Acer AL2423Wdr 24" LCD review
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Product:
Acer AL2423Wdr 24" 6ms GTG 1920x1200 LCD
Pros:
-It's really big.
-The controls are very straightforward and easy to use
-Very sharp and bright display.
-1920x1200 resolution (1080p+)
-Monitor stand is very flexible, allowing portrait mode and very fine adjustments.
Cons:
-Anti-Glare surface tends to shimmer
-No HDMI
-Many people report a problem where the monitor will display 'No Signal' requiring a hard reboot of the monitor
-Panel gets very warm
-Only available inputs are VGA and DVI
-The speakers are hilariously crappy (obviously)
Specs:
Panel:
Active Matrix, TFT LCD
Screen Size:
24"
Widescreen:
Yes
Display Type:
WUXGA
Recommended Resolution:
1920 x 1200
Viewing Angle:
178°(H) / 178°(V)
Pixel Pitch:
0.27mm
Display Colors:
16.7 Million
Brightness:
500 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio:
1000:1
Response Time:
6ms GTG
Detailed Review:
ACER AL2423WDR 24" LCD
Acer doesn't have the best name in the PC enthusiast market, they're known to make average products with a few design flaws. The AL2423Wdr 24" LCD retailing currently (2/10/07) at $599.99 from www.Newegg.com also has it's flaws, but it's also a solid performer and an amazing monitor for the price. The first thing you will notice about this LCD is the size, the moment it comes out of the box it has a "wow" factor which doesn't fade away even after a week of use. It's a beautiful monitor, and pictures do not do it justice.
ADJUSTABLE!
The adjustable stand is very nice, the original model of this monitor (AL2423W) did not have a telescoping-height adjustable stand, or the ability to rotate the monitor into portrait mode. These features on the AL2423Wdr make it a huge bang for the buck.
PANEL AND BACKLIGHTING
The monitor uses the P-MVA panel, which is a very good all around panel, said to outperform the panel in the Dell 2407fpw. It displays blacks excellent, and the only backlight bleed you can see are some slight bright top left and right corners, and it's a very, very small area.
GAMING
Gaming couldn't be better, although without use of vsync you're going to see some massive tearing, that is if you have the computer to pump out 60+ FPS on 1920x1200. There is no ghosting to be seen, and it's extremely immersive to play games due to the massive screen size and brightness.
INPUTS
The lack of HDMI is a small let down, although it's expected from the price difference between the 2407fpw and the Acer.
SMALL PROBLEMS
There are many reported problems with the internal electronics of the monitor. When hooked up through DVI the monitor is said to have some 'No Input' issues, where the monitor will be connected and receiving a signal, but it will display the 'No Input' message. This little glitch requires a hard reboot of the monitor. The screen itself gets warm, some have even reported the monitor overheating. The monitor has a very strange anti-glare coating, it doesn't give the screen door effect like a lot of monitors, but it does have an odd shimmering
POWER
The LCD uses a standard power supply plug, the same kind used to plug in a computer. So if you lose the power cord, it will be no problem replacing it.
VIEWING ANGLE
Ok this is what really impressed me. You can look at this monitor directly from the side and there is no color blending or any strange discoloration. It looks perfect from the side angles. It's a slightly different story when you're looking from angles above and below the monitor, there is slight glare on the screen if you're not eye-level with it.
OVERALL
My previous 24/7 use monitor was a 21" HP p1130 21" CRT, which used a Sony G500 trinitron tube. The Sony G500 was primarily a graphic designers monitor, due to extremely high resolutions and perfect colors. I was looking for an LCD to replace an amazing CRT, and I've definitely found it. The brightness is amazing, the picture is extremely crisp and clear. High definition content is gorgeous, and the size is drool-worthy. While the colors are a little less vibrant than the p1130, the amazing gaming performance, and the bright/sharp display, it more than makes up for it.
