Dell's latest LCD isn't the flashiest flat-panel display we've reviewed, but its above-average image quality, competitive feature set, and outstanding support set it apart. At $299, it's the least expensive panel we've reviewed yet that offers digital and analog inputs, making it ideal if your graphics card accepts both types of outputs and you want to slide under the $500 price barrier.
The 1504FP offers little extra beyond its dual inputs--no audio jacks, built-in speakers, or USB ports.
In our image-quality tests, colors were duller and more subdued than on other displays we've tested. Though the 1504FP's text and graphics quality would suit a variety of general computing tasks, we expected cleaner-looking graphics output from the unit's digital signals. Other digital LCDs like the NEC MultiSync LCD1550X and the ViewSonic VX500+ provide better graphics.Blackish gray in tone, the 1504FP rests on a short oval base and offers wide swivels that are easy to maneuver.The cleanly designed on-screen controls are intuitively laid out and easy to cycle through; the one-button auto-adjust control worked well. Dell offers a thorough manual for the uninitiated.
A no-frills display, the 1540FP parlays its competitive price and solid image quality into a winning combination for most home or office computing applications.
Dell 1504FP
15-inch screen, 1024 by 768 native resolution, 13.7 by 6.8 by 14.1 inches, 8.25 pounds, TFT panel, analog and digital inputs.
