philips949's Full Review: Hewlett Packard f2105 21 inch LCD Monitor
This review discusses the HP F2105 LCD Display
Overview:
I purchased this display to replace a 4 year old Sony 18” panel display and to go with my new computer (HP m7360y). I am a firm believer that the quality of your display is a major part of your computer experience in terms of productivity and eye comfort. The HP F2105 addresses both of those issues far better than competitor’s displays with its clarity, vivid color, speed, and functionality. I do a lot of digital photography (over 1500 photos/month and my kids are heavy into computer strategy/3d games so I decided once again to go top of the line all the way. I also consider HP to be the leader in consumer PC products as they simply are the only PC maker to offer the full portfolio of quality printers and accessories. This was a key factor in my decision as I wanted a turnkey solution for my home computing environment.
Image Quality:
The images produced buy this display are exceptionally clear and vivid. The colors are true across the entire screen with no noticeable variations in quality or color. I used photographs and full screen slides of solid colors to determine if there was any shading or other anomalies. I also had my son play some of his 3d graphics intensive games and he was quite impressed with the speed and quality of the display. Of course, since this display was purchased with my top of the line media center PC I have a very powerful graphics card. The images displayed were smooth and precise. The text was as clear as any LCD in its class. Compared to other displays in this class HP has really delivered a superior performing product in terms of what you see. This is obviously a key influence criteria in my decision to buy the F2105. At $600 this display is a great value and within reach of most users.
Key features:
Again, in a display, size matters but there is more than just size. Clarity and brightness are major considerations as well. When I decided to buy the F2105 I made sure I viewed the same files on each display I looked at so I could have a fair comparison. Hey lets face it when you walk into the store the screen with the coolest picture will be the one that gets your attention. I made a CD with photos, a Powerpoint, Spreadsheet and a Word document. The idea was to see how the display would show what I would normally look at. The F2105 was always at the top of the heap for beauty of the color, clarity of text, and brightness. Sure others were good but this was the best large display in my opinion when weighing in all 4 types of files. The F2105 has the ability to view 2 full size pages of text in MS Word side by side, a huge advantage over smaller displays. The other great thing is if you are a heavy user of Excel.... Think how much time you will save in scrolling with this large screen.
When selecting a large display keep in mind the placement and ergonomics of the display. Since the HP F2105 is a wide screen flat panel it fits better in a small than the old 21” CRT monster I had a few years ago. The wide screen format(11”high x 18”wide viewing area and overall 13.5”high x 23”wide) works well to fit into a tight space. The sturdy base allows for height (4 inches)and angle positioning (5 degrees forward and 35 degrees back) that is a big ergonomic plus with its versatility. A 21” is as big as most would want to go for a personal general use display. If the display is for viewing where more than 1 or 2 people will be doing the viewing get a display designed for that purpose. However, This display works fine as a TV screen in a small room and since it is HDTV ready you can really enjoy the show. I bought the HP Media Center PC which offers a IO like capability so this display really fills the bill for its dual purpose with style and grace. Also the wide screen is great for viewing DVD movies. This display is HDTV ready which truly makes this not only a great computer monitor but, it is an equally great television display the DVI-D input can be connected directly to HDTV tuner.
Inputs:Both analog 15pin and digital DVI-D that are selectable via the on screen menu.
Ports: 2 USB2.0 ports on the left side to plug in more stuff.
Key Specifications(the ones that are important):
Native Resolution-1680x1050
Contrast Ratio-1000:1
HDTV Modes-480i,480p,720p,1080i
The HP website has a PDF with all the detail specs that you can access by going to the HP Shopping web site.
Reliability/service/support:
I have to give kudos to HP/Compaq for its reliable products simply because I really push my gear hard and my old computer and printer have never failed me. I did decide however to purchase HP’s “all inclusive” extended warranty with in-home service. Simply it is a great piece of mind especially when investing in very technical products. I have used HP service for issues on other HP products and found the service to be outstanding and the technical staff will usually stretch to make sure you are happy.
HP’s web site is packed with stuff that can help you be more productive including FREE On-line Classes. I strongly suggest you take advantage of these. Although they are slanted to HP product there is a lot of great tips that you can use.
There are dozens of decent displays on the market besides HP. So why would one buy an HP display vs. a cheaper product with similar features? First HP as a company stands alone as the clear leader in consumer PC products with the best support in the business. When going for a great display I want to know the company will stand behind its product. HP is simply that kind of company. Aside from the exceptional quality of the image and performance this is one of the most important factors in my decision to go with HP.
Other big players such as Dell and Gateway also offer outstanding products but I have found the support to be not quite as good as HP in terms of response time, content, technical skill/communication ability, and overall experience. I also feel that HP offers more comprehensive quality solutions for a total computing environment.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.