The $469 Planar PX1910M is one of the few monitors to include screen pivot software along with its physical pivot adjustment. The software, Pivot Pro, costs $40 if bought separately.
Like its 17-inch sibling, the PX1710M, the 19-inch PX1910M looks smooth and corporate. Its thin bezel makes a dual-monitor setup seem less visually daunting. Better yet, it offers versatility and excellent ergonomics by including all four physical adjustments: height, pivot, swivel, and tilt. That said, the pivot function feels stiff and makes distinct clicks when turning the monitor.
Compared with other recently tested 19-inchers, the PX1910M performed admirably on our graphics tests and adequately on our text tests. On our group portrait photo, the images looked well balanced and showed excellent detail in the shadows of a dark blouse. Letters appeared sharp and well-formed on some of our test screens, but the toolbar icons looked slightly indistinct on our Microsoft Word and Excel screens. Though other monitors showed crisper icons, this Planar still performed very well. The PX1910 earned a rating of Very Good for both graphics and text.
The two 1-watt speakers, visible in the stand, deliver full, bright sound. However, the PX1910M forgoes a headphone jack, making this model better for offices with doors than for open work environments.
This Planar's specified 8-millisecond rise-and-fall response time suggests that images will remain smooth-edged during scrolling or other movement. Like all other recently tested 19-inch LCDs, though, the PX1910M earned a rating of Average in
Planar's weekday-only support policy will be ample for business customers (13 hours should be enough for most office needs). But the lack of weekend support will frustrate the home user.
This model's full range of physical adjustments is something to brag about, but the clicking noises of its pivot function sound less appealing--and so does its support policy.
Laura Blackwell
