Gateway FPD2185W review: Gateway FPD2185W

The Gateway FPD2185W, a 21-inch wide-screen LCD, has a great set of features and connections, excellent image quality, and lots of adjustability. At $599.99, it's one of the least-expensive 20-plus-inch LCDs we've seen. In fact, for displays this size, we've seen better image quality from only the HP f2105--a more expensive, entertainment-focused display that has built-in speakers but not as many video ports as the Gateway FPD2185W.

The Gateway FPD2185W's smooth rounded edges, sleek matte-black finish, and shiny charcoal-colored sides give it a classic look. The bezel runs 1 inch wide along the top, 0.75 inch along the sides, and 1.5 inches at the bottom. A strip of glossy black plastic encloses the screen.

The FDP2185W offers every adjustability option imaginable: 4.5 inches of height adjustment, as well as 35 degrees of swivel to the left and right and 20 degrees of tilt to the back and 5 degrees forward; the panel also pivots from landscape to horizontal. The monitor moves so smoothly that all adjustments can be made with one finger.

The control panel sits out of sight on the panel's right side, so you have to turn the monitor to see which buttons you're pressing. Using the onscreen menu, you can switch inputs; autoadjust the picture; and control brightness, contrast, and RGB settings, as well as what input you view in the picture-in-picture windows. Though the menu controls take some getting used to, the Gateway FPD2185W comes with a first-rate printed user guide that explains the menu settings in detail and describes the initial setup procedure clearly.

The FPD2185W accepts analog and digital signals (though it ships with only an analog cable) and is HDTV ready. The back of the monitor accommodates signal ports for composite, component, and S-Video connections, plus a USB 2.0 hub that contains one upstream and two downstream ports. Two more downstream USB ports are located along the FPD2185W's right side, just underneath the control panel, making the FPD2185W one of the most well-connected LCDs we've seen.

The Gateway FPD2185W performed excellently in CNET Labs DisplayMate-based tests. Tested at its native 1,680x1,050 resolution, the FPD2185W showed off its contrast ratio with text that popped off the screen with exceptional clarity. Even small-size serif fonts looked dark and clear, their legibility unimpaired by digital noise. The FPD2185W's grayscales were a cut above the usual as well, featuring solid blacks, crisp whites, and a smooth range of in-between tones, with only a smattering of faint off-color tints. Colors also looked bold and vivid, though we did notice that color scales showed a lack of tonal differentiation at the dark end of the spectrum, and at the light end, blue tended to slip into violet. Overall, the FPD2185W's uniform screen showed no notable shadows or other irregularities.

While gaming backgrounds were outstanding, with sharp clear details and no streaking or ghosting, we noticed lots of pixel movement, ghosting, and a lack of sharpness in our DVD test.

The Gateway FPD2185W's one-year limited warranty is two years shy of the industry-standard three years. However, you can purchase a three-year extended warranty for $30--a reasonable upgrade fee considering the monitor's low price. Gateway conveniently places a tag listing Gateway's customer-service URL and the tech support phone numbers and hours on the back of each FPD2185W. Tech support via phone is available from 5 a.m. to midnight PT, seven days a week.