Monitor is still the most important man-machine interface, a device that delivers visually everything that is being carried out inside the computer. There are plenty of categories for different monitor uses: gaming, office, graphic design and movie. To help you quickly identify the right monitor for the summer of 2011, we have compiled a selection of models based on the category.

For Office

A few things are important when choosing a LCD monitor for office uses: low power consumption which ensures low long-term operational cost. The other is ergonomic factor, which ensure comfort during prolonged uses.

Samsung BX2240W

If you are looking for an ergonomic monitor for office use with no unneeded features, you will find Samsung BX2240W to be quite acceptable. The 22-inch screen display has a resolution of 1680 x 1050 pixels and a ratio of 16:10, which allow comfortable viewing of web pages or documents. The monitor features a height adjustable stand and a pivotable base that can swivel for 90°, which has the ability to tilt up and down. The BX2240W adopts LED backlight technology to improve contrast and reduce energy consumption significantly. In short, the only downside is the lack of an integrated USB hub. Note that the model has the same price with Samsung BX2240, a full-HD monitor (16:9).

Pros:

– Ergonomic features

– Matte panel / LED backlight

– Low power consumption and price

Cons:

– No USB port

– No speaker

– No Full-HD capability

Philips P-Line 235PL2ES

Philips employs an environmentally-friendly sensor called PowerSensor, which detects the presence of user (the brightness drops to 20% if there is nobody in front of the display), LED backlight performance is well optimized and no mercury is used during the manufacturing process. The interface is neatly designed, it has height adjustable stand and pivotable base, USB port is located on the edge and along with two 1.5 W speakers on each side. All this with a 23-inch screen size, which is full HD and HDCP compatible!

Pros:

– PowerSensor and 22.4 W of maximum power consumption

– Good ergonomics

– Full HD resolution

Cons:

– Only 1 USB port

– Inadequate contrast ratio

NEC MultiSync E231W

As an alternative to Philips monitor, the MultiSync E231W is also anxious to save the planet, earning both EPEAT Gold and Energy Star 5.0. It has a TN 23-inch screen size, a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, LED backlight, and as a further effort to save energy, it relies on an ambient light sensor. It has height adjustable stand and pivotable base. However, some users complained that the color setting is not quite right by default, but if you use it only for basic office needs, it is not something you should worry about.

Pros:

– Eco Friendly

– Good ergonomic factors

– Full HD resolution and 3 year warranty

Cons:

– Inaccurate default color settings

– No USB port

For Image editing/graphic design

When it comes to image editing or graphic design, the display quality is a paramount consideration. A monitor with inaccurate color setting will distort the image and can ruin your work.

Samsung SyncMaster F2380M

This screen is released on early 2010, but it is still of value today. Especially since its price falls considerably. It has a 23 inches screen, 1920 x 1080 resolution, providing uniformity and generous viewing angles. More than that, this screen provides an excellent contrast ratio and a decent color setting by default. It has height adjustable stand and pivotable base. The F2380M features two 3W speakers, unfortunately, the power consumption is quite high.

Pros:

– Wide viewing angles

– Good color setting and contrast

– Ergonomics

Cons:

– A response time of only 8ms

– 45W power consumption

LG Flatron IPS231P-BN

The Flatron IPS231P-BN is a promising model. It will appeal to photo enthusiasts with its 23” IPS display. As a bonus, it has excellent ergonomics, with height adjustable stand and swivel rotating base. Note that the LED backlight helps maintain relatively lower power consumption despite the IPS technology, at about 35W

Pros:

– IPS LED display

– Advanced Ergonomics features and 2 speakers

– Attractive price

Cons:

– Tighter viewing angles

– No USB port

Asus PA246Q

Asus is not really geared up to photography, however it seems to be trying to catch up with the Pro Art PA246Q. It uses an IPS display for wider viewing angles. Asus claims that its screen can display 98% of Adobe RGB profile! Additionally, it has a perfectly designed ergonomics features, two USB 3.0 ports and a memory card reader. Unfortunately, it is both expensive and requires high power consumption

Pros:

– 24” IPS display at 1920 x 1200

– Advanced monitor calibration

– Advanced ergonomics and many features

Cons:

– Expensive

– High power consumption

For gaming

For this purpose, you need a screen with fast response time and it should be able to display clear images even in the most hectic 3D games. Beware though that, the response time provided by the manufacturers is not always a reliable indicator. And response time standard varies from one technology to another (a 6 ms response time in IPS display is actually faster than 2 ms in TN display). It is also a good idea to choose 3D models and don’t bother choosing a monitor with speaker, you need an adequate sound system for a real gaming experience.

Samsung BX2231

If you don’t need 3D technology and you just looking for a fast and cheap gaming monitor, the BX2231 Samsung may interest you. For less than $200, it will not offer too much either. Ergonomics is the most rudimentary. But the 2 ms TN display provides the responsiveness needed to play most demanding 3D games, while the LED backlight will provide good contrast ratio for a more vibrant image. The other advantage of LED backlight is better screen thinness and low power consumption.

