[Monitor] 26" Westinghouse L2610NW LCD - 3000:1, 2ms, 1920x1200 - $270

[keyclone]

this came across buy.com today. looks like a crazy deal for the size. it doesn't say refurb anywhere, which i normally expect.
looks interesting... hopefully the real hardware gurus will chime in...

(fyi... i have no experience with westinghouse monitors... i'm still loving my HP w2408h :love: )

Westinghouse 26-inch Widescreen 1080P LCD Monitor, 1920X1200, HDMI/HDCP, 60Hz -Black (link )



Product Summary
[spoiler]
Manufacturer: WESTINGHOUSE
Mfg Part#: L2610NW-SP
UPC: 00882777057605
Buy.com Sku: 207540840
Item#: C4KSNG
Buy.com Sales Rank: 5[/spoiler]
Tech Specs (from newegg )
[spoiler]Model
Brand Westinghouse
Model L2610NW-SP
Cabinet Color Black
Display
Screen Size 25.5"
Widescreen Yes
Recommended Resolution 1920 x 1200
Viewing Angle 170°(H) / 160°(V)
Pixel Pitch 0.287mm
Display Colors 16.7 Million
Brightness 350 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio DC 3000:1(750:1)
Response Time 2ms(GtoG), 5ms
Display Type WUXGA
Connectivity
Input Video Compatibility Analog RGB, Digital
Connectors D-Sub, HDMI
D-Sub 1
DVI No
HDMI 1
Power
Power Supply 100 - 240 VAC, 50/60Hz
Power Consumption 110 W
Convenience
Regulatory Approvals FCC, UL, EPA, VCCI, CCC, BSMI, C-Tick, MIC, MPR2
Stand Adjustments Tilt
Built in TV Tuner No
Built in Speakers 3W
HDCP Support Yes
Features VESA 100 mm
Packaging
Package Contents L2610NW-SP LCD Monitor
User Manual
VGA Cable
DVI to HDMI Cable
Power Cable
Audio Cable
USB Cable
Dimensions
Dimensions (W×H×D) 23.9" x 20.0" x 8.3"
Weight 15.2 lbs.
Manufacturer Warranty
Parts 1 year limited
Labor 1 year limited[/spoiler]

[-silencer-]

Nice price for the size, but this is a TN-film panel, not a PVA panel.. which is why the price is what it is. PVA panels hold color/contrast consistent through much wider viewing angles, and nearly always have much better color depth/representation. I returned a 26" TN-film panel because the color/contrast viewing angle was so bad on this large of a monitor, if you're looking at red in the middle of the screen, looking up or down it become nearly black even though it's a consistent red being displayed. You actually have to move your head up and down to see the true color. I especially noticed this when having 4 WoW windows open on the monitor, and creating 4 identical toons was very difficult since the hair/skin color changed so drastically depending on if I was looking at an even level or angled up/down. So, I tested it with a full-screen red image.. and sure enough, color representation SUCKED.

It's a great price for the size, but be warned that you're not getting the equivalent of a 32" TV LCD or 24"+ Ultrasharp since it's still a TN-film panel. Now you know what to expect.

TN-film = fine for smaller panels since the angle from your eyes to the edges of the screen isn't that large, but if you sit within 2-3 feet of a large (24"+) TN panel, color representation SUCKS due to the large angle of your eyes to the edges of the screen.

PVA = superior in nearly every way to TN film, which is why they cost a couple hundred more for the size. Dell's 24"+ Ultrasharps are PVA panels, as are the higher-end models in the 24"+ Samsung lineup.

[keyclone]

thanks. that's the kind of informed response that makes me love these forums and the community

:thumbsup:

[-silencer-]

No problem.. I do believe your HP is a PVA model ($400+ for a 24" is *usually* a PVA). Most monitors below 24" are TN-film, with a few exceptions, like the older 20" Dell Ultrasharps (2005FPW & 2007FPW I think). A couple years ago, every 24"+ monitor was PVA, and nearly everything smaller was a TN-film, but now TN-films are getting larger.

The *only* benefit (other than price) to TN over PVA is response time. The best PVA panels are round 5-6ms, and the best TN-film are around 2ms. However, I'd bet that 99% of people out there can't tell the difference between 6ms and 2ms - that's the equivalent of trying to *SEE* the difference between 167fps and 500fps, but the human eye can't see faster than ~75-100fps at most. My 24" 2408FPW Dell Ultrasharps are PVA panels with 6ms response time, and there is NO ghosting in any way - watching movies/sports, quickly moving windows on the desktop, gaming with FPS/RTS/WoW.... so the *only* tech benefit for TN-film over PVA isn't even useful. My 2405FPW (5-year old Dell 24" Ultrasharp) is a 16ms PVA, and the ghosting was only slightly noticeable in some games. I highly doubt anyone can actually see ghosting in any monitor with a true 8ms or lower response time. And if they could, I'd rather have the much better color depth and viewing angles of a PVA panel over TN-film anyway.