AG Neovo E-W22 LCD San Francisco CA

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AG Neovo's E-W22 is the largest model in its Elegance line of displays; a 22in widescreen LCD monitor that has a native resolution of 1680 x 1050 pixels. In an example of acronyms going out of control this is referred to as WSXGA+. It has one DVI and one old-school VGA port tucked away in the back, and can switch from one input to the other via front-mounted buttons.

The E-W22's appearance is dominated by black with silver accents, and the result is a sleek, attractive display. The discreet control buttons are black and surrounded by a thin silver border. (There was a small Windows Vista sticker on the corner of this display that interrupted its stylish look, but we don't think that would stay long on a Mac user's desk.)

The bezel around the active display area sits behind the edge-to-edge glass face in an iMac-like manner, while the built-in speakers are hidden in the traditional spot below the main screen area.

If you want to use the display's speakers, they are connected by a separate minijack lead from your Mac's audio-out port. Don't expect hi-fi quality sound from these though; as with other display-embedded speakers they will provide background music and sounds but won't rock the house. More usefully, there's a pass-through headphone jack on the side of the screen so you can plug yourself in without having to trail your headphone cable all the way to your Mac.

There is a robust tilt mechanism in the stand. Some might say almost too robust, because it tips backwards all too easily; bringing it forwards again takes noticeable effort. Still, it means that it won't sag from whatever angle you pick.

Height adjustment is non-existent, as it is with the vast majority of displays. The case feels solid and the base can be tilted up flush with the back - and with a Vesa-compatible kit, you can mount the device on a wall.

The stated dimensions claim that it is 196mm deep but with the base folded, it is nearer 40mm, which makes it perfectly acceptable for wall hanging.

AG Neovo has built in a number of different preset modes that are meant to set up the display for use with different kinds of content. In addition to the User mode, there are others called Text, Movie, Game and Graphic. Text merely dims the display slightly but the other three add a sharpening effect, which a designer would do well to avoid. They could be useful when using this monitor for HD video playback (this device supports HDCP input with the appropriate connector for 1080p playback) but not for normal computer work.

The viewing angle is very good, in line with some of the best LCDs around. We were very pleased to read the company's very clear policy about dead or 'stuck' pixels as well - any more than three, or just one in the centre third of the screen, and it will be replaced.

E for Elegance is an appropriate tag; the E-W22 is an attractive display that performs well. It isn't particularly cheap; you can get a similar size display elsewhere for noticeably less. But it is high-quality display and you'll appreciate having it on your desk.

Author: Keith Martin

AG Neovo E-W22 LCD

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