Quite possibly the Cadillac of monitors,
the Dell U2711 is one of, if not the single best value 2D monitor on the market
today. Admittedly it’s expensive, but the price isn’t as bad as it seems; since
release almost two years ago, it’s lost over $480 off its retail price, but
absolutely none of its brilliance.
The ultra-HD resolution of 2560x1440 is
worth paying for alone, and the IPS panel offers fantastic contrast, brightness
and color replication. Connectivity is through dual DVI, VGA, HDMI, component
and DisplayPort (so pretty much everything) and you get a 3-in-1 card reader
and a four-port USB hub built in. There are no token integrated speakers, but
if you’re spending this much on a monitor, then you probably aren’t planning to
use a pair of tinny, on-board speakers anyway.
27”
Dell Ultra Sharp U2711 A04 WQHD
It’s fair to say better monitors are
available, and the lack of 3D may put off those looking for high-end entertainment
visuals, but in all other ways it’ s excellent value and a must for those who
want to get the best pictures at bargain prices.
3D-Ready Monitors
3D monitors are a must-have high-end
accessory, and they’re also just reaching the point where you might actually be
able to afford one.
The big decision when choosing a 3D monitor
currently revolves around whether you choose one with active or passive 3D
capabilities. Active 3D requires you to wear powered glasses which are bulky
and relatively expensive, and need to be synced with the screen’s output using
a sensor. Even so, the actual picture tends to be brighter and more
well-defined than the alternative.
The alternative is passive 3D, which uses a
polarized screen and inexpensive, unpowered polarized-lens glasses, which
people generally find more comfortable to wear. The price of this, however, is
a duller, poorer-quality image. Polarized displays effectively halve the
resolution of an image in order to create a 3D effect, interlacing the images
to display both the left and right sides simultaneously.
By comparison, active shutters turn each
lens on or off at an incredibly fast rate while the monitor flips between two
images at twice the normal update speed, allowing them to show 3D at full
resolution.
For reference, nearly all active 3D
monitors use TN panels, although you can get passive 3D IPS and VA panels.
Good for: 3D gaming and video.
Bad for: Saving money.
Budget Choice: 23” AOC e2352PHz
A TN panel will fit most of your needs
without you ever noticing a problem
It seems crazy that you can get a 3D
monitor for under $320, but the AOC e2352PHz is exactly that. The 23” passive
3D screen is bundled with a free pair of lightweight polarized glasses and
clip-on lenses for those who already wear glasses.
However, it’ s worth remembering that
unless you’re a very heavy gamer, 3D monitors only run in 3D mode for a
fraction of the time you’re using them. In 2D mode, the e2352PHz is no better
than any other cheap TN panel. It is full HD, but it also has a poor picture,
made poorer by the polarization required to make passive 3D viable.
23”
AOC e2352PHz
Still, it’s far from the worst 3D monitor
available, and the super-competitive pricing makes it a decent choice if you’re
determined to go for a 3D monitor but can’t afford an active panel. Just don’t
say we didn’t warn you.
Performance Choice: 27” Asus VG278H
If you’re serious about the latest 3D
technology, you need look no further than the Asus VG278H. With NVidia’s 3D
Vision 2, and LightBoost technology, and a 120Hz TN+ panel with 2ms response
times, this is a monitor designed to give the best that any 3D monitor can. The
native resolution is full HD (1920x1080), which means you should get a
near-perfect picture for hi-def movies and TV, and while its 27” dimensions are
slightly too small for the resolution, that helps stop the price spiraling way,
way out of control.
27”
Asus VG278H
The stand is adjustable in a variety of
ways, which helps mitigate its slightly narrow viewing angles, and there are
rear-facing speakers included. You get a single pair of active shutter glasses,
and the 3D emitter on the top of the monitor is adjustable, meaning you can
match the 3D reception to your position without having to move the entire
screen should that take your fancy.
Connectivity includes a single HDMI input,
dual-link DVI and VGA inputs, as well as audio-in and headphone-out jacks. At
roughly $767, you might expect multiple HDMI ports or component/composite
inputs but, as previously noted, this isn’t a screen that worries too much
about being attractive to TV and movie viewers.
If you’re concerned about the cost, we
should point out that unless you’re deeply into 3D gaming, it’s hard to
recommend spending this much on any monitor, let alone this particular one.
It’s impressive, but if the lack of certain features or the high price makes
you hesitate, it’s definitely not for you. Gamers, however, will justifiably
love it.
