NEC LCD1550VM

A 15in flat-panel screen with no pretensions.

The LCD1550VM is a 15in VGA-only TFT panel, and is one of four in NEC's new range. Other members of this new clan feature DVI inputs and USB hubs, although each addition comes at an extra cost.

The mains power cable has no power brick and both this and the VGA cable are hidden behind a pop-off plastic cover at the rear of the panel. There is also an audio connection for the integrated speakers.

Rated at one watt each, they are suitable for nothing more than Windows tweets and bleeps. There is no height adjustment, but you get enough back and forth tilt to make up for that.

The viewing angles are quoted as 75 degrees left and right, 50 degrees up and 60 degrees down. This is impressively wide and makes the display very easy to use. However, it can't twist from side to side.

While not the prettiest flat-panel going, the 1550VM is very neat and tidy. All the controls are on the front including a headphone socket, or at least that is what we thought.

In addition to the front power button there is also a frankly unnecessary 'vacation' switch on the rear of the display, which shipped in the Off position.

Maximum resolution is 1,024 x 768, which is adequate for a display of this size. The screen is surprisingly bright and the geometry is near perfect.

Greyscales are imprecise at the dark and bright extremes, and colour graduations get rather garish towards the brighter end of the scale. There are no interference patterns and text is very clear in all colour combinations.

Price: £410.08 (£349 ex VAT)

Specifications:

• 1,024 x 768 native resolution
• VGA and mini-jack audio inputs
• Two 1w speakers

Contact: NEC-Mitsubishi 08701 201 160
www.nec-mitsubishi.com