HP w2207 22" Widescreen Monitor

Quick!  Name that one piece of PC hardware that will automatically garner the most "oohs" and "aahs" from enthusiasts and casual-users alike.  No, it's probably not the glow-in-the-dark water cooling system or bright LEDs shining from the multiple fans in your windowed case.  The quickest path to glory is buying a brand new, flat, large, widescreen monitor.  Just like the centerpiece of the living room is that 50" plasma that you installed last Christmas, widescreen monitors are the "in" thing for many PC users; whether they be a hardcore gamer, aspiring novel writer, or something in between.

With such demand for a product like this, it's only natural that numerous companies have entered the fray in an effort to grab some marketshare.  However, the sheer number of affordable monitors these days begs the inevitable question: Which one is right for me?  This line of questioning is not too different than the confusion often heard when conversing about HD television sets.  Plasma, LCD, DLP, anyone?  We'll start by breaking down the basics regarding what make an LCD monitor an LCD monitor, and then get to the specifics about today's model from HP, the w2207, an affordable 22" monitor with some extra bells and whistles that set it apart. 

HP w2207 22" Widescreen Monitor Specifications and Features

CRT (cathode-ray tube) technology has, more or less, remained unchanged in the past decade.  Based on a contraption of magnets, tubes, and electron-emitting beams they have retained their larger, bulkier stature, typically taking up a good chunk of desk space.  Until recently, they were generally less expensive than their similarly sized LCD counterparts.  This disparity seems to have evened out a bit as more and more larger-sized LCDs are released at prices that are much more pleasant to the eye and the wallet. 

LCD (liquid crystal display) monitors use a more sophisticated version of the display technology found in digital watches; a fine mesh of tiny crystals displaying different colors when electrified.  As a direct result, LCDs are thinner, lighter, and much more energy efficient.  By using pixels that are either on or off, they reduce the eye strain and fatigue suffered by some CRT-users, caused by the screen refreshing at 60-80 times per second (otherwise known as the refresh rate you see in your display properties).

For most users, LCD monitors work perfectly within the typical realm of PC activities; writing documents, viewing photos, or surfing the Web.  However, early models suffered from slow pixel response time leading to ghosting and streaking in fast-action gaming and video.  Quicker response times (the w2207 boasts a 5ms reponse time) should all but do away with that concern.   HP's BriteView screens and 1000:1 contrast ratio should also lead us to some primo display goodness, but let's take a look at the outside construction and features first.