Iiyama ProLite T2250MTS review

The T2250MTS is a 22in Full HD widescreen monitor and the first touchscreen display we’ve seen that’s certified for Windows 7. Rather than using a resistive screen, which detects pressure, the T2250MTS has infrared cameras and receivers around its perimeter. This means the screen is set back from the front bezel by around 5mm, although it’s barely noticeable. A stylus slots into the bottom edge of the monitor, but this is only required for use with fiddly menus.

As you’d expect, the T2250MTS supports multitouch gestures. You can use two fingers to zoom in and out of web pages and photos or rotate images, and can even draw two lines simultaneously in Microsoft’s Paint. However, there’s no pressure control, so it’s no replacement for a graphics tablet. Not all programs support touch control, either: you can’t draw or rotate images in Photoshop Elements 8, for example, although Corel’s Digital Studio 2010 has great multitouch support.

You can tap the screen with your finger to select, tap twice to double-click and hold for a right-click. We found the touchscreen accurate in finger-friendly programs such as Microsoft Virtual Earth, but you need to keep your other fingers well away from the display, or it gets confused.

The stand is reassuringly sturdy, which minimises wobbling when you’re prodding the screen. You can’t adjust the height, but it tilts and swivels. There are VGA and DVI-D inputs – and also a mini-jack audio input, but the speakers are very quiet. You’ll need to connect the included USB cable to your PC for the touchscreen to work. Drivers are installed automatically and you won’t need to configure Windows 7 – we wouldn’t recommend using any other version of Windows with a touchscreen.

We have no complaints about image quality. Colours are rich and accurate, viewing angles are good and there’s no lag or ghosting in games or videos. The glossy finish is highly reflective, though, so reflections could be a problem.

Windows 7’s touch support is great for tablet PCs, or perhaps an all-in-one PC for the kitchen, but we’re not convinced of its usefulness on a desk. If you place the screen at arm’s length, which is the ideal viewing position, it’s uncomfortable to use for long. Also few applications support multitouch. At this price, you’re paying a large premium for touch capabilities and, unless you desperately want them, you’re better off saving your money and buying a standard 22in monitor for around £100 less.