[dejongj]

Since there was some interest in this monitor in other threads, and the deal through Comet for £199 is still working beyond its expiry date I thought I put up some piccies....

The last week I have really been in doubt between the Apple 20" Cinema display or the Dell 2007fwp (equivalent!?), and some of these cheaper models. My head was spinning whilst reading up on the differences between S-IPS and TN based TFT panels. Some people were saying both are great, others say there is only one option which is S-IPS....

Money isn't my main concern (luckily for me) although I don't want to spend an unnecessary £200 if I don't have to....

Anyway yesterday I was in the Apple Store in Birmingham, ready to part with my money for a Apple 20" Cinema display....They do look great and the picture quality is great too...Anyway I decided against it as it was nearing closing time with too many unsavory characters around who were being removed by security....And my car was alone on its floor in the car park....

I guess I must have a guardian angel, as I really wanted a big screen today as I had a big project plan to finish off. Anyway I didn't have much time but my local Comet in Hemel Hempstead has one of those HP displays ready for collect in store....So I got one...

And I have to say, WOW!!! The S-IPS vs TN vs PVA discussion and black bleeds and 6-bit vs 8-bit panels is way overrated. Technically according to the specifications this screen is not supposed to be any good You know it is a TN panel with only 16.2mln colours of the usual "bad" series of 22 inch monitors....WRONG! It is fantastic and an absolute bargain..And to top it, it pivots as well! Works a treat in OS-X....No need to install any kind of software....

The only thing against this monitor could be that it is a gloss model. I think it is a case of either you like it or hate it. As can be seen in my 'black bleed' picture it does turn into a mirror. Also I think that is more noticeable on camera than in real life.

I have included some pictures as that was requested in another thread. They are not the best in the world as I didn't realise how difficult it is to "shoot" a monitor.

Any questions do not hesitate to ask, although I will be away for the weekend (with friends looking after the kids for lurking burgelars!!!)...

[marty2005]

Not sure if I'd like the glossy screen - looks reflective - but then I've never seen one yet.

I saw the 20" version in Tesco and the stand footprint is quite big, does that have any impact on your desk?

How did you get on with the display software - from what I've read it's buggy and locks up - did u go 2 the HP website and get the latest? Has i been sorted?

[phil5743]

Someone in another forum tried the latest software and it seemed to be ok - I'm still holding back as the on-screen adjustment is more than adequate (I don't need to pivot.) Gloss screen has not made any difference to me, even though I'm opposite a large window.

[Tejstar]

Seeing those pictures, hasn't eased my bias against glossy screens. It looks like a lovely monitor, but after struggling with reflections on my CRT for years, I'm very glad to have a matte screen which is a lot easier on the eye.

[farazfastian]

Hi can somebody tell me where can i get comet 30gbp e-voucher code for HPw2207, or is it gone?

Cheers
Faraz

[Tejstar]

If it still works, the code is HPTFT30.

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by marty2005

Not sure if I'd like the glossy screen - looks reflective - but then I've never seen one yet.

I saw the 20" version in Tesco and the stand footprint is quite big, does that have any impact on your desk?

How did you get on with the display software - from what I've read it's buggy and locks up - did u go 2 the HP website and get the latest? Has i been sorted?

Like with good ergnomics, keep the screen at an angle of 90 degrees from a light source and it won't be reflective. Full black will be reflective because the light came from behind me....Definitely don't get it if you can't live with that...

But in normal non black use no problem...

I love the footprint as it is the perfect place for my bluetooth keyboard! Unlike some of the other screens where it is just wasted space...

As I am using Apple OSX I don't need to install any software. I doubt you need to install software until XP and Vista either...Never understood that with monitors why software is supplied....With the Mac all is part of the OS, so no I didn't try HP software...Just plug and play...

[muzzi]

After going to see this in my local comet, i decided to purchase, and it will be delivered on friday. It looks great, My MBP has a matt screen, so i think the glossy HP screen will be a nice compliment.

I would have been tempted to go for the 20" variant, but with no DVI connector and therefore no HDCP support, there was only one option to go for. Of course, the £30 voucher is always going to help make that decision a little easier to make.

thanks for the voucher guys.

Muzzi

Originally Posted by Tejstar

If it still works, the code is HPTFT30.

Thanks for the offer code Tejstar, I didn't even know there was an offer on this monitor until I read this thread & I was gunna order from John Lewis at £229....instead i've now got my W2207 arriving Thursday from Comet at £199-99 (blagged free delivery).

