HP w2007 -A 20.1 Inch Wide Screen Monitor

(Updated to incorporate additional information supressed in 'Editor' Testing)

OVERVIEW

The HP w2007 PC Monitor is very easy to install and produces very good images. It is versatile and usable and I recommend it to anyone for any use except for gaming fans (Refresh rate too slow).
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SPECIFICATIONS (From User Guide pg B-5)

HP LCD MONITORS
--- Input Terminals
Integrated Video - VGA 15 pin D type
DVI-D 24 Pin D-type (Standard i.e. On all models, not optional)
HDMI (Some Models - not included on w2007)
Type: TFT LCD active matrix
Size and Viewable Image: 20 in Diagonal measure
Tilt -5 to 20 Degrees
Graphics Maximum and Optimum Resolution 1680 x 1050 @ 60 Hz
Text Mode 720 x 400
Dot Pitch 0.282 mm
Horizontal Frequency 24 to 83 kHz Analog
Vertical Refresh Rate 55 to 76 Hz Analog
Power 120 VAC, 50/60 Hz
Consumption 52 Watts Max, less than 2 Watts (Sleep)
Dimensions 19.25 in W x 15.9 in H (No Stand) or 12.9 in H (With)
x 3 in Depth (7 with Stand)
Weight 13.3 lbs
(not in user manual but Response Time is 5 ms
(More Specifications online)

USER OBSERVATIONS

With the HP w2007 Installed, I used several applications:
Text: Open Office Writer, MS Notepad, Epinions Editor
E-Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird (Problem: Tiny Text in Compose Window)
Photo Editor Google Picasa2
Virus Defense AVAST! (Problem: Virus check panel too small to read)

Solutions to the tiny text pnenomenon included drilling down into the Thunderbird settings where I found an adjustment. With AVAST!, the problem simply went away. I think Vista took care of it. What was instructive was how clearly that tiny text (93 pixels) was displayed. I could read it if I closed in and squinted - My new reading glasses arrived during this time and I could read it more easily.

PREFERENCES
I did not want a wide screen monitor since 90 percent of my work is in Text. I found that there was no choice at the store level so I took this one home.
From carton to useful installation was about 10 minutes. I did use the HP install CD but was advised that this is not necessary with MS Vista machines. I later proved this point. Straight Plug and Play thanks to MS Vista. All necessary cables were in the box so there was no mad dash back to the store.
I was vexed by some Display Problems that turned out to be internal to my PC, which has a Shared Video Motherboard. Overall, I decided to return the Monitor; certain that I could do better in price and quality if I purchased one at an online store.

I noted that the Online Website carried more information:

Color Depth 24 bit (16.7M Colors)
Connectivity DVI-D (Digital Video Input Standard)
--- (DVI Cable included in the carton)
RESOLUTIONS:
1024 x 728
1152 x 870
1152 x 900
1280 x 1024
1280 x 768
1280 x 960
1680 x 1050 Maximum/Optimum and NATIVE
640 x 480 e-Mail Attachments
800 x 600 (Text Mode)
Maximum Viewing Angle 25 degrees

External User Controls
--- On Screen Menu Button (Orange outline)
--- Brightness Button
--- Volume Button
--- Auto Adjust
OSD (On Screen Display)
-Main Menu
Switch Video Input (DVI or VGA)
Brightness
Contrast
Image Control (Positioning)
Color
Quick View
Language
Management
Information
Factory Reset
Exit

COMMENTS
The OSD would clear unless an adjustment occurred within about 10 seconds; so some items required more than one access. The most useful of these is Factory Reset; it is easy to get lost with all the combinations.

These specifications suggest that DVI must be used to achieve the above measurments. I can't tell you if the word "Standard" means in all models or that the Monitor MUST be used with DVI Cable ONLY. Frankly, the HP w2007 displays crisp color and image boundaries very well. I would have no problems using it if I had not decided to seek a better price and quality choice.

DVI used to be the choice of TV makers; now it is HDMI that is the big thing. I noticed that Radio Shack sells adapters for converting one to the other connector type.

Enjoy