Alienware OptX AW2210 21.5-Inch LCD Monitor

Dell's gamer-friendly Alienware brand is extending its reach to include monitors, and the 21.5-inch widescreen 1080p OptX AW2210 ($300 as of November 11, 2009) serves up a lot to like: solid image quality, accessible and comprehensive built-in menus, and an exterior design that stands out from the generally conservative competition.

On the other hand, $300 is a lot to pay these days for a 21.5-inch monitor, especially when you consider that Dell itself offers LCDs that rival the AW2210 in quality and cost less. The Dell SX2210, for example, has a panel that's identical to the Alienware 2210's, but trades in the design and the touch-sensitive menu controls for a Webcam, face-recognition software, and a retail price of $220. (Then again, the Dell SX2210t monitor restores the multitouch and face-recognition features but jacks the price up to $469.)

Evidently the company applied that extra $80 to the Alienware monitor's aesthetics. The OptX 2210 is black, bold, and sexy from top to bottom, with a slim profile and a big plastic base that looks like Batman's boomerang. The LCD also ...

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Patrick Miller, PC World