Digital Trends

HP w2408

October 3rd, 2007 | by Jason Tomczak

Features and Design

The very first thing that one notices about the HP w2408 is the impressive screen size. When placed on a desk, it commands most of one's attention, dwarfing other screens, computers, etc. Even though it has a modest footprint, the w2408 has a tendency to make one's work environment feel slightly miniaturized.

The w2408's glossy body and shiny BrightView screen are unmistakably unique. Completely dissimilar to the vast hordes of unexciting and banal LCD screens, the w2408 stands out in a crowd like a Victoria's Secret model would stand out at an all-boys' Junior High - sexy, thin and hard to divert one's eyes from.

The 24" screen itself is very spacious and provides 1920x1200 screen resolution. The w2408 uses a TN-series LCD panel, which is a little lower on the totem pole than the "VA" panels used in some of HP's high-end professional monitors. Even with some modest limitations of the TN panel, the w2408 and on-screen images look beautiful. More on the TN panel later in the review.

The w2408's 5ms response time is impressive; good for gaming, video production and enjoying DVD movies and high definition content. A comparison of competitive 24" LCD screens shows that 5ms is currently the fastest available response time. Other LCDs share the 5ms rate and the rest slow down to 6ms, 8ms and even 16ms.

The w2408 has a 1000:1 contrast ratio for excellent pitch-blacks, bright whites and vibrant colors. For 24" LCDs on the market as of this writing, 1000:1 contrast is the top spec. (The 23" $899 Apple Cinema Display has a 700:1 contrast ratio and 16ms response time.)

Display brightness on the HP w2408 is 400 cd/m2, up nearly 34% from earlier HP models.

The w2408 can connect to nearly any computer source with its DVI and VGA inputs. HP includes both DVI and VGA cables with the w2408.

Image Courtesy of HP