Product Reviews

The law of diminishing returns often applies to computing purchases, as we don't always need the biggest and best that manufacturers have to offer. The cutting edge of any technology demands a price premium that can seem excessive to some but is simply a necessity to others. The Lacie 321 raises such issues.

The 321 is without doubt a very capable screen. It passes all the usual greyscale and colour graduation tests with ease, aided by its 10-bit gamma correction. This provides an improved tonal range over the eight-bit gamma correction of most LCD monitors. The response time of 20ms is typical

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for a large screen such as this, although it makes the 321 unsuitable for games. This screen is not intended for entertainment, though.

The 321 is attractive in a minimalist style and also fully adjustable. The screen pivots by 90-, allowing a portrait view that's ideal for viewing text, and you can adjust the height of the base to centre the screen in your field of vision.

At its native resolution of 1,600x1,200 the 321 immediately creates acres of space on your Windows desktop. The 21.3" screen is also more comfortable to work on than a 20" LCD that supports the same resolution, as it feels less cramped. The 321 gives you the space you need for using applications such as photo-editing or CAD as it provides plenty of room for the multiple windows and toolbars involved.

There's no doubt that this is a decent monitor. However, 20" monitors are available for significantly less. The question, therefore, is one of diminishing returns. For home use this display is overspecified and expensive, but if you're a graphics professional who needs a monitor that provides the best image quality available, this is it. Just remember that you'll pay a premium for every pixel.