Our spirits dropped a notch or two on our excite-o-meter when we unpacked this 22-inch widescreen monitor. Black-and-silver plastic combos are hardly eye-catching these days, and on more than one occasion it's been an early indication of a cheaply made monitor. But Chimei has a few tricks up its sleeve to ensure that the 223D isn't just another run-of-the-mill widescreen affair.

Looking beyond the colour scheme and plastic feel, the 223D has an attractive rounded appearance that keeps things simple. The placement of status LEDs to the bottom-right of the monitor is well concealed and an improvement on the rather garish lights of Chimei's previous models.

It's also one of the most genuine flatscreen models we've seen, with only slight protrusion at the back, just above where the stand originates. It's weightier than many models in its class, but that's a positive sign and gives the monitor a sturdy feel.

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