You can buy a 46-inch, flat-panel TV for well under $1,000. So why does the 30-inch Hewlett-Packard ZR30w computer monitor cost more? It’s because the ZR30w incorporates Super In-Plane Switching technology, or S-IPS for short.
Your high-definition flat-panel TV probably looks awesome when compared to your old CRT television. But the fact is that CRTs are better at displaying accurate colors than LCDs. What you’re really noticing in your living room is the sharpness and clarity that digital displays offer. But the colors on your flat-panel TV are probably oversaturated and inexact; they look dazzling but don’t exactly match the colors of what was originally captured. People involved in graphic arts, photo retouching and video editing need something better, i.e. more accurate.
Most LCD monitors use Twisted Nematic, or TN panels. They are inexpensive and offer fast response times, so they’re great for watching video and gaming. But TN panels suffer from inaccurate color reproduction, narrow viewing angles and low contrast ratios. Super In-Plane Switching (S-IPS) panels, on the other hand, offer good color reproduction, wide viewing angles and high contrast ratios. The main drawback is that S-IPS panels cost more than TN panels.
The Hewlett-Packard ZR30w uses 30 bits per pixel to generate 1.07 billion displayable colors. It has a native resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, which yields a 16:10 aspect ratio. It also offers a 1000:1 contrast ratio, 370cd/m² brightness, 7ms response time and 178°/178° viewing angle. In order to position the display exactly the way you like it, the ZR30w’s base offers tilt, swivel and height adjustment. A built-in 4-port USB 2.0 hub makes it easy to connect all of your peripherals.
The ZR30w also includes two digital inputs, DisplayPort and DVI-D, but no analog inputs. Of course, connecting such a high-end display to an analog source would be a waste. With its stand attached, the ZR30w measures 27.3 inches wide by 19.3 inches high by 10.9 inches deep. But most of that depth is due to the base itself; with the base removed the display is only 3.4 inches deep. The ZR30w costs $1,194.95.
2 Comments
Nice. This looks to have the same specs as the new Dell 30" model. The panels are manufacturered by LG
I'd love to see a comparison to the legendary mac 30"