The first thing you notice about NEC’s 90GX2 is its glossy screen. It stands in stark contrast to the Samsung and Dell monitors, which are both treated with anti-glare and anti-reflective coatings (as are the majority of LCD screens).

These coatings give displays a flat, matte finish that doesn’t reflect light. The benefit of NEC’s so-called OptiClear technology is that the screen’s high sheen intensifies colors and contrast, producing a much more brilliant, vivid picture.

Of course, such a screen is not suited to all environments. In our Lab, for instance, the bright overhead fluorescent lights created distracting reflections on the 90GX2’s mirror-like surface, and even in lower-light situations, you might notice ambient reflections in large swaths of dark color.

But this isn’t likely to dampen most home users’ appreciation of the screen’s vibrancy. During our testing, the 90GX2 certainly stole the show in the entertainment and desktop applications. Games in particular had extraordinary visual panache, and the screen was free of any signs of ghosting during fast-motion sequences.

Month Reviewed: June 2006

+ LUSTER: Glossy screen is stunning in the right environment; four USB ports.

- BLUSTER: Glossy screen can be a problem in some environments; lacks height adjustment; some grayscale issues.

VERDICT: 9

URL: www.nec.com