Nec MultiSync LCD225WXM

Nec is back!  The design of the newest screen, the LCD225WXM, strikes a familiar chord as it is a direct descendant of the 20WGX², a 20'' screen whose glory days began back in early 2006.

Incidentally, at the time it was one of the best 20'' screens around, thanks to a combination of great responsiveness and wide viewing angles that are still up to today's standards.  Eighteen months later, its big brother, 2'' larger, has a similar design but is 30% cheaper.  Does this represent a technological miracle, or has Nec made cutbacks somewhere.

Well, corners have indeed been cut.  The panel technology has shifted from IPS (very expensive) to TN (the cheapest and most common).  Actual response time, as opposed to the figures advertised in the specs, is now longer, and, as the screen now uses TN technology, the image appears to darken as you look at it from below.  The USB hub has made way for two small speakers.  One change for the better is the fact that the screen now sports a matte finish, making it less prone to reflections than its glossy predecessor.

Nec reaches out ...

What we're left with is an attractive screen, with a fixed stand and farily modest tech specs.  Just like its price, which is very reasonable for Nec hardware.  But what's the real attraction?  What does buying a Nec bring you?  Apart from an attractive design, not much else.  Technically, nothing separates how this screen performs from the massed ranks of 22'' monitors featuring 5 ms TN panels.

It's as responsiveness as the rest, noticeably worse than today's 2 ms models, and the default colours can be improved--you can start by turning down the blue.  And like other TN screens, it flickers while you're watching movies.  All of this is entirely normal, however, for this price we prefer a ViewSonic or even the Iiyama ProLite E2201W.