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HP L2335 LCD Review |
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Step Aside Apple... |
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by Josh Walrath |
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The stand is slightly larger than other products in its category, but it is highly stable and adjustable. It is easy to rotate, adjust height, and swivel side to side. Users should not have any issues, and at my preferred height I am able to place the center speaker from my Logitech Z-680s so that it sits directly below the monitor. With the power converter inside the monitor though, it is not exactly a featherweight LCD. The base is also very heavy, and it provides a great deal of heft to the product. Still, it is rock solid once set up.
Here is the LCD without the paper. That is a huge expanse of monitor to behold. The other stickers on the bezel come off easy as well. The onscreen menu display is very intuitive and easy to use and navigate. While some users may balk at the aesthetics of having seven small buttons at the bottom of the screen, it makes adjusting the monitor a breeze. Not only that, but it can control the PIP and input functionality with a press of a single button. While some may prefer the minimalist approach of the Apple Cinema displays, I personally prefer the added functionality and ease of the HP adjustment system. HP did a great job with the OSD, and whether using analog inputs or DVI, there are quite a few settings that the user can adjust to their own liking. Conclusion HP has taken the LG SIPS panel and made a very impressive product. Multiple inputs, Picture-in-Picture functionality, an excellent on screen menu system, above average brightness and contrast, and a superior image over pretty much every other LCD that I have used makes this monitor a must have. Other than the slightly pink grays, color fidelity is very good. I use this LCD every day, and I couldn’t be happier. The only real negative is that this panel typically costs a few hundred dollars more than the competing Dell 2405 FPW. The Dell does offer slightly better specifications, but in my short time with the 2405 I was more impressed by the HP’s overall look and feel.
The monitor comes attached to the VGA cable, and it is very tightly installed. Expect cramped fingers when trying to get this off and replace it with the DVI cable. The other external connections are hidden behind a small door on the right hand side of this picture (about halfway up the monitor). The handle is nice, but the lack of a cable management system is a slight downside. While the initial pricetag is a bit high, buyer’s remorse is not a problem once this LCD is plugged in and fired up. This monitor is incredibly easy on the eyes, and in every application I have thrown at it, the HP just takes it and runs. If you are in the market for a large, widescreen aspect LCD, then the HP should be considered right at the top of the list. It is not as expensive as the Apple Cinema display, but its connection options are far greater and it is a much more adjustable monitor. While the Dell might have slightly better contrast and darker blacks, it seemed slower than the HP. About the only other advantage the Dell has over the HP is the ability to do a split screen between two inputs. HP has done an outstanding job with this monitor, and I cannot praise it enough. While it is not perfect, it is certainly one of the best solutions out there in its class.
Overall Score: 95%
Excellence in Engineering Award Pros Large widescreen viewing Excellent response time Excellent image quality Excellent movie reproduction Highly adjustable Excellent on screen menu functionality Excellent input flexibility Silver bezel grows on you Fairly consistent backlight performance and saturation Less expensive than Apple Cinema 23” Display
Cons Slightly more expensive than other options Blacks could be darker Viewing angle a bit compressed No cable management system I can’t afford more of them May cause jealousy with other family members Divorce lawyers end up being more expensiveThe ex-wife took the dogs
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Copyright 1999-2006 PenStar Systems, LLC. |
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