I have been using two name brand pro graphic LCDs for a year or so now, and although this ViewSonic VP2250wb has a considerably lower street price, even though larger than my 20" LCDs, the overall appearance of photo images is not appreciably different. I found I could adjust and edit images in Photoshop with a very similar result as I had been doing with my two LCDs. However, my 20" LCD displays have a height to width ratio of 3:4, taller and not as wide as the VP2250wb widescreen shape. Although widescreen allows lots of room at the side of the viewing area for control windows and application dialogs, a lot of my photographs are vertical (portrait mode) and the widescreen then becomes a relative disadvantage. But I am an old-timer and not so easily impressed by some newer things like the now ubiquitous widescreen displays.

Is this new, more affordable LCD as good as the name brand pro graphic models I have tested and reported on in the past couple of years? In many ways it is and will satisfy many users, but I did experience differences working with the ViewSonic VP2250wb. To obtain the appearance of equal brightness top to bottom of the vertical angle relative to your eye position the display has to be tilted very precisely. If you slump down in your chair, for example, the top of the screen will look darker. When sitting with my head centered relative to the screen and leaned a little to left the right few inches of the screen looked warmer. In other words, if you back 3 ft away from the screen it looks quite even in brightness and neutral in color, but get 16-18" from the screen to see detail clearly and any variation in your angle of view will change a part of the screen's appearance. This is a bit limiting and may be an occasional annoyance, but should anyone not expect at least some minor deficiency at a bargain price compared to displays that are 2-3 times the price?

Working with an image-editing application like Photoshop, the new ViewSonic VP2250wb provides a wide format viewing space of 18.3x11.4", which allows the display of a full-frame 2:3 aspect ratio image with room on the sides for the Toolbox and all the standard control dialog windows.

Evaluation And Recommendation
Even though the price of LCD displays have declined in the consumer market considerably over the last couple of years, the pro graphic models featuring larger color gamuts and the kind of control support needed for image adjustment and editing work have remained comparatively expensive, especially for larger display sizes. The ViewSonic entry into this category, which offers a generous-sized LCD display with a large color gamut that can be easily calibrated and profiled at a much more affordable price, is very welcome. And although it does not compete entirely in perceived screen performance with the top-end, name brand models, the detractions are not serious enough to preclude recommending the VP2250wb for those whose budgets have to be considered.

I found once I was familiar with this new ViewSonic display I could work with it both comfortably and effectively. Of course there are some aspects of quality like durability that a short test period does not address. But ViewSonic is a very well established brand and has enjoyed a good reputation with all the users who have reported they have a ViewSonic product both to me directly and in comments in various photo forums. Personally, I am pleased that now when someone asks for an LCD display recommendation and has a modest budget there is something I can suggest with confidence.

For more information, contact ViewSonic Corporation, 381 Brea Canyon Rd., Walnut, CA 91789; (800) 688-6688, (919) 573-4233; www.viewsonic.com.