It may not have as many bells and whistles as other models—like the LG, Planar, and Princeton Graphics monitors—but the Dell 1702FP is an adequate performer and a reasonable value.

The black case and silver buttons are stylish, but the embossed legends are a bit difficult to read. Setup is fairly easy; no cable covers hinder access to the connectors. The monitor has both analog and digital interfaces—with cables for both—and a handy button on the front panel to switch easily between the two.

An auto-sync button located on the front panel did an excellent job of tweaking the image size, position, and timing. The specifications on the companion CD, however, indicated that the display could handle resolutions as high as 1,600-by-1,200, when both driver settings and Plug-and-Play limited it to the native resolution of 1,280-by-1,024.

The 1702FP's display was brighter and more uniform than average. The viewing angles we measured were above average even in the vertical plane, though the panel does not rotate into portrait mode. Images showed good color tracking, smooth color ramps, and no ghosting or streaking. And the analog images looked every bit as good as those using the digital connection. But motion-blurring effects were moderate, and the response on the darkest gray shades was a bit weak. Text on images scaled up from a lower resolution was smooth but a little fuzzy.

This is a monitor that would be improved by including a portrait mode. And though not essential, USB ports are noticeably absent. As it is, the 1702FP is a good monitor at a good price, and an above-average choice for your desktop.