The appeal of a MacBook’s portability may
sway some Apple users away from an iMac, but when you're sitting at a desk with
a 13in screen and a pile of work to be completed, that choice can seem a poor
one.
So it makes sense to hook the MacBook up to
an external monitor such as BenQ’s GW2750HM - one of a four-monitor series
recently launched by BenQ. This 27in LED model is the largest display in the
series, and features a range of inputs, in-built speakers and a Vertical
Alignment panel display.
BenQ’s monitor weighs a reasonable 5.6kg
and measures 48.9cm tall, 65.5cm wide and 19.1 cm at the base. Offering 1920 x
1080 HD resolutions at 16:9, the GW2750HM stamps its authority on an office
environment.
The monitor slips into a niche environment,
as there is very little in the 27in monitor range with a VA display at an
affordable price. While there are cheaper Twisted Nematic (TN) display monitors
on the market, they lack the same viewing angles or contrast as VA and IPS
displays. And, for affordability, IPS panels measuring 27in sadly do not come
cheap.
Vertical Alignment LED panels typically
offer above-average viewing angles and exceptional color contrast, but have
notoriously slow response times. BenQ’s new GW series is no different. Its 4ms
GTG response time is no world-beater; however, response times below 6ms are
often difficult to tell apart for day-to-day, non-gaming use.
Users of fast-paced games may steer away
from monitors slower than 2ms, but for the average computer user it is
definitely fast enough.
The monitor's pixel response time can be
adjusted through three options -Off, High and Premium each improving the
monitor’s performance noticeably.
“This 27in LED model is the largest display
in the series, and features a range of inputs, in-built speakers and a Vertical
Alignment panel display.”
Testing the screen didn’t show any
ghosting, nor did media viewing draw out any glitches. In fact, watching movies
and TV shows on the GW2750HM was quite enjoyable; the deep contrast range
allowed for great viewing and the display, at 27in, feels big.
The GW2750HM features a high contrast ratio
of 5000:1, meaning its brightest white pixel is 5000 times brighter than the
darkest black. The screen offers even backlighting and deep black coloring.
Six Senseye 3 settings are available as
preset viewing modes suited for different media use - Standard, Movie, Game,
Photo, sRGB and Eco with Eco mode offering reduced power consumption without a
drastic dip in picture quality.
The monitor’s base and stand are packed
separately and slot together with the aid of two screws, providing a secure
stand that is quick and easy to set up.
However, the GW2750HM’s ergonomics are
poor. The height of the screen isn’t adjustable and the monitor doesn’t allow
for horizontal screen movement either. The screen does, however, tilt forward
and back slightly.
The rear of the monitor holds the D-sub
(VGA), DVI-D and HDMI input ports, a 3.5mm headphone port and the power. They
are in a very awkward position for users to view and utilize. Included with the
monitor are DVI-D, VGA and an audio cable, but users of new Macs will need to
buy a Thunderbolt adapter.
The speakers in the monitor are limited -
in fact, the speakers in my MacBook Pro produced a better sound.
BenQ’s GW2750HM 27in LED monitor offers
great performance for its price, and would suit anyone looking for a
jack-of-all-trades 27in monitor that won’t break the bank.
