Samsung is known for good-value, reliable products, and its latest Syncmaster 22in widescreen flat-panel monitor is no exception.

It's primarily aimed at those on a budget who nevertheless don’t want to compromise on quality.

With a glossy black finish and a power light that glows a cool blue, the SM226BW would look equally at home in both a sci-fi movie and a city loft.

Its key features include a 2ms response time that avoids image blur or ghosting, built-in power supply, and a ‘Magic Colour’ option that boosts the overall colour to provide a more vivid appearance.

Like competing screens, it has standard VGA and DVI ports, and the stand both swivels and tilts for easier viewing, though sadly its height isn't adjustable. That's a shame, as it sits quite low on the desktop and the control buttons are located under the front panel, making access slightly fiddly.

On a more positive note, pressing the menu button calls up a clear and simple range of options - in fact it’s one of the best laid-out we’ve seen. You can not only tweak the brightness and contrast but also overall sharpness, while a comprehensive custom setting allows adjustment of individual red, green and blue colours. Overall the Samsung’s handling of colours is pleasing to the eye and the flat surface of the screen avoids reflections.

The SM226BW is both sophisticated in looks and features, especially considering its price. A 22in screen is big enough for most people’s PC viewing habits, and the SM26BW really comes into its own when used for juggling several active applications at once.