For watching DVDs, image-editing in Photoshop, and surfing for visuals on the web, a widescreen monitor is a definite boon – fortunately, Eizo has one in the shape of its brand new S2431W; available in black or grey. It’s aimed as much at city traders as creative types – which goes to explain the hefty price tag. A slab of plastic with the base stand pre-attached, it certainly looks like it means business.

Providing a 16:10 format image, 1,000:1 contrast and 450cd/m2 brightness, it certainly has the specification to match its sophisticated, no nonsense styling.

Featuring analogue and digital connectivity, the 24in model has a number of built-in features designed to reduce both eyestrain and energy use – including its own backlight sensor. To a pleasingly flexible degree, it can also be lowered or raised, tilted, swivelled and pivoted to suit your viewing requirements – handy for when you want to share your latest killing on the Futures market.

The main controls are sensibly situated directly beneath the screen at the front, so you can lean over to make any adjustments without fiddling around the side or back. The default screen setting out of the box is sharp, bright and colourful enough to get going from the off, although the colour gamut revealed by our tests was quite poor. There are dedicated Fine Contrast settings for viewing text, pictures or movies with a further custom option.

If that widescreen is literally stretching your applications, you can opt for a ‘normal’ screen size via the ‘others’ menu options, or enlarge it – though both times you’ll end up with inevitable black borders around the image. A stereo mini jack is provided should you want to connect the screen up to your music player, though it must be said that the sound quality is a little tinny.

For peace of mind, the S2431W also comes with a five-year warranty. A quality product that puts the screen first even if the stand is a little plastic-y and the price a little daunting.