AG Neovo has made its mark with stylish monitors, and the new E-Series is no exception. In addition to the 19-inch AG Neovo E-19A ($750 street), the company also has a 17-inch model named the E-17A. Both share the same attractive case design, a good range of features, and competitive pricing. At $750, the E-19A is right in line with similar models from major brands.

As with most 19-inch LCD monitors, the E-19A has an SXGA (1,280 by 1,024 pixels) native resolution. Unlike most LCDs, however, this unit has a glass NeoV Crystal Optic Filter in front of the LCD panel, which helps remove glare and increase contrast. The result is a seamless front that blends with the black bezel to create a striking impression. Unfortunately, our evaluation unit had a small debris particle on the inside of this protective layer, and there was no way to remove it.

The stand offers no swivel or height adjustment, but you can adjust the tilt. This is not a major impediment, as the display is light enough to turn easily, but a height adjustment would be a welcome addition. Setup is easy, in spite of the sparse printed documentation. The monitor worked flawlessly with the Windows Plug-and-Play feature, but the bulk of the documentation is on a CD. The front panel controls provide convenient one-touch access to auto-sync, speaker mute, and volume control, but the embossed icons on the black buttons are all but impossible to see. The on-screen menu system is fairly standard, with small icons that you have to scroll through to select, and the system is easy enough to use once you learn what the different buttons do.

The monitor has both analog and digital connections, and cables for both are included in the box. We tested the E-19A with both types of signals, using test images generated by DisplayMate software (www.displaymate.com). In both cases, the images were excellent. We saw no pixel defects, color ramps were smooth, and color tracking was excellent. The black level was deep and black, and gray-scale response was good at both ends of the spectrum. Viewing-angle effects were minimal, even at extreme angles. Brightness uniformity looked excellent, and there was no streaking or ghosting. The auto-sync feature locked onto the analog signal without a hitch, creating a steady image with no pixel jitter.

The E-19A includes 2-watt stereo speakers. Like many monitor speakers, however, they sound a bit flat. They are functional for office work, but if you want to listen to anything other than e-mail alert chimes, you'll want to invest in a separate set of speakers.

In spite of its weaknesses, the AG Neovo E-19A is a strong player in the LCD market, for its price, performance, and features, particularly the glass NeoV Crystal Optic Filter. First and foremost is its excellent picture quality. The fact that the monitor looks sharp even when turned off is another plus.