NEC - MultiSync LCD2690WUXi

The NEC MultiSync 2690WUXi has a nominal size of 26 inches and, even though the true diagonal measurement is a mere 25.5 inches, this is still a very large TFT display.

The resolution is also huge at 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, so the NEC is capable of displaying 1080 HD TV. However, that isn't what this display is about. There are no HDMI or Component inputs but instead you get one DVI-I, one DVI-D and one VGA connector. In the box you get a DVI-to-DVI cable plus a DVI-to-VGA cable.

If you choose you can connect three input devices simultaneously - two PCs and a laptop would fit the bill - and then switch from one input to another. This may sound like an odd course of action, but the NEC monitor is very expensive and is unlikely to end up on every desk in the office, so you can expect it to be a shared resource within a workgroup.

The styling of the 2690WUXi is very smart and businesslike with a base that looks like a triangular star that is somewhat akin to the Mercedes Benz logo, providing a solid support for the height adjustment post. You need height adjustment to make use of the pivot function, although that's another feature that would be unlikely to find much use at home. However, graphics professionals may well be wowed by the ability to stand their huge pictures on end.

Initially we connected the NEC to our test PC using the DVI-D input and were rewarded with an image that was intolerably harsh on the eye. Switching to the DVI-I alternative improved matters hugely as the displayed image was superb. The picture was a touch bright so we used the OSD to reduce the brightness from 100 percent to 80 percent which sorted things out nicely and also introduced us to the OSD, which is both extensive and intelligently designed.

The layout of the OSD is unexceptional but the navigation uses a touch of genius, as the function of each of the buttons is displayed on the screen next to the button as an illuminated label, so you have no need to squint at the tiny legend on each button.

As for the displayed image; well, it's very close to being faultless. The 400-nit brightness and 800:1 contrast ratio are par for the course on a modern TFT but the colour reproduction and white balance of the NEC are simply superb. The viewable angle of 178 degrees in both horizontal and vertical planes is also quite normal but there's no nonsense with colours changing appearance as you move your head around or stand up in front of the display.

It seemed to us that the image on the screen wasn't quite as sharp as we would have liked but this could be a consequence of the huge screen size as the pixels are spread relatively far apart.

So what's the downside? The price for one thing, and the lack of home movie connections for another. Neither is a particular problem for the professional user but it means that most of us will never have the pleasure of using the LCD2690WUXi.(itreviews.co.uk)