Philips 150MT

Is a monitor/TV just another crackpot synergy or does it make sense?

TFT displays are pretty good for saving desk space as they take up about a third of the space of a standard monitor. Philips's 150MT goes one better. It crams a portable telly and a monitor into that small space.

The biggest thing about the petite Philips is the £699 price tag. It's a huge amount for a new monitor but all these combination displays cost big money.

Despite its flexibility, the 150MT is easy to use. Just plug it into a PC using the supplied monitor cable and you're up and running. Intuitive menus allow fine tuning of the picture.

Tuning in the TV channels is very simple and helped by excellent documentation. Once tuned in, you get Nicam stereo sound through the built-in speakers and Fastext. As with all televisions though, a good aerial is essential to get the most from these features.

The RF input is kept company by a Scart socket for hooking up a games console or video recorder as well as an S-video port and stereo phono inputs. On the side are a headphone socket and a line-out connector for hooking up some larger speakers.

The picture-in-picture feature lets users watch television in a small on-screen window while using the PC. Many TV tuner cards can do this but slow down the PC because they need processing power to work. There is no performance hit here because the 105MT is a standalone television.

The 150MT is sturdily built and mounted on a heavy base. It will tilt back and forth a little which could prove handy, although swivelling it is tough thanks to its weight.

Performance-wise, the screen behaves like any good 15in TFT. The screen image is displayed at a resolution of 1024 x 768 and is bright and evenly lit. As a TV, it gives a sharp picture that is easily the equal of most portable sets.

Price: £699
Contact: Philips 01756 702892
www.philips.co.uk