Philips Brilliance 190P

The Philips Brilliance 190P 19in TFT is certainly big, but it isn't the most attractive monitor we've seen. It has a nice silver finish but the rather blocky design and thick lower bezel detract from the overall look.

To its credit, however, the 190P is a well-built unit with a sturdy base. It can be positioned in a number of ways and can be rotated through approximately 180 degrees along its horizontal axis. Its vertical tilt range is fairly limited, and it's not height adjustable, but it can be twisted between portrait and landscape modes. This is a useful feature, particularly for scrolling through long word documents or web pages.

Where the Philips 190P stands out most, though, is in its visual performance. It has a wide viewing angle, so you'll be able to watch DVD movies with a group of people without having to huddle towards the centre of the screen. A DVI connection means you can get the best possible quality if you have a DVI-compatible graphics card.

Image quality was also very impressive. Natural tones were recreated realistically, and the contrast was notably superior to many TFTs we have looked at in the past.

As with many modern screens, the 190P has a pair of stereo speakers, but these aren't particularly effective unless your audio requirements are very basic.

19in TFTs are still expensive when compared to 17in models and although the 190P is an excellent price, it's only those with a penchant for panache that will be able to justify the cost.

Contact: Philips 0870 900 9070
www.philips.co.uk