While prices for smaller TFT monitors continue to fall, prices for the larger panels are still relatively high. Having said that, compared to the prices of a year ago they are beginning to become more affordable.

Viewsonic's Pro series of LCD displays is aimed at the professional user, offering the sharpness and size of monitor that such people require - and anyone with the thick end of five hundred pounds to spend on a monitor will be impressed by the Pro VP181B.

Housed in an ultra-thin, 17mm black bezel, the Pro VP181B has a full 18.1-inch diagonal viewing area. The equivalent CRT monitor would be a 20-inch model, which would take up far more desk space than the Pro VP181B. The thinness of the bezel also allows this monitor to be used in multi-panel setups, and indeed multi-panel, module-only multi-packs are available. There is also a metallic silver and black version, the Pro VB181S.

The pedestal includes a height adjustment with just under 8cm of travel, which may not sound like much but does make a difference to your viewing angle. The viewing angles themselves are quite impressive; 160 degrees for both horizontal and vertical aspects. Not only does the panel tilt and twist as you'd expect, but also rotates clockwise through 90 degrees, giving you a portrait display if required.

The power and four control buttons are housed in the centre of the bottom bezel. As you might expect, the Pro VP181B has both VGA and DVI-D inputs, and will automatically switch to whichever has a signal. If there's a signal on both you can select which one you want from the on-screen display. The unit comes with detachable cables for both types of input. If you're using the analogue VGA input, there's an automatic picture adjust option on the on-screen display that will set the correct timings for the signal. And for good measure there is a 1-up, 4-down USB 2.0 hub built in.

Using the Pro VP181B is a joy and setting it up poses no problems, either using the manual adjustment or letting the automatic setup do its thing. At its 1,280 pixel by 1,024 pixel native resolution, this monitor produces pin sharp images. The usual array of ergonomics certifications accompanies the monitor, as does a good, detailed manual and a three year limited warranty.

Viewsonic's Pro VP181B is a well featured flat panel monitor aimed at the professional market, although if you have the money burning a hole in your pocket it would make an impressive monitor for home use too.