ViewSonic is tops when it comes to the under-30-inch displays/monitors category, but there are a bevy of rivals vying for the No. 1 spot. Check out these companies that were singled out by solution providers as alternatives to the market leader, according to criteria set by the 2009 CRN Channel Contenders survey. The research sought to identify the top vendors that solution providers choose as alternatives to market leaders.

Samsung consistently hits the high notes, coming out with increasingly sophisticated products. High-resolution, sleeker designs and low power consumption have become the company's mantra. In addition to its SyncMaster line, the Touch of Color series has also proved popular and has recently gotten thinner -- new models have a screen-depth ratio of just 1.18 to 2.58 inches thick.

When it comes to display monitors, HP isn't the first name that comes to mind, especially considering its diverse market segments. However, HP's 24-inch flat-panel computer monitor LP2475W in particular garnered rave reviews, as much for its features as for its $560 price tag.

NEC has hit the market with both high-end products and more practical, lower-priced green, ergonomic models. NEC's 22-inch MultiSync E222W LCD pivoting, portrait-enabled monitor, listed for $199 to $219, includes "ECO Mode," a carbon footprint meter.

LG is a long-time player in the display space. Earlier this year, LG got a $500 million shot in the arm when it extended an agreement to provide Apple with LCD panels. And after two quarters of dismal earnings, the company has reported positive results, so much so that it is sinking a whopping $2.6 billion into LCD production.

The Taipei, Taiwan-based company made a big splash earlier this year when it rolled out the Acer H233H bmid 23-inch LCD display. The monitor features the company's proprietary TouchSensor technology, a touch-sensitive control that can adjust display settings and LED-illuminated controls.

Regarded by solution providers for its ability to provide products at a wide range of price points, Dell offers displays such as the E228WFP 22-inch Widescreen Flat Panel monitor (starting at $209 before adding customized features). Or you can spend $1,600 on the award-winning Dell Crystal 22-inch Widescreen Flat Panel monitor.

Philips last month launched the Brilliance 225B1CS 22-inch LCD monitor. The cool factor is the PowerSensor feature, which can detect if a user is sitting in front of the computer, and if not, will darken, saving users up to 50 percent in power consumption.

Like other PC makers, Lenovo's displays can get a boost from being bundled with the company's desktops or notebooks. At the high end, Lenovo offers a 24-inch low-halogen product. The L2440x Wide is also mercury-free and arsenic-free and uses up to 60 percent less power than conventional models.

In May, BenQ debuted its newest 22-inch LCD Monitor TV, the SE2241, aimed at "second TV" and high-density urban markets. The SE2241 includes BenQ's proprietary Senseye Human Vision Technology, 5-ms rapid response time and 10,000:1 Auto Contrast Enhancement. Connectivity for the display includes component, composite, S-Video, D-Sub and HDMI inputs that allow for a variety of PC, HDTV and Blu-Ray sources.