HP 2311x

Pros: Thin; glossy finish; very easy set up; perpendicular inputs very nice a comparative hassle with the parallel ones on the old HP w2207); worked as advertised right out of the box; great price point value; another winner for HP!

Cons: Miss the vertical adjustment as on the HP w2207

Summary: This was a replacement for our older HP w2207, so with the HP 2311x, we did get a slightly larger screen. It is part of the main computer hook-up in our home office, so it's primary use is for text, along with some photo archiving. It more than meets this test.

Packaging was very good and secure, and all included items were present. Set-up was a snap, and the minimalist, illustrated instructions were perfect. Matching up to our HP H8 desktop under Windows 7 presented no problems, and we were ready to go in almost no time.

Features are much the same as on our old monitor, so there was no real learning curve here. If there are any display adjustment issues, the CNET's own review and adjustment recommendations are well worth copying for future reference. Love the inclusion of the needed DVI cable (a nice upgrade from our old computer's VGA-only hook-up). Noticed some of the referenced loss of detail in deep black scenes using a DVD, but based on our intended uses, this is a non-issue. The anti-glare screen also presents no problem, as both text and pictures are easy on the eyes. In fairness, our old HP w2207 had a glossy screen, but we had no real problems, so the new 2311x is no big change for us.

The price point at $168.99 through Staples made this a very attractive unit. Though some other brands offer a 3-year warranty, we have been very comfortable and successful with HP products. Their standard 1-year warranty is not an issue, and we have had good experience with HP's customer support.

Reading lots of reviews for some other comparable and highly-rated units yields a surprising number of issues: having to calibrate units to make them properly display; and, questionable customer service and replacement of defective units. Some examples reported: long waits for replacement units in some cases; some customer service encounter that were unintelligible and/or not very helpful/knowledgeable; and, having to pay the freight charges one-way, even for warranty replacement).

After extensive research, it boiled down to our comfort level. Maybe we are not that picky or not that adventurous. Even so, there are many seemingly fine choices in this current price range, so it pays to shop around, see the units up close and personal, and read reviews. After a lot of hunting around, we feel that this HP 2311x will be a great match to our new desktop.