14 DAY TRIAL // You could say that every LCD is HD ready in one way or another. Whether it can output 720p or 1080i/p, the LCDs can cope with the HD content really easy. With the help of DVIs and/or HDMI outputs, everyone can watch a HD-DVD or Blu-Ray movie without having to downsample it. So what's the news with Dell's latest LCD then?
First, let me point out that the new E228WFP has already shown up in Japan and this makes me believe that it will soon also be sold in Europe and the US. The screen has a 1680x1050 native resolution which is somewhat lower than the more recent 1920x1200 resolution adopted by newer 22" LCDs. Unfortunately, that translates into downsampling the 1080 content. That might be an issue if you plan to buy this panel, but it will definitely sound more attractive when you'll find out that it has a 5ms grey-to-grey response time. The 5ms LCD is indeed very fast, only Benq panels are as fast in the 22" and larger segment.
The rated brightness of the LCD is 300cd/m2, the contrast is the same 800:1 and the panel has a viewing angle of 160-degrees. This model also comes with HDCP capabilities integrated onto the input ports which means that if you use a digital connection between the VGA output and the monitor input, you will only be able to see full resolution HD movies if you have a license for them. The price tag for the new Dell LCD is set at $560.
22-inchers are slowly invading the market. Do a quick search and you'll probably end up with maybe 20 models available in online shops. A plus goes to Fujitsu-Siemens because they offer the cheapest 22" panels today (about $350-$450).