Review: Benq FP93VW monitor

A screen for the iPod generation

Thinking about replacing that tired monitor that came with your PC? Widescreen is the order of the day and affordable electronics brand Benq has such a monitor that, at £150, won't bust the wallet.

With a 19in screen and a glossy white plastic finish, it’s also one of the cutest displays available, holding obvious visual appeal for iPod fans.

The base of the stand slots into place with a satisfying click - the monitor arrives in two easy-to-assemble pieces - and even has a flat recess on which a music player can be rested.

The FP93VW boasts a resolution of 1440x900 pixels, which, while not the highest we've seen, is still perfectly usable for photo slideshows, movies and gaming. It has both VGA and DVI inputs and it feels solidly constructed and reassuringly weighty as it is shifted into position. The mains cable is plugged into a recess at the rear of the screen and a clip tidies it out of the way.

Unlike more expensive monitors, it doesn’t have speakers but the flicker-free screen has a quick 5ms response time. Although the default brightness setting is good, further adjustments can be made to the contrast and other settings using the five buttons along the left hand edge of the screen.

Basic though the options may be, the essentials are there and simple enough to navigate, our only complaint being that the pop-up menu doesn’t remain on screen for long if you don't press a button. Overall, then, the 19in screen looks and performs better than its low price tag suggests.

Vista compatible: Yes