To some, it could be a work of art. To others, a glimpse into the future of computing.

In reality, the new 19-inch Flatron Ultra Slim monitor from LG Electronics ($550 to $800, depending on where you shop) is a sleek, eye-catching beauty that delivers a crisp, sharp image when attached to your computer.

The first thing that caught my eye was that there are absolutely no buttons to press. You just touch the marked areas on the frame of the monitor and instantly get access to all its functions. Even the oddly shaped power switch is touch sensitive, you just pass your finger over it and it does its thing.

Like most LCDs, the Ultra Slim operates on a pivot, which allows you to work in either portrait or landscape mode, but that's where the similarity to other monitors ends. The monitor senses the change and automatically adjusts the image to the width and depth of the screen --- no buttons to push or settings to change.

Other features include:

• Its tilt, height and folding functions allow you to set it up at a viewing angle that is comfortable for you.
• It boasts an eight millisecond response time, which virtually puts an end to traditional LCD blurring.
• An f-Engine chip built into the monitor constantly makes adjustments to give you the sharpest image possible.
• ForteManager software bundled with the monitor allows you to customize its functions to fit your viewing needs.
• It can be connected to an analog or digital video card.

In addition, if you want to see how the f-Engine chip works, just pass your finger over the spot marked f-Engine and you can see a split-screen display of how images look before and after the chip does its thing.

More details on the Ultra Slim monitors can be found at www.lgusa.com.

---

 

To comment on this article, contact me here.