VERDICT
Given its inexpensive price it’s ideal for those who want a high-end display for movies, gaming, or design work
PROS
Sleek design; bright & crisp image quality; no ghosting; ‘invisible’ stereo speakers
CONS
Backlight bleeds slightly; stand wobbles; no height adjustment; no HDMI port
COMPANY
ViewSonic
http://www.viewsoniceurope.com/UK/
We have long been fans of ViewSonic monitors. While some claim the company’s logo is a synonym for cheap, cheap, cheap, we’ve always found the monitors to have reasonable build quality (not the best, but far from the worst), excellent connectivity, and well above par performance. ViewSonic is a pioneer too, including innovative features (such as an iPod dock) that other companies can only dream of. Thankfully the VX2262wm continues this trend, combining performance and features.
Building on its heritage of delivering innovative display products to the mainstream market, the VX2262wm (508x440x203mm, 7.7kg) is a smart looking monitor. Aesthetically pleasing thanks to its glossy black bezel and silver accents, the 22-incher even manages to hide a couple of speakers and touts an industry-leading 20000:1 contrast ratio – ideal for mixing business with pleasure. The only disappointments are the lack of dedicated HDMI and S-Video ports (there’s only one RGB analogue and one DVI-D port), in addition to the non-height adjustable stand. In typical ViewSonic fashion, the cable tidy at the back of the display is pretty basic and of low quality. In fact, our review monitor’s cable tidy cover was broken!
For consumers looking for a mid-size display, the VX2262wm provides a sizable viewing area to help increase productivity. The widescreen monitor includes a super clear panel that displays rich black levels and impressive colour quality. The monitor also combines a speedy 2ms response time, 1680×1050 native resolution and 300 ANSI Lumens brightness (typical) to deliver fluid video and gaming performance. This feature set is also ideal for movie production, design and engineering applications, though viewing angles of 170° horizontal and 150° vertical are less accommodating than competing models.
Not only do the integrated 2-Watt stereo speakers create a contemporary look, but ViewSonic has improved the clarity and sound quality with the inclusion of SRS WOW HD software, which is activated by installing SRS Audio Soundbox (SAS) utility that comes with the monitor. This enhancement extends the frequency range of the speakers and allows for better response and sound performance. The speakers still can’t compete with their desktop counterparts, but they are more than good enough for casual users looking to save on desk space and energy consumption.
Managing the monitor is a pain, thanks mainly to the four hidden buttons on the bottom of the bezel. Not only do you have to run a finger along the bottom of the bezel to locate a button, but you’re never quite sure which one to press as the labelling/icons are virtually invisible. Once you do manage to invoke the on-screen display (OSD), the range of customisation is relatively good. You can adjust image adjust, brightness, contrast, input select (analogue or digital), and even colour (sRGB, 9300K, 7500K, 6500K-default, 5400K, user colour-RGB).
Manual image adjust even lets you tinker with horizontal/vertical image size and position, as well as fine tune sharpness, dynamic contrast, and aspect ratio. In addition, it has a separate mode setting to enable dynamic contrast. You can select the response time from three different settings on the OSD: Standard, Advanced, and Ultra Fast. Thankfully there’s a memory recall, should you get carried away, and you can view useful information including resolution, horizontal/vertical frequency, pixel clock, model and serial number.
The VX2262wm doesn’t break down barriers nor set new benchmarks in display technology, but it certainly brings games and movies to life. Encased in an ultra-sleek chassis and packing in a lot of technology, the VX2262wm offers a great balance of performance and price. Of course you’ll be able to find monitors with better image quality and a greater range of connectivity options, but for the high-end home user the VX2262wm is outstanding value. It even has a 1680×1050 resolution, which is higher than some similarly-priced monitors, as well as a 16:10 aspect ratio. It’s a shame the stand can’t be raised or lowered for a more comfortable viewing experience, and that the cable tidy sucks. Also, the backlight bleeds around the edges slightly, but how often do you sit looking at a blank screen?
