BenQ VM2430
Price: $229
Ratings: 2.5/5
Web: www.benq.com
Aside
from that, the VM2430 is a basic, if plasticky-looking LCD panel
BenQ’s monitor has one eye-catching
novelty: A shallow dish built into the base holds a small, two-pronged green
stand, which you can use to hold your phone. Aside from that, the VM2430 is a
basic, if plasticky-looking LCD panel. The matte screen measures 23 inches
diagonally and offers a native resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels, which is
standard for a display of that size. At that pixel density, however, text
should appear sharper than it does.
The VM2430 uses LED backlights, which
require less energy to operate than other technologies and contain fewer
hazardous materials. LEDs require less space, too. Though the VM2430 isn’t
especially thin, it houses an internal power supply.
The display is compatible with VESA mounts,
and has HDMI, DVI, and VGA connections. Ergonomic adjustments are limited: The
VM2430 can tilt forward and back a few degrees, but it can’t move up or down,
swivel, rotate, or pivot into portrait mode.
The screen has a narrow viewing range,
showing shifts in color and contrast at even minor angles a problem if you
often collaborate with others.
But my main concern with the VM2430 is that
the display was very pink; despite trying all sorts of settings, I could not
get a neutral-looking white or gray.
The VM2430’s overly warm color temperature,
overall mediocre image quality, and narrow viewing angle make this monitor
difficult to recommend.
Evoluent Vertical Mouse 4
Price: $100 to $110
Ratings: 4/5
Web: www.evoluent.com
The
Vertical Mouse 4 connects via Bluetooth and has six customizable buttons
The Vertical Mouse 4 puts your arm in
natural position as you use it. Your hand rests on the mouse in a
handshake-like orientation that’s more natural than the usual palm-down
position, thereby reducing strain on your hand and wrist.
Adjusting to the Vertical Mouse takes some
time, especially if you’re accustomed to a traditional mouse or a trackpad.
Though I immediately felt considerably less tension in my forearm and wrist,
for the first several days the Vertical Mouse just didn’t feel secure in my
hand. Instead of resting my thumb on the thumb rest, initially I unconsciously
gripped the Vertical Mouse at its widest part, just below the thumb rest. But
eventually, I was able to use the thumb rest comfortably.
The Vertical Mouse 4 connects via Bluetooth
and has six customizable buttons, along with a toggle button for speeding up or
slowing down the scrolling speed. Evoluent says that one AA battery provides
about three months of typical use.
The Vertical Mouse 4 for Mac comes in two
flavors: A $100 black model is available only at the Apple Store; a $110 white
version is available from other retailers. Unfortunately, the Vertical Mouse 4
for Mac is designed for right-handers only. Lefties can opt for a larger, gray
Vertical Mouse 4 for $10 that connects via USB.
HP LaserJet Pro 200 Color Printer M251nw
Price: $329
Ratings: 3.5/5
Web: www.hp.com
It
features Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB connectivity, as well as HP’s ePrint
cloud-printing services
Low-cost color lasers like the $329 HP
LaserJet Pro 200 Color Printer M251nw are tempting for small-offices that want
familiar and reliable laser technology (even though a small-office inkjet is a
better deal in this price range). But such color laser models tend to be slow
and sparsely featured, with pricey toner. The M251nw fits that trend, but it
also offers innovative features and better-than-usual image quality.
The printer is handsome looking, with a
faux brushed-black-metal exterior (it’s plastic, but convincing), and a
3.5-inch touchscreen control panel. It features Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB
connectivity, as well as HP’s ePrint cloud-printing services. Paper-handling
features include a 150-sheet paper tray on the bottom, an integrated 125-sheet
output bin on the top, and manual duplexing. The M251nw carries a one-year
warranty.
The M251nw is fairly fast for a printer of
its size and capacity. Text and mixed-text and monochrome graphics pages
printed at an aggregate 9.2 pages per minute (ppm) on the PC and 8.6 ppm on the
Mac. But per-page costs are high. A black-and-white page averages 4.2 cents a
page, and a four-color page is 18.1 cents.
The M251nw print quality is above average.
It printed super sharp text, smooth monochrome graphics, and very good (though
slightly dark) color graphics. Overall, the M251nw is one of the best printers
in its class.
