ViewSonic VG2427wm

ViewSonic’s VG2427wm, a 24-inch widescreen LCD monitor, performed well in our image-quality tests. Text on a page of fonts of different sizes looked sharp, even when at a very small (6-point) size.

The VG2427wm also did a fairly good job of rendering color, though in one photo--a picnic scene with various red, green, and blue hues--we found the color to be slightly dull in comparison to other displays we’ve tested.

In our motion tests, the VG2427wm stumbled a bit, displaying some just-detectable jittering of our test image. Although the jittering was slight, it was noticeable enough that active gamers might find it distracting.

The VG2427wm’s 1920-by-1080-pixel native resolution theoretically makes it 1080p-ready and well-suited for HD content. Unfortunately, the display lacks an HDMI input, offering only DVI and VGA ports for connecting to a Mac. If you have a Mac that has only a Mini DisplayPort, you’ll need a Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter ($29). ViewSonic says that the monitor is intended for corporate and office use; but to take full advantage of its resolution, an HDMI input would seem to be a necessary feature. The VG2427wm does include three USB ports at the rear.

Four buttons on the bottom of the front bezel control the on-screen display (OSD). The power button lies at the center of the cluster of buttons, which, unfortunately, increases the likelihood that you’ll press it by accident while aiming for the button for cycling through the OSD’s menus.

The display tilts and swivels with ease. It also has a height adjustment, which works smoothly as well. Its bezel has a pleasant, charcoal-black finish.

Macworld's buying advice

The VG2427wm is a good choice for users who need a big screen for text-intensive work, but the less-than-totally-smooth video playback and the lack of an HDMI-in port may disappoint gamers and movie watchers.

[Kalpana Ettenson is a senior editor for PC World.]