The W1961A keeps costs down by removing all frills. A single analogue VGA input avoids the dreaded tax on screens with DVI, there are no conveniences such as USB ports and it’s supported by a basic tilt-only stand.

It may not have expensive looks, but while it’s not dripping in chrome and peppered with touch-sensitive controls, a certain attention to detail is evident. It’s a very neat-looking monitor with a subtle embossed fabric texture and a rubber grip to hold your cables securely out of view.

Also well hidden from view are the control buttons. The three oversized controls are actually situated on the back of the monitor and activated by placing your hand on the right edge of the display and pulling your fingers towards you. Using only three buttons means you can keep your hand in one position while using the menu – you’ll never be fumbling for the right switch.

Left-handed users may feel a little put off by this, but they’re so large and easy to operate that navigating the menus should pose no difficulty. A pair of stereo speakers is hidden in the lower part of the bezel – they’re there if you need them, but you won’t notice them at all if you don’t.

At this price, and with a TN panel, you’re not going to get the most accurate colour reproduction, but the W1961A acquits itself well with an image that’s pleasing to the eye. An automatic colour enhancement mode adjusts the picture controls in response to the type of material being displayed.

Helped by its 700:1 contrast ratio and 300cd/m2 brightness it’s capable of displaying a pleasingly punchy picture even in brightly-lit rooms. It has a quick 5ms response time, making it great for games and multimedia. Not all games are compatible with widescreen displays, so the W1961A implements aspect-ratio scaling to ensure that 4:3 image resolutions remain in proportion without being stretched out to the full width of the screen.

As monitors age, the backlight fades and the image dims; this ageing process is accelerated by frequent turning on and off of the display. CTX’s advanced power saving mode is kinder on the backlight, turning it on gradually over a period of five seconds and off very slowly, over a period of seven minutes when entering power-saving mode. CTX states this will enable your monitor to last up to 30 per cent longer than other displays.

The W1961A is backed by a full three-year on-site warranty and is excellent value for money as an entry level 19in screen.

Also consider:
Iiyama Prolite E2200WS
Iiyama’s latest widescreen TFT is low on frills but also low on cost

Viewsonic VG2230wm
An affordable 22in widescreen TFT, ideal for work or home use

Hyundai N91W
A good quality monitor, but there’s little to differentiate this Hyundai from other models

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