Digital Trends

HP LP2465

July 26th, 2006 | by Ian Bell

Getting the LP2465 up and running is very simple. If you have an older video card, use the DVI-to-VGA adapter when connecting your PC to this monitor, otherwise use the DVI connection marked [1] if you will only have one PC connected to it. HP’s included CD comes with Pivot Pro software and the correct display profile and driver for your PC. The Pivot Pro software lets you switch the desktop orientation from landscape to portrait mode via a hot key (which you decide) on your keyboard. The software works pretty well and we did not experience any issues with it. Another included software feature is HP’s Display Assistant. This neat utility helps to calibrate the color and other fine adjustments as well as program the monitor to go into sleep mode at preset times. It’s a neat idea, but your current PC profile settings through Windows XP or OSX basically do the same thing, so it is pretty redundant. 

The image quality of the LP2465 is stunning, and to be frank, it would be hard switching back to any other monitor. The built in menu looks good and is easy to use, allowing you to calibrate the LP2465 with ease. The 1920x1200 resolution is the same max resolution we found on the HP L2335 monitor, so icons and text look bigger on the LP2465 in comparison due to its slightly larger panel. Nonetheless we were able to put two websites (http://www.digitaltrends.com/ a fixed width site) side-by-side for viewing without any clipping. Graphic designers that cannot afford a 30-inch display should not have to feel they are compromising by using the LP2465 instead.

Video games and DVD movies look great. Because the LP2465 is a widescreen monitor, make sure your game supports a widescreen resolution like 1920x1200 for example. Most of the newer games do, so you should be fine.  Games running in 1600x1200 look a little stretched, but are definitely playable. Because of the fast 6ms response rate, we did not experience any ghosting or trailing. Black levels for both games and DVD viewing are within expectable range and look great. The LP2465 displays movies in a 16:10 aspect ratio (like every other widescreen monitor) not true 16:9, but most people will not be able to tell the difference. Because the LP2465 is missing HDCP compatibility or Component video inputs, if movie viewing is very important to you, go with the Dell UltraSharp 240WFP monitor instead. 

Business users will find the LP2465 to be a very no-frills, but reliable monitor. You can mount it in various orientations, and because it has two DVI inputs, it works great when connecting multiple PCs to it or using it in a dual monitor setup. Text is very sharp with no ghosting and white levels look “true white”; great for those doing graphic design or a lot of writing.

There are two USB ports on the side, and two more under the lower bezel