Viewsonic VX2255 WM

Viewsonic has been on a roll over the past year, with a rash of HD-ready monitor releases. The 22” segment has especially been getting a lot of focus, with a new model appearing virtually every month. The latest release in this lineup is the VX2255WM, which succeeds the very popular VX2235WM. Is it able to improve on its predecessor? Read on to find out.

In a surprising change, Viewsonic has, in a departure from previous models, gone in for an all-glossy look for the VX2255WM. Everything from the bezel to the base and the back area of the monitor, sports the typical piano black gloss finish that has become so common nowadays. The only saving grace here is the silver metallic lining at the bottom and the power button.

This kind of finish, of course leads to the inevitable question… is it a fingerprint magnet? The answer is a resounding YES! Every little smudge stands out sharply. Spend a few days without cleaning it and the monitor looks incredibly dirty. In the few days we used the monitor, we had to add a new ritual to our daily schedule i.e. spend 10 minutes every morning cleaning the bezel with a soft cloth to make the monitor look presentable. In comparison to its predecessor the VX2235 (whose finish was similar but was a more muted black), smudges were not such an issue.

Another annoying thing about Viewsonic is the fact that their products never seem to have a fixed place for menu buttons. Sometimes on the right; sometimes on top, sometimes underneath... and now back on the right. A consistent design would go a long way in achieving the quality that other manufacturers such as Samsung and LG offer. Thankfully, the buttons on the VX2255 are far more usable when compared to previous efforts. They are made of a soft plastic material and register presses quite easily. Shifting through menus is an easy and painless operation.

The base of the monitor, unlike previously, is made of a soft plastic that is surprisingly sturdy and allows very easy movement. The degree of movement is practically 360 degrees. However the monitor does not offer much in the way of height adjustment. This does affect things as one can’t customize the viewing angle too easily. The back of the monitor is unassuming and sports DVI, VGA and webcam connector jacks. Another thing this monitor sports over the VX2235 is the inclusion of a 1.3 MP webcam. Its sensor is surprisingly small but produces usable images.