Pros:

– 2 ms TN display with Full HD capability

– Good contrast Ratio and LED backlight

– Attractive price

Cons:

– Basic Ergonomics features

– No USB port

– No speaker

LG-PF W2363D

If 3D technology intrigues you, then you should consider this monitor. It features 23-inch TN panel, a response time of 3 ms, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, 2D to 3D conversion (although the result is not real 3D), SRS TruSurround HD, and 3 year warranty. It lacks a USB hub and a height adjustable stand, but technically LG offers a serious monitor, completely adapted to gaming!

Pros:

– 3 ms response time and 120 Hz refresh rate

– Original design

– Low price for a 3D screen

Cons:

– Mediocre ergonomics features

– TN display

– No USB port

BenQ XL2410T

BenQ was a rather unassuming monitor manufacturer at first, until it makes a spectacular entrance into the gaming world with an attractive model. The XL2410T features a 23.6-inch backlit LED TN display, and marked by a very low response time of 2ms. Operating at a refresh frequency of 120 Hz, the full HD monitor is compatible with NVIDIA 3D technology. The monitor takes advantage of a good ergonomic design, both on physical side (height adjustable and pivotable stand) and on the software side, BenQ proposes two interesting things: a rapid display scaling and picture-in-picture technology.

Pros:

– 120 Hz refresh rate and LED backlight

– Ergonomic design

– Features-packed

Cons:

– Expensive

– No USB port

Acer GN245HQbmid

The GD245HQbmid had caused quite a stir last year. It features 23.6” TN display, 1920 x 1080 resolution, 2 ms response time, and 120Hz refresh rate. It supports NVIDIA 3D Vision technology and a pair of glasses is included in the box. Unfortunately, the monitor is not compatible with ATI graphics cards, but if you already have a NVIDIA 3D Vision kit, it should be a good choice

Pros:

– 2 ms response time and 120 Hz refresh rate

– Good design

– A pair of 3D glasses and HDMI cable are included

Cons:

– Basic Ergonomics

– Expensive

– Not compatible with ATI cards

Eizo Foris FS2331

This monitor is designed entirely for gamers. It is a 23-inch monitor with 1920 x 1080 resolution. The response time is 7 ms (relatively fast for a PVA monitor). The monitor includes a remote control, speakers and 5 year warranty. The FS2331 may appeal to a wider audience, not just gamers.

Pros:

– PVA display with 7 ms response time

– Good rate of contrast and viewing angle

– Features-packed and 5 year warranty

Cons:

– Expensive

– Non-Adjustable Stand

For movies

A good LCD screen for watching movies should have high contrast ratio and a display larger than 24”.

Iiyama Prolite B2712HDS

It is a 27-inch Full HD monitor, with a response time of 2 ms, good contrast ratio, height adjustable stand, pivotable base and integrated speakers … all for about $400! The loss of viewing angle associated with the use of TN display may be offset by good ergonomics of the screen.

Pros:

– Large 27” monitor

– Good contrast Ratio

– Good ergonomics features

– Cheap

Cons:

– Mediocre design

– Narrower viewing angle

– No USB port

Samsung P2770HD

Looking for a monitor that can also serve as a TV? The Samsung P2770HD could be a good choice. Its 27-inch TN display offers a generous viewing area, which will benefit lovers of HD movies. Another important factor is a wide array of supported connector, VGA, DVI, HDMI, YUV and SCART. It has two speakers that are quite powerful and equipped with Dolby Digital Plus and SRS TruSurround HD.

Unfortunately, it only has a response time of 5 ms and the ergonomics factor is only limited to the vertical inclination of the panel. But at this rate, the P2770HD is a very good compromise between monitor and TV!

Pros:

– High contrast slab ratio

– HDTV-capable and connectivity

– Two 3W Speakers

– Cheap

Cons:

– Limited ergonomics factor

– Mediocre response time

– High power consumption

LG Flatron W2753V PF

As an alternative to the Samsung monitor above, the Flatron W2753V-PF may steal quite an attention. It also offers a TN 27-inch display at 1920 x 1080 resolution, high contrast ratio and a modern, appealing design. However, this monitor does not include a TV tuner or speakers, but it has a 2 ms response time. Ergonomics features are rather basic in this case, which is too bad. Especially since the TN display has a narrower viewing angle. But the price is rather low for a 27-inch monitor.

Pros:

– High contrast ratio

– Superb Design and a response time of only 2ms

– Good connectivity features

– Cheap

Cons:

– Basic Ergonomics features

– Narrower viewing angle

– No USB port

Asus VE278Q

A 27-inch screen has several advantages. The TN display has a good response time of 2ms at under $450! The LED backlight allows the manufacturer to reduce the energy consumption and produce a thin display. LEDs backlight also promotes a high contrast ratio. Its other benefit is good true color settings at default settings. And for film buffs, the PiP (Picture in picture) is definitely a plus.

Pros:

– Excellent default color settings and fast response time

– Picture-in-Picture

– Low Price

Cons:

– Ergonomic design

– Narrower viewing angle

Dell UltraSharp U2711

It is an IPS monitor and it offers much better viewing angles a TN display, greater homogeneity and less flickers. The response time is however a bit longer at 6 ms. The monitor also offers a good contrast ratio, an ultra thin design with a height adjustable stand. It has 4 USB ports, a memory card reader and audio/video connectors.

Pros:

– IPS technology

– Wide viewing angle and good contrast

– Good Ergonomics features and 4 USB ports

Cons:

– Expensive

– High power Consumption

– A response time of 6 ms