The Asus name may not be the first that comes to mind when you think of high fashion meeting consumer electronics, but not for lack of trying. With the Eee Seashell, the notoriously budget-focused Taiwanese company put aside its focus on price and injected some much-needed style into otherwise bland devices. And now it’s taking the same approach to monitors.
The Designo MS discards the basic black bezel other monitors routinely don in favor of a design that’s so clean and sophisticated, it might have come out of Cupertino with a bit more white plastic. The entire LCD panel sits in a slim 16.5mm-deep slab that stretches all the way down to the desk, sitting on its chin and eliminating the need for a traditional pedestal. On the back, a unique “ring stand” keeps the monitor propped upright, but also allows for adjustments with the press of one finger.
Asus also emphasizes the panel within the Designo, which boasts a 50,000:1 contrast ratio, 2ms response times, and full HD resolution in the top-of-the-line 23.6-inch widescreen model. The company also claims that power consumption has been reduced by 40 percent to just 33 watts, and 1 watt while on standby.
The company unveiled the Designo MS at Europe’s IFA show, suggesting a European launch in the near future, but pricing and availability have not yet been formally announced. More information, including specs on different Designo models ranging from 23.6 inches to 20.0 inches, can be found at Asus.