[Tejstar]

Good stuff, I hope you used quidco to get even more off!

[muzzi]

Originally Posted by Tejstar

Good stuff, I hope you used quidco to get even more off!

oh yes!

[brettb]

Just got 2 of these (Dual desktop from Tesco direct 229 but couldnt resist!These are really great looking monitors the screens are nice and sharp but they are dust magnets just like the PS3!

[Tejstar]

Well, even my 226BW frame is a dust magnet. All fancy looking (read glossy) electronic goods are a nightmare in the home. Yes they look gorgeous in the showroom but they tale a lot of effort to keep them looking that wat in the home!

[dejongj]

Yep same with my Pioneer Plasma....Just glad I am married so I have someone to keep them clean

[Tejstar]

Originally Posted by dejongj

Yep same with my Pioneer Plasma....Just glad I am married so I have someone to keep them clean

Lol - me too. My wife complains everytime I buy a new 'toy'! She has a special microfibre cloth for all my AV/PC stuff!

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by Tejstar

Lol - me too. My wife complains everytime I buy a new 'toy'! She has a special microfibre cloth for all my AV/PC stuff!

Yes the e-Cloth for Glass does a great job and makes it easy so I am told! But then again I have to go out for the curry take away Off I am now...

[Tommy Vercetti]

I've had mine for about a week now & the DVI is great with my PC, & the VGA is used with my Xbox360 & looks utterly fantastic!!

The glossy screen is no problem at all & I am so glad that I got this monitor.

I have to tell u that if your thinking of getting 1 to hook up to your Xbox360 then do it!! I bought the Samsung 205bw a few months back, but it was awful despite the rave reviews. As an experiment I tried out the same games that looked less than good on the 205bw, but with this HP w2207 instead. I can assure you that they looked way better.
The games I tested on both monitors & their results are as follows:
GUN - lots of blur in the background on the 205bw but not on the HP,
TH Project 8 - same problem & result as above,
Crackdown - same problem & result as above,
Topspin 2 - slight blurring of the ball on the 205bw,
V Tennis 3 - picture very dull on the 205bw,
Dead Rising - terrible blurring throughout on the 205 but not on the HP.

Oh & by the way, 360 games run in full screen on this monitor too!! No borders!!

[muzzi]

Originally Posted by Tommy Vercetti

I've had mine for about a week now & the DVI is great with my PC, & the VGA is used with my Xbox360 & looks utterly fantastic!!

The glossy screen is no problem at all & I am so glad that I got this monitor.

I have to tell u that if your thinking of getting 1 to hook up to your Xbox360 then do it!! I bought the Samsung 205bw a few months back, but it was awful despite the rave reviews. As an experiment I tried out the same games that looked less than good on the 205bw, but with this HP w2207 instead. I can assure you that they looked way better.
The games I tested on both monitors & their results are as follows:
GUN - lots of blur in the background on the 205bw but not on the HP,
TH Project 8 - same problem & result as above,
Crackdown - same problem & result as above,
Topspin 2 - slight blurring of the ball on the 205bw,
V Tennis 3 - picture very dull on the 205bw,
Dead Rising - terrible blurring throughout on the 205 but not on the HP.

Oh & by the way, 360 games run in full screen on this monitor too!! No borders!!

what settings are you using?

my 360 image is always stretched vertically so any circles (xbox logo, or a button) are off round. Not so much a problem for games, but faces in films just don't look right.

apart from this the display is great value for money. i also use it with my macbook pro running OSX on one monitor and windows on the other.

[Tejstar]

Originally Posted by Tommy Vercetti

I have to tell u that if your thinking of getting 1 to hook up to your Xbox360 then do it!! I bought the Samsung 205bw a few months back, but it was awful despite the rave reviews. As an experiment I tried out the same games that looked less than good on the 205bw, but with this HP w2207 instead. I can assure you that they looked way better.
The games I tested on both monitors & their results are as follows:
GUN - lots of blur in the background on the 205bw but not on the HP,
TH Project 8 - same problem & result as above,
Crackdown - same problem & result as above,
Topspin 2 - slight blurring of the ball on the 205bw,
V Tennis 3 - picture very dull on the 205bw,
Dead Rising - terrible blurring throughout on the 205 but not on the HP.

When you say blurring/dull picture is that not just a consequence of comparing a matte screen to a glossy one? The response times are not that different 6ms compared to 5ms for the HP, so I doubt that would really make much difference.

