It was a little hard to compare some monitors as they were more for the high-end market where others were aimed at the consumer/budget market. Such was the case with the Viewsonic VP171B, a high-end professional graphics model. The VP171B featured 280cd/m² brightness coupled with an incredible 600:1 contrast ratio.

A very likeable projector, but not the last word in all-round ability

On the outside, there is little to distinguish the ViewSonic VS-VE150 from many of the other TFT screens on test this month, but it is in its image quality that it ultimately stands out.

An older LCD. A bargain option, but not one we’d recommend as once we might have

An older TV, but if you’re planning to add a digital set-top box or DVD player, this small analogue set is a bargain buy

The LG TFT has one of the slimmest bezels of any screen this month, helped in part by the use of LG.Philips’ own 18in IPS-type TFT panel.

The SM181T uses a panel based on Samsung’s own PVA technology. This stands for patterned vertical alignment and increases the viewing angle in the same way as MVA, although Samsung claims a viewing angle of 170 degrees – the same as Super-IPS.