knotheadusc's Full Review: Hewlett Packard W1907 19 inch LCD Monitor
December has been an exciting month for me in terms of computer shopping. My old machine was starting to slowly die on me and it was time to buy a new one. And I figured, while I was purchasing a new computer, I'd go ahead and get a new monitor to replace my five year old 15 inch Hewlett Packard flatscreen. I wanted a bigger monitor, one that would accommodate my snazzy new machine, but I wasn't interesting in busting our budget. My husband Bill and I spotted the Hewlett Packard w1907 LCD Monitor, which was priced at $230 and looked like it would be a great match for the Hewlett Packard Pavilion Elite computer we were planning to buy. The price was reasonable and in the store, the monitor definitely met my expectations. We took it home.
Setting up what was in the box...
My new monitor was very easy to assemble and came in two basic pieces, the monitor itself and the metal base. I had no trouble snapping the two pieces together and adjusting the screen so that it was set up appropriately for my work station.
What I like about this monitor...
The thing I really like most about this monitor is its size. It's nice and wide with nineteen viewable inches, yet thin, weighing only eleven pounds. I also appreciate the great picture I get with this monitor. It's certified for use with Windows Vista and has what HP calls "a BrightView widescreen panel for brilliant picture quality". Frankly, I don't know too much about the BrightView panel. I just know that this monitor offers a great picture that is leaps and bounds beyond what I had with my old monitor. In fact, in some ways, the picture quality is almost too good because the picture is so sharp that it might reveal my notable limitations as a photographer!
Playing the Sims 2 with this new monitor is a real pleasure. I can see my Sims with crystal clarity. I also recently acquired SimCity Societies and noticed that the picture using this monitor was vastly improved over my old monitor, which was so poor that it made the game worthless. Now that I have a new monitor and a new computer to go with it, I plan to waste plenty of time playing new games that require good equipment.
I also like the fact that this monitor automatically adjusts its voltage. That may seem like a silly thing to mention, but I live in Germany and I bought this monitor at AAFES, which sells a lot of electronics with American specifications. When plugging in American devices, it's very important to be sure that the voltage is set properly or the machine is hooked up to an appropriate transformer, or else there might be a big explosion. I'm pleased to announce that the Hewlett Packard w1907 can be plugged in and it will automatically adjust to the proper voltage. I wish I could say the same about my Hewlett Packard computers. But that story's for a different review!
My Hewlett Packard w1907 Monitor also looks great on my desk. It's has a nice modern appearance with sleek black and silver details and an LCD screen. I wish the screen weren't as shiny as it is, because the shine can cause a glare under certain conditions, but the picture quality is still excellent. Plus, the monitor automatically adjusts itself and has a "going to sleep" function. Optimum resolution for this monitor is 1440x900 at 60Hz.
Adjusting the settings for this monitor is quite easy. The menu allows for manual adjustment and allows settings for nine different languages. I also like the Quick View function, which allows me to set the monitor for different uses, like gaming, writing text, or viewing DVDs or television.
Weaknesses for the HP w1907 monitor...
The Hewlett Packard w1907 includes a pair of very basic integrated speakers. I don't use the integrated speakers because I have a nice set of Bose speakers that already suit my needs very well. It's nice to know that if I needed speakers, I'd have them at my disposal, but the speakers that come with this monitor are not that impressive.
Adjusting the monitor for height might be a problem for some people. The monitor sits low and doesn't seem to adjust easily up and down. This is not an issue for me because I'm short, but some other reviewers have commented that they've had to use objects to elevate the monitor so that it's at a comfortable height.
Also, this was not an issue for me, but it might be for some of you techies out there. My monitor did not come with a DVI-D connector or cable. DVI-D equipment only comes with certain models and your computer must have a DVI-compliant graphics card to use DVI.
And finally... this monitor picks up dust and fingerprints like you wouldn't believe. But that's a pretty minor gripe, especially since I'm a slob.
Overall...
So far, I've really enjoyed using this monitor. I realize it's been five years since I last bought a monitor, but this one really puts my old one to shame. The picture is sharp, bright, and beautiful and makes gaming a real pleasure. I no longer get the shadow tracks that I used to get on my old monitor. I find the monitor easy to use, especially given the fact that I'm living in a country where we use 220 voltage. I also like the fact that it has a widescreen, yet isn't bulky and doesn't take up a lot of workspace. And again, at $230, this monitor was less than half the price of what we paid for my old recently retired fifteen inch monitor. Granted, flat screen monitors were more cutting edge back then, but this one truly does blow the doors off my old monitor.
I'm giving this monitor four stars, only because of the speakers and height adjustment issues. Otherwise, I'd definitely give it five.
Technical specifications (from Amazon.com)
Product Features
19 in Widescreen Thin Film Transistor LCD Active Matrix TV
1000:1 Contrast Ratio and Resolution at 1440 x 900
High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection
Standard 15 Pin D Sub Analog and Advanced DVI D Digital
Interfaces
With a resolution of 1440 x 900 and wide workspace, you can watch videos, edit photos, surf the net or play games with the HP w1907. Its wide aspect r...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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