Lab

17-19 inch TFTs

If evidence were needed that the 17in TFT is being usurped by its 19in brother, this month provided it: when given the choice, only two manufacturers offered to send a 17in TFT for review, while we had to pare down the surplus of 19in offerings. The same applies at larger sizes, too: just two manufacturers sent 20in screens, compared to six that wanted us to test and rate their 22in offerings. Bigger TFTs are here to stay.

Since image quality is increasing all the time, we decided to focus this month's Labs on affordable monitors, so there's a much wider selection of entry-level models than we've previously chosen to include. We have a total of 16 monitors on test, ranging from functional office designs to glossy gaming specialists. You'll find USB ports, dynamic contrast and fully adjustable stands for the ultimate in comfort while you work; one even offers a webcam and microphone to make video calls even simpler.

Of course, another major decision is which size you should go for. We weren't surprised to see that many of the smaller screens use the standard 4:3 ratio, since widescreen simply doesn't offer the same advantages at 17in and - to a lesser extent - 19in. But wide is the order of the day above 20in, so you can line up documents side by side, watch movies or see that bit more of your surroundings in games.

We also look both forward and back in time this month: on p105, we examine the new interface that will most likely signal the end of DVI, while on p100 we revisit our reaction to the very first TFT we reviewed more than ten years ago. But it's reviews that matter most, so whatever you use your PC for you'll find the right monitor over the next ten pages, and at some surprisingly low prices.