Verdict: A high-resolution 19in widescreen.
The VX1940w is the first in what we expect to be a slew of TFTs offering more than the de facto standard pixel count. Typically, 19in widescreen monitors have a native resolution of 1,440 x 900, giving them fewer pixels than their square 19in counterparts, and and far fewer than 20in widescreen models. The VX1940w has a native resolution of 1,680 x 1,050, however, which is usually used by 20.1in and 22in TFTs. While we're annoyed that the move hasn't happened sooner - laptops have had 1,920 x 1,200 17in TFTs for ages - we're happy to see the VX1940w start changing the trend. The higher than usual pixel density should give images greater clarity and detail, while offering a little more desktop space when you're messing around in Windows.
Apart from the screen's 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, the VX1940w's specifications are mostly above average. The contrast ratio is an expansive 1,000:1, which can be dynamically shifted to make the headline 3,000:1 contrast range. Even the static contrast range is good going, as only premium panels can match it. Response time is quoted as 2ms grey-to-grey, which is pretty much state-of-the-art at the moment. ViewSonic has opted for the standard antiglare screen coating rather the glossy, reflective surface treatment that tends to add vibrancy to colours. Don't expect to be mesmerised by the visuals, but neither should you expect to be staring at a reflection of your face during load screens. The maximum brightness is a run-of-the-mill 300cd/m2.
The usual single D-SUB and single DVI inputs are available, and ViewSonic hasn't inflated the price by adding extras, such as a USB hub or speakers. However, while these exclusions are fine, the build quality of the stand worries us. Inserting the stand into the base was trickier than we'd like it to be, and as we wrestled the parts together, the plastic felt flimsy.
The OSD is configured with a row of four buttons arranged either side of the blue-lit power button. This menu is populated with all the usual setting controls necessary to tweak a display, but little else. The only option worth a mention is the dynamic contrast toggle, which made the image appear brighter when it was switched on. However, using dynamic contrast disables the brightness and contrast options, so we avoided it in order to maintain full control of the picture quality.
We put the VX1940w through our usual calibration and real-world image quality tests. These include the industry-standard DisplayMate, a selection of games such as Prey and Need for Speed: Carbon, a video DVD and a Blu-ray movie. We used CyberLink PowerDVD 7 for video playback.
Testing with DisplayMate, angles of vision were good horizontally, but poor vertically, which is a typical problem of the TN panel technology. While the 1,000:1 'real' contrast ratio makes for good reading, the VX1940w was weak when trying to discern very dark greys from black - the test indicated that shadows would suffer from flatness and a lack of detail in our later tests. The VX1940w handled bright colours well, however.
Thanks to the extra resolution, games naturally looked crisper on the VX1940w than on other 19in widescreens we've tested - at least with titles that support 1,680 x 1,050. However, the poor contrast in black areas made enemies hard to spot in the shadowy areas of Prey. On the other hand, the neon lights of Need for Speed: Carbon looked vibrant, particularly with dynamic contrast re-enabled. We didn't see any lag impeding our fun either.
Our test DVD sequence, the Battle of Pelennor Fields from the 'Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King', was enjoyable to watch on the VX1940w. This sequence is hazy and full of dust, so it stresses a TFT's ability to resolve nuances of detail in lightly coloured regions. The extra resolution over other 19in screens helped no end in this test. In contrast, in the Shelob's Lair chapter, which shows a much darker scene, the VX1940w wasn't quite so commendable. While not as flat as they were during our Prey tests, shadows still lacked detail to an irritating degree. The DVI connection is HDCP-compliant, so the VX1940w could display our test Blu-ray film (the delectable 'S.W.A.T.'), though not at the full 1,920 x 1,200 resolution. We saw decent if unexceptional colour fidelity, but the same flat and boring shadowy areas as in the other tests.
Conclusion
If your buying decision is based more on resolution than screen size, you'll be comparing this screen with 20.1in and 22in widescreens. Unfortunately, this means that you'll have the Samsung SyncMaster 206BW in mind. This 20.1in screen costs £170 on www.amazon.co.uk, making it only £15 more than the VX1940w.
The extra 1.1in of the 206BW isn't the reason why we'd recommend it over the VX1940w; it's the noticeably richer and more vibrant colours that sway us. The 206BW also handles shadows far more convincingly than the VX1940w. Since you're not paying much more for the significantly better Samsung, the VX1940w needs to be a lot cheaper to be worth more than an interested glance. 'Oh look, a 1,680 x 1,050 resolution 19in widescreen TFT? How odd,' you'll say, before placing your order for a Samsung at Amazon.
