display despite the lack of features
Cons:  Limited features, no height adjustment option, no swivel or pivot options, no headphone jack

Warranty
3 years