ViewSonic VX2245wm ViewDock review

The built-in speakers are fine for listening to a quick YouTube clip, but anyone expecting more will be disappointed. There's also a "subwoofer" located in the stand, which adds a little extra bass response, but not anything like you'd expect from a real dedicated sub. Like all built-in monitor speakers, don't expect them to rock out your home office.

Performance

For the price, the performance of the Viewsonic VX2245wm is perfectly acceptable for the vast majority of everyday tasks. We didn't have any gripes while Web browsing, using a word processor, or performing similar tasks. We were a little let down for video games and DVD playback, as we felt the picture wasn't quite as sharp as we would have liked, and the video looked grainy. Of course, this is also a factor of watching a standard-definition DVD on a 22-inch monitor from about a foot away--you're going to notice flaws that you wouldn't if you were watching your TV from your couch. The VX2245wm had an overall score of 72 on CNET Labs' DisplayMate benchmarks, a few notches higher than the Viewsonic VX2235wm ($350), which received a 69.

The value of the Viewdock will largely depend on how much you value its styling and its limited iPod functionality. If you have no problem continuing to use a separate iPod dock and monitor, you'll probably better off going for the cheaper VX2235wm, which offers much of the same performance. If you like the all-in-one design and you appreciate an iPod dock on your monitor, as well as the additional connectivity options, then the Viewsonic VX2245wm might be a good fit. Even still, it might be worthwhile to hold out for the next-generation of the ViewDock, which could offer tighter integration between the display and your iPod without the extra wires in the back.

Viewsonic backs the VX2245wm with the industry standard three-year warranty on parts, labor, and the backlight, and there is also an option to buy an extended warranty. ViewSonic's support site has an e-mail support form, a knowledge portal, white papers, and driver downloads. Toll-free phone support is available 24/7, but you must go through Virtual Support Assistant to get the number.

Performance graphs