[Tommy Vercetti]

You're probably right there Tejstar mate, but I never mentioned that it was down to the response time. The poor picture was noticable on the Samsung 205bw when playing GUN, Crackdown, THP8, but was absolutely TERRIBLE on Dead Rising compared to how it looks on this HP. Any slight movement on DR blurred the hell out of it on the Sammy.

If having a gloss screen has improved the picture quality then its still a plus isnt it?

I fiddled with the colour saturation on the Samsung 205bw so much but never got the right amount w/out sacrificing picture quality i.e. the more rich the colour the more fuzzy the picture looked. I also got a slight ghosting (i.e. a very faint 2nd image next to the main image) when on the main menu on my 360 when using the Samsung too.

[Tejstar]

Hmm, that sounds like the monitor may have been faulty? My comments regarding the gloss screen is that when compared next to matte ones they can look quite vibrant, which comes at a cost (i.e. reflections).

However, in your case, it seems the fuzzy image that you were getting doesn't sound right so maybe it was best you returned it.

[Tommy Vercetti]

Dunno if there was a fault in the 205bw Tejstar as I'd posted on other forums to find out if there was a way of rectifying it, only to find that it was a problem that a lot of ppl were having with lots of different LCDs when using their 360 on VGA.

Originally Posted by muzzi

what settings are you using?

The settings on my 360 dashboard set up are 1360 x 768.
The settings on my hp w2207 are: H=47kHz, V=60Hz.


Does anyone if theres a way of tinkering with the H & V on the monitor to make the picture even better?

My HP W2207 arrived Thursay so i've had all weekend to use it, & although im no expert it does seem to be a great monitor, I am extremely happy with it. Nice bright & sharp picture, with really good colours.

Compared to the other 22" TN panels i've seen that don't have the glossy style screen, IMO I would happily recommend this. The stand, although slightly imposing on your desk area, gives you good flexibilty for screen height & tilt & that's something alot of the other screens of this size don't give you (ie.226bw).

[Tejstar]

Originally Posted by Biccy

The stand, although slightly imposing on your desk area, gives you good flexibilty for screen height & tilt & that's something alot of the other screens of this size don't give you (ie.226bw).

That's probably one of my main criticisms, the stand allows no tilt movement whatsoever. Given the viewing angle issues of TN panels I would say that it should be a must.

Originally Posted by Tejstar

That's probably one of my main criticisms, the stand allows no tilt movement whatsoever. Given the viewing angle issues of TN panels I would say that it should be a must.

I agree definately, when I viewed other 22" TN panel monitors, you need to be pretty much face on to see a decent picture, any sizeable movement left/right or up/down & the picture isn't much good.

I would say the HP W2207 is more forgiving for off centre viewing & the picture stays viewable (obviously if you move extreme left/right or up/down it becomes unviewable), I think this must be something to do with the BrightView technology.

The thing is with the height & tilt adjustment options available, your viewing position isn't a problem anyway as you just move the screen to face you.

[Tejstar]

That's what I found when looking at some other screens too. For me, it's not so much of an issue as I do use the screen head on but recently when trying to watch a movie on it, I could not sit on the sofa and watch it as it was too low down and the screen was all dark - a tilt facility would have been great here.

[dejongj]

Great examples of what is a pain for some and a great feature for others. I love the fact that you can't see as well what is on my screen...Although the HP is still pretty good...

Those are just picture of houses darling, honestly

Unless you have a student dig or a weekday bedsit or something, I wouldn't get one of these for watching movies. Much prefer my plasma or projection screen...22 inches is just too small...

@Tejstar: I am surprised you made that comment, I thought you have some 'proper' home cinema gear...

[Tejstar]

Originally Posted by dejongj

@Tejstar: I am surprised you made that comment, I thought you have some 'proper' home cinema gear...

Lol - it's the only movie I've watched on my PC for a while. I do have a 'proper' home cinema setup downstairs (promise! )

I just wanted to test out the monitor for its video capabilities, no way could I live with this as a main screen!

[dejongj]

Originally Posted by Tejstar

Lol - it's the only movie I've watched on my PC for a while. I do have a 'proper' home cinema setup downstairs (promise! )

I just wanted to test out the monitor for its video capabilities, no way could I live with this as a main screen!

Oh it was that kind of a movie

[Tejstar]

Damn was it that obvious!

They're good for checking flesh tones...