HP W2207

Pros: Even the dullest images appear brilliant and stunning.

Cons: Even the dullest images appear brilliant and stunning.

Summary: After using this monitor for about a month I have come to the conclusion that this monitor is both spectacularly good and at the same time spectacularly bad, and the reason for both is the same reason. This monitor is bright and gorgeous described by one rather articulate writer as "juicy." I'll throw in my 2 cents by agreeing with that statement. This monitor is juicy, and displays a wonderful image of almost any picture. There are three things that I use this monitor for, and for two of them it is excellent. For one use however, it is pretty bad.

First, I'm a gamer. In the gaming department this may be the best LCD I've ever seen, or is at least the best I've ever owned. Ghosting is minimal or non-existent, colors are vibrant and bright. Images are clear and crisp. Even non-native resolutions are handled well. This is a top-notch gaming LCD. Its true, water looks wet, fog looks cold, grass appears to be alive and looking directly into the virtual sun makes you squint.

Second, I use my PC as a Personal Video Recorder (PVR). For videos this LCD again is one of the best I've ever seen. It could almost pass for a plasma HD TV. Again, bright colors, and vibrant images. DVDs and HD TV look great. Movies come to life. I was surprised how dark of black this LCD can make. It almost looks like it could be a plasma.

Third, I use my PC for some Photoshop and image editing. This is where the monitors strength becomes its weakness. Because this monitor improves the visual quality of most images it becomes very difficult to get accurately displayed colors, brightness and contrast for images.

For example, one day was I creating some DvD jewel case labels. I got them looking just right and went to print them. They printed very dull and dark, the brightness/contrast was too low. And yet the image looked GREAT on my monitor. After a few prints that were too dull like this I moved the images on to an iMac. Sure enough, the images appeared as they were (dull and dark) on the Mac. The Mac gave me a better idea of how the images would actually print.

My conclusion: An average user cannot go wrong with this monitor. What user wouldn't want a monitor that brightens up every image it displays? A graphic designer however, may want to consider that color replication on this monitor is difficult to achieve. Yes it can be done but its an uphill battle and the included software does not help (do not install it).

As a last note, I did install the monitor drivers (note: JUST THE DRIVER, not the HP management software) and it did help to improve the overall image, especially text and it caused no problems. VGA or DVI connections seem to make very little or no difference to image quality. Both look great.