Asus PG221 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor
Performance Summary: In general, we found the Asus PG221 to be a solid display. Image quality was very good overall and there were no dead or stuck pixels on the screen. We should note, however, that even if there were problem pixels, Asus' ZBD (Zero Bright Dot) warranty implies that the company will replace any PG221 that suffers from pixel defects. Colors were well-saturated, and the panel had good brightness and contrast. There were some instanced where images were somewhat dark, however, as they tend to be with LCDs equipped with a glare-type screen coatings. Watching movies was enjoyable, once we adjusted the panel to compensate for the darkness and fast-paced game tests revealed very little or no ghosting whatsoever thanks to the panel’s 2ms response time. The lighted color bar on the screen may be distracting to some users, however, especially if they tend to sit back at a distance when watching movies. Up close, the lighted color bar is not an issue.
We think the Asus PG211 is a top-notch LCD monitor with a couple of problems. Image quality is generally very good, the pixel response time is fast and ghosting is basically nonexistent, and aesthetically the PG221 is sure to please. The screen's glare-type coating is neither a benefit nor a detriment depending on your particular preference (we like it), and the speakers are far superior to any other integrated solution we've heard to date. And the built-in webcam is a definite plus as well for those inclined to use it. A couple of niggling issues prevent the PG221 from stealing the show, however. They may look great, but the occasional unresponsiveness of the touch-sensitive controls was annoying. The PG221’s stand only offers minimal adjustment and at approximately $580, the PG221 is at the upper-end of the price scale for 22” displays. If you’re looking for a display with all of the PG221’s integrated peripherals (speakers, webcam, etc.) we would recommend it as we enjoyed working with this monitor over the course of our evaluation, and we think many of you would too. But be aware of its issues before taking the plunge. The PG221 is great on the eyes if you don’t mind its shortcomings.
 |
 |
|
|
