LG Flatron L1800P review

TFT monitors with thin bezels are becoming increasingly popular, particularly for firms that need lots of screen area with minimal footprint. Last month, we saw a superb example from NEC - the MultiSync LCD 1880SX (see Reviews, issue 90, p130) - which offers a tempting blend of performance and business-related features. Now LG has released a new 17mm bezel model, the Flatron L1800P.

The L1800P features both D-SUB and DVI-I inputs, as well as a USB hub with one upstream and two downstream ports. The stand is height-adjustable and can pivot into portrait mode. The USB hub adds value to an already well-priced monitor.

The image was pin-sharp using the DVI input from a GeForce4 Ti 4600 and, using D-SUB, the automatic setup routine worked well. The biggest concern was colour balance - neither preset provided acceptable results. This can be corrected using the RGB controls, but this is both time consuming and tricky to perfect.

The L1800P held up well in the image quality stakes too. The screen was bright and the lighting even, with only a slight darkening in the far corners. Colours were strong too, and the L1800P coped admirably with the colour blending tests, although there was noticeable stepping in primary colours and greyscale fades.

The L1800P also handled high-frame rate multimedia well, managing to keep up without too much ghosting. This, together with the monitor's strong colours and good colour blending, meant DVD movies looked great.

The LG Flatron L1800P is a good 18in TFT with a useful set of features. Poor colour balance is our main concern, and colour and greyscale fades showed obvious stepping. The price of £806 is great for an 18in TFT, especially with DVI and a USB hub. The NEC offers better image quality, but if you can find the L1800P any cheaper it's an excellent buy.

Author: Gareth Ogden