Dell UltraSharp 2007WFP

The Dell UltraSharp 2007WFP, a 20-inch wide-screen LCD, boasts bountiful features and connections, excellent image quality, and all the adjustability we could ask for in a monitor. And at $529, it's one of the least expensive 20-inch LCDs we've seen. In fact, in the wide-screen category, we've seen better performance from only the Gateway FPD2185W and the HP f2105, but both cost substantially more than the UltraSharp 2007WFP. The Envision EN2028 comes close to matching the Dell's price, but it lacks the Dell's adjustability and performance. For identical features in a standard-aspect screen, check out our review of the Dell UltraSharp 2007FP.

The 2007WFP wears the same black-and-silver design as the rest of Dell's new fleet and has the same smooth adjustment functions. You can pivot this display between portrait and landscape modes, tilt the panel about 20 degrees forward and 5 back, swivel it 45 degrees left or right, and raise the panel about 3.5 inches in height. All adjustments are easy to make, though when pivoting or swiveling the monitor, the base tends to wobble. The inputs on the back panel are easy to access if you pivot the panel into portrait position; they consist of one upstream and two downstream USB 2.0 ports, DVI-D and D-Sub signal inputs, a 12-volt audio jack for connecting an optional Dell Sound Bar speaker, plus composite and S-Video inputs for connecting a VCR, a DVD player, or a camcorder. Along the right edge of the panel are two more USB 2.0 ports, and Dell includes DVI-D, D-Sub, and a USB cable in the package. With all these connectivity options, a good cable-containment system is a must, but this is one place where the Dell 2007WFP falls slightly short: the display's slender neck has only a simple rectangular cutout through which to thread the cables.

The 2007WFP's onscreen menu (OSM) also has an unusual, horizontal configuration that is set along the monitor's bottom bezel; most OSMs are vertical and in the middle of the screen. We give Dell points for straying from the norm, but we're not convinced different is better in this case. Each of the adjustability options has its own submenu, and when navigating within that submenu, you can make further selections to tweak settings. There's no dedicated exit button, however, which makes it difficult to make your way through the options. Despite the OSM's tricky navigation, there are some useful features, including a dedicated button for launching the picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture functions, as well as a dedicated button for switching between inputs. There are also three preset image modes for desktop, multimedia, and gaming use, plus two color-temperature submenus for PC and Mac modes.

Tested at its native resolution of 1,680x1,050, the Dell UltraSharp 2007WFP delivered excellent performance on CNET Labs' DisplayMate-based tests. The display's grayscale performance impressed us, showing a wide range of very light and very dark grays with only slight hints of pink. Color screens showed slight compression in the reds and the blues but were vivid overall. Screen uniformity was also very good, and the viewing angle was excellent: we could clearly see the picture, with little change in color or brightness, when we tilted or turned the display panel from side to side. Despite a relatively slow 16-millisecond pixel-response rate, DVD performance was also sharp, smooth, and detailed. We noticed only minimal ghosting. Gaming performance was nearly perfect, with accurate colors and overall sharpness. When we connected the 2007WFP to an HDTV signal and looked at it up close, we could see some digital noise in solid backgrounds, which we would expect. From a normal viewing distance, however, the picture was clear and startlingly vivid.

The Dell 2007WFP comes with an industry-standard three-year warranty on parts, labor, and the backlight. You can extend it by one year for $29 and by two years for $49. Dell offers toll-free, 24/7 tech support plus several electronic support options, such as community forums, a searchable knowledge base, and documentation and driver downloads via its Web site.


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