I guess it’s the jaded part of me that’s at fault, but I didn’t immediately notice anything exceptional with Asus’ LS221H LCD Monitor. Since the system here at the office for delegating reviews and writing assignments for the blog is sometimes arbitrary and sudden, I didn’t get the chance to review the blogosphere or even Asus’ website regarding the specs of this beautifully appointed LCD.

                                            An Asus flying saucer resides on the back panel of the LS221.

I’m talking about Asus’ claim that this model is the thinnest 22” LCD on the market, although upon first removing it from its box I did notice the safety-glass-like screen protecting the main LCD element from damage. It is exceptionally thick and looks like it came from the windshield of a car. That aside, the rest of the interesting design elements probably distracted me enough that I didn’t immediately notice its slimness. Notable design elements include an imitation-leather lower panel below the LCD, bifurcated by a chrome line with six integrated buttons for OSD controls and power. The power button is backlit in cool techno-blue, same as the metal-lined base and even the power-brick indicator light.

                                             Front and back, the LS221H presents a swanky exterior that looks much more expensive than it actually is.

Other details that make this LCD stand out from the rest include the glossy display that’s treated to minimize reflections (which works wonderfully in an office environment by the way), the Splendid Video Intelligence Technology that automatically adjusts the LCD’s settings for color, brightness, saturation and others to achieve the best possible picture over a wide range of conditions, (which also works, but is not very noticeable from a casual user’s perspective), multiple manually-adjustable settings for different LCD uses like “Theatre”, “Game”, “Night View”, “Scenery”, and “standard”. And yes, the slim design of the bezel and the frame finally registered with me upon comparison to other, supposedly “thin” panels that will not be named here – 24.8 mm – or just a smidgen under an inch!

Of course, no review would be complete without the standard gamut of manufacturer’s specifications that more or less anyone in contact with any kind of advertising will be able to recognize, and understand. If not, then that’s what I’m here for. Starting off is the 1680 x 1050 resolution, which is standard for 22” LCDs. A 2-millisecond response time bodes well for gamers and movie buffs alike, and is complemented by the inclusion of an HDMI connector in addition to the usual VGA-out. 300 nits brightness, and a 4,000:1 contrast (achieved through ASCR or Asus Smart Contrast Ratio) are somewhat par for the course in this day and age of competent LCD panels, but when combined with the glossy but remarkable reflection-resistant screen makes for a very vibrant display. Asus’ quality consciousness and the aforementioned attention to good design is only icing on the Asus cake. The “exceptionally thick” glass is in fact a 9-H hardness rated glass screen for scratch protection and durability.

                                            Not pictured is the HDMI to DVI connector for easy connection to modern PCs.

                                             The LS221H can be laid flat as a table top with a press of this button. This is also the default position for storing the LCD.

So what we have here is an LCD panel on which Asus has lavished more attention to design detail than most other LCDs in its lineup, while adding in some choice morsels of features resulting in a well rounded but still high-end panel for the style conscious and performance oriented, and even for those who claim to be both. Asus has achieved a middle-road that nonetheless paves over other “mid-range” offerings by other manufacturers in terms of style and performance, especially when the attributes of the LS221H are taken together.

                                            Blue lighting is  de rigueur for nearly all PC components these days.