Four Wide Screen 19" Monitors Compared

HP W19

I don't test many displays from HP. That's partly because many of them (like Dell's) are made to be sold as part of a set comprising the computer, monitor, printer, etc. And often with that kind of package, the monitor is the last factor people take into account in making their choice. That's a mistake. Why? Because a display becomes obsolete less quickly than a PC! The HP W19 monitor is designed to ship with the manufacturer's computers. Yet it's available for individual sale, too, and its characteristics, in relation to its price, attracted my attention.

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Diagonal measurement19 inches
Native resolution1440 x 900
Contrast500: 1
Brightness300 nits
Latency8 ms (GTG)
Colors16.2 M
H/V viewing angles150/130
Speakersno
ConnectivityVGA / DVI

Design, Finish, Ergonomics, Connectivity

Design And Finish

Due to budget constraints, HP has produced a simple monitor with no flourishes. Except for the rather odd-looking base, the looks bespeak careful design. For the price, the finish is respectable, with simple but robust, high-quality plastics.

Ergonomics

The ergonomics is also very basic, with a tilt adjustment only. The buttons are easy to access. The OSD is simple and very consumer-oriented.

Connectivity

Nothing to write home about - the monitor has the basic minimum: VGA and DVI connectors.

  • V3NOM
    from reading thigns on tomshardware on my 17" CRT i had for years and years to buying my first LCD a couple of months ago :S how embawwassing... anyway it's amazing. the better quality and viewable space on my 19" widescreen is just unbelievable compared to the often blurry writing on CRT's. my dad still uses a 17" CRT and whenever i rarely go over to his computer it's really plain at the difference between them. WIDESCREEN LCD FTW!!!
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