SOME fun finally arrives in a monitor. The Philips 220XW8FB brings in small treats by way of innovative snap-ons. Like one that can be used as a pen holder and an MP3 or cellphone rest.

Philips even went the extra mile to ensure that you can charge or synchronise that music player or mobile phone via an USB port at the rear of the monitor.

While you'd hardly think of computer hardware and accessories as objet d'art, Philips has shown that style can be breathed into something as uninspiring as an LCD monitor.

The monitor, with shallow edge and rounded corners, has a bezel that is finished in a hi-gloss piano black. Elegant.

On the bezel is a pair of integrated stereo speakers good enough for simple audio. The addition of a headphone jack with a volume control however, does make you wonder why the makers did not include a microphone jack.

With a 22-inch screen displaying 1,680 by 1,050 pixels, three or four people can view the screen comfortably, thanks to the decent wide viewing angle that allows clear visuals even for those seated at the extreme right or left of the screen.

The glossy screen tends to reflect light-coloured items and light sources, but does not adversely affect what you are viewing because the back lighting is strong enough to prevent the images from looking washed out.

Equipped with three input source types - DVI (Digital Video Interface, VGA (Video Graphics Array) and HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) - you are spoilt for choice for anything digital or computer generated.

FINAL SAY

If you are looking to replace your aging cathode ray tube monitor or, perhaps, upgrade a three-year old 17-inch LCD, the Philips 220XW8FB is sure to deliver a superior picture at an optimum size and price.

• Philips 220XW8FB
• $499
• Available from Sim Lim Square and Funan DigitaLife Mall shops

By Chester Chen, a PC enthusiast and freelance writer

This article was first published in Digital Life, The Straits Times on Apr 1, 2008.