HP LP2065 user reviews

Pros Super-sharp text, slim design, 4 separate DVI/A cables incld.

Cons Hidden plastic tabs make chord management hard to use.

Summary Would you buy a Lexus and then complain that it doesn't have an adequate bed for carrying yard debris? Of course you wouldn't. It's a Lexus, not a dump truck. That said, you need to understand why (I think) HP came out with this particular, standard 4:3 monitor.

Pay attention, all you future reviewers: This monitor is not a widescreen home theater wannabe for a good reason. It is meant to be an office monitor (whether for home office or work), and it fulfills that role better than any TFT monitor I have ever seen.

The text is so, so clean. Whether tiny, thin courier or bloated arial in zoom mode, the edges of the text are amazingly sharp, at least much sharper than any other monitor I've ever seen (notice the dot pitch at .255). Also, the bold blacks on my monitor are almost the color of an off-set print black. That's amazing for a TFT monitor! Also, unlike my Dell 2405, the brightness on this monitor can be adjusted remarkably well to a paper-colored white that is easier on the eyes, yet still clear and easy to read. Because it's 4:3, it has much more height for reading full pages than a 20-inch widescreen would have, and unlike my enormous Dell 2405, it is not so huge that it consumes my entire desk. I am still able to place my paper tray at a good reading height beside my monitor. Perfect.

I don't work for HP, but I'm quite certain when I say that HP knew what they were doing when they put together these specs. Finally someone came out with a monitor that, instead of chasing after the DVD/Doom crowd, is meant to please the many thousands of office workers, writers, editors, and anyone else who has to stare at thousands of tiny black letters all day long. I love my Dell 2405 for watching DVDs and playing games, and I love my new HP LP2605 for doing what the Dell doesn't do: Text!

And then...HP throws in four -- that's right, four! -- DVI chords. Two are standard DVI-DVI and two are DVI-Analog. The only minor quibble I have is that there are two small plastic tabs buried inside the chord management system, and they make it all but impossible to get the big power and DVI chords into the slot. But it can be done, and at least they did provide a chord management system. Lastly, I'll end by saying that this monitor is not just good at text; the colors are bright and seem true, and web videos and movie clips play very well. I love it!