Asus PW191

Asus is a manufacturer that doesn't stint on resources. To set itself apart from the competition, it has more than one card up its sleeve. Design is surely one of the brand's strong points. And the least you can say is that the PW191 doesn't leave you cold. The looks are great, there's no doubt about it. But too much concentration on design can sometimes lead a manufacturer to forget the rest, and it's not rare to find superb-looking monitors with weak performance and poor ergonomics.

Design, Finish, Ergonomics And Connectivity

Design And Finish

I won't mince words: The PW191 is the handsomest monitor I've seen to date. Some people will argue that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Still, no one can deny the talent of Asus' designers. Whereas many of their competitors are adopting a white Mac look out of lack of inspiration, Asus offers designs that are quite personal and innovative. And their talent has been put to good use in the design of the PW191. The monitor's lines are superb, and the choice of colours is elegant and restrained. As for the build quality, it's simply exceptional. The base is covered with machined aluminium. The finish reminds you of the kind of design used in the Hi-Fi world. The monitor's shell is glossy black plastic. It doesn't scratch easily, but it is susceptible to fingerprints that certain compulsive users will find annoying. But in general, Asus has once again showed a mastery of style that deserves to set standards.

Ergonomics

The monitor has tilt and height adjustments thanks to its double-swivel base. The base also rotates and, naturally, there's a portrait mode. The advantage of portrait mode is debatable on a monitor in movie format, but why not? On the other hand, I noticed one really irksome problem - the control buttons are touch-sensitive, which has the advantage of contributing to elegant looks. And unlike other manufacturers, Asus has chosen to set them into the front panel, which greatly facilitates adjustment. But the touch-sensitive areas are located behind the plastic panel surround. The result is that the buttons are not very sensitive. That becomes a pain if you change adjustments such as brightness often.

Connectivity, Etc.

The monitor is fully equipped. In addition to DVI and VGA connectors, there are two loudspeakers, and for once their quality is above average - the speakers in LCD monitors are usually a disaster. But these still aren't quite what you could call satisfactory. Other models do much better in this department.