ViewSonic VE 150m

Rather than compete for the absolute lowest price among entry-level LCDs, ViewSonic's VE150m targets buyers who are willing to pay a little extra for creature comforts such as built-in stereo speakers and video-signal automatic tuning. The one thing our test unit failed to deliver was consistent display quality--a must at any price.Rather than compete for the absolute lowest price among entry-level LCDs, ViewSonic's VE150m targets buyers who are willing to pay a little extra for creature comforts such as built-in stereo speakers and video-signal automatic tuning. The one thing our test unit failed to deliver was consistent display quality--a must at any price.

Movin' on up--sort of
At $449, the VE150m costs more than the least-expensive flat panels, such as the KDS Rad-5 and the Envision EN-5100. But to its credit, the Envision offers a few extras you won't find on lower-priced units.

The display measures a slim 1.9 inches deep (5.4 inches deep including the base) and tilts easily to adjust the viewing angle. The chassis feels sturdy to the touch; the only obvious weak point is the flimsy plastic cover on the back of the monitor that provides access to the AC power, VGA, and audio-in connectors (but as you'll rarely connect these cables, the flimsy cover is no big deal). As with other ViewSonic monitors, the VE150m is rather plain and boxy, so if you're looking to infuse your desktop with a little style, keep looking. The unit's tiny, tinny, built-in speakers might interest those with limited space and no use for high-fidelity sound, but they're wholly inadequate for enjoying music files.

Nice features for the price
Eight buttons spread across the bottom of the display's frame offer the usual controls for powering the monitor, navigating the onscreen adjustments, and controlling the volume of the built-in speakers. The onscreen menus are easy to navigate and are fully explained in the accompanying documentation. According to ViewSonic, this is the first 15-inch, flat-panel monitor to offer a totally automatic tuning feature. The display checks the video signal from your graphics card and self-corrects anomalies such as drift and non-VESA video timing. The unit's auto-adjust control (which optimizes geometric and color settings) worked flawlessly; you'd be hard-pressed to improve the picture by manually adjusting the settings.

The VE150m's performance falls neatly in the middle of the pack when compared with other low-cost 15-inch models that we've tested recently. CNET Labs' DisplayMate benchmark tests uncovered its subtle advantages and shortcomings. The VE150m we tested, with a native resolution of 1,024x768 pixels, displayed near-faultless circles and angles, and text appeared sharp and clear at 7 points or larger. Although it showed excellent grayscale gradations, the display's color scale was a tad anemic. Our color-tracking test showed a slight greenish tinge across the screen, and our numerous adjustments failed to clear it. Overall focus was tight; however, images on the left side of the screen appeared slightly bolder than images on the right. Hide Review