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Broader vision: Widescreen TFTs Group Test
Large widescreen TFT monitors used to be a luxury for those with deep
pockets, but that’s all changed. We review six displays costing less than £600
Let’s face it, the old standard 4:3 screen format is just so 20th Century:
movies and DVDs are made in widescreen format, digital TV is in widescreen
format and your camcorder can probably record in widescreen format too.
When it comes to PC monitors, most of us are still stuck in the past. Despite
huge advances in multimedia performance and widescreen support in games, many
users are still missing out on the fun.
The familiar 1,024 x 768 or 1,600 x 1,200 pixel resolutions are in the ratio
4:3, echoing the shape of those cute old-fashioned analogue TVs you used to be
able to buy. TFTs that measure 17in and 19in are even squarer than that, usually
with an aspect ratio of 5:4.
Watching a 16:9 format DVD on a standard 4:3 monitor wastes 25 per cent of
your screen area to display the black bars at the top and bottom of the image.
Rearranging your pixels into a widescreen format is far more efficient, giving
you a bigger image for the same screen diagonal size.
The current crop of widescreen monitors usually have an aspect ratio of
16:10. This lets you display a full 16:9 image with just enough room for some
menus and window furniture top and bottom, maximising your ability to enjoy and
edit widescreen video.
We've looked at models costing less than £600, but with at least a 20in
widescreen display: a tough one, but the vendors rose to the challenge.
They’ve come up with a wide range of prices and a variety of features
including built-in speakers, rotating screens, card readers and even TV tuners.
So why not get with the programme and go widescreen?
Our six widescreen monitors are all very different beasts.
LG’s M203WX bristles with features, while Apple’s
20in Cinema Display exudes minimalist confidence by
removing them. Both MVA and IPS panels are employed with their typical
advantages and disadvantages (see box).
There’s a huge difference in price: the most expensive, the LG M203WX, costs
nearly £600 and the least expensive, Belinea’s 10 20 35W
costs a mere £367.
Dell’s rather compact Ultrasharp 2005FPW eschews
space-hogging extras such as audio, while HP’s comparatively huge f2105 has a
21in screen flanked by large vertical speakers.
Choosing the right monitor here may just be a matter of what you can afford.
It’s a simple decision therefore to give the Recommended award
to the Belinea 10 20 35W for its superb value for money.
It offers a high contrast ratio, built-in audio and a three-year warranty all
for £100 less than any other monitor in this group, and £232 less than the most
expensive.
The recipient of our top award was a less easy decision to make: the style,
ease of use and quality of Apple’s 20in Cinema Display are undeniable, but the
lack of a height adjustment and advanced user controls limit its flexibility for
PC users and its ergonomics are questionable. But it would make an excellent
choice for those who demand accurate colour.
The LG M203WX’s unique TV tuner, remote control and built-in media card
reader may be appealing features, but at a price.
Dell’s Ultrasharp 2005FPW is a strong contender for office use with its
ergonomic stand and flexible video inputs but it’s undercut on price and
outperformed by the Philips 200W6. Dell’s lack of a clear upfront policy on dead
pixels also goes against it.
Our Editor’s Choice therefore goes to HP’s
f2105. It’s pricey but very impressive. It takes up more
space – but has a larger 21in screen. In the labs, the image quality stood out
in test after test.
We’re assuming you’re going to watch the occasional widescreen video and or
play the odd game and here the f2105 can’t be beaten. The screen is bigger, the
speakers are better and the viewing angle is wonderfully wide.
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