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Iiyama might not be the player in PC displays it once was, but that hasn't stopped it from carving out an important niche for itself. It was, for instance, one of the first companies to release a sub-£300 24in monitor using a TN panel with its ProLite B2403WS - a sector that has boomed ever since. Now we're looking at another rarity, a 22in monitor with a Full HD, 16:9, 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. We're the very first to see it and it has to be said, we like what we see!

Why? Because being the tech zealots that we are, more resolution is always a good thing! Hell, give us 1,920 x 1,080 on a 12in laptop and we'd be delighted, even if it did mean using a magnifying glass to read the text. In all seriousness, however, the benefits of a higher resolution are very practical. More resolution means sharper imagery and more pertinently more desktop real-estate for all the modern applications that place ever increasing demands on that commodity. Thus, a 22in monitor that eschews the usual 1,680 x 1,050 resolution for something roomier, like 1,920 x 1,080, is something worth getting excited about.

Things only look better when you take a look at the price: £150. No, that isn't a typo, the E2208HDS and its 'Full HD' resolution won't set you back more than £150. In fact, it's available for slightly less than this, the cheapest price we found being £144.74 inc. VAT and delivery. This makes it little more expensive than many entry-level 22in monitors with regular 1,680 x 1,050 panels, like the perfectly capable HANNspree Xm-S Verona W22 and even the highly adjustable BenQ G2200WT.

Predictably this low price does result in some compromises, primarily in design and adjustability. Aesthetically it looks solid and utilitarian thanks to an entirely matte black plastic finish, but this is no bad thing since, truth be told, we find many of the glossy finishes of modern monitors a bit annoying. Vitally, the screen bezel is nice and slim, aiding a relatively low profile appearance that should make having two side-by-side possible, even on a relatively small desk - an attractive idea given that this option would still cost you less than £300.

Adjustability, however, is as basic as it comes, with just tilt on offer - you don't even get a swivel base. As ever this would be a desirable feature so it would be good if Iiyama decided to make a slightly more expensive version that included some height adjustment, since many may find the premium worthwhile. On the plus side, if you habitually mount your monitors on an adjustable arm (hello Mr. Stockbroker) then there is a VESA compliant mounting, plus the lack of other niceties means you're not paying for a base you'll throw away.

Likewise, this model comes with VGA and DVI but no HDMI, but Iiyama has already told us it'll be releasing a triple input version in January that'll include HDMI as well as, one would hope, a line-out to go with the included line-in input on this model. As you might have guessed from the line-in jack, the E2208HDS does have speakers. As ever they're pretty abject, especially since they output from the back of the monitor, but they suffice for watching the occasional funny video in the office.

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