Dell Crystal 22-inch LCD monitor
It's a beauty.
Thu, Jul 31, 2008
The Straits Times, Digital Life
By Oo Gin Lee
| Dell Crystal 22-inch LCD monitor |
| » $1,898 (inclusive of delivery & GST) » Available from Dell |
WHEN I think of Dell, I think of affordable and powerful computing masked behind Plain Jane looks.
The Dell Crystal, however, bucks the trend all round. It is one LCD monitor you will lust after.
That the LCD monitor is called Crystal is apt. In both resolution and audio, it is crystal clear.
A thin but strong piece of tempered glass covers this 22-inch screen with room to spare at the sides for four powerful 2.5W speakers - a pair on each side built into the glass. The screen is reflective and the image quality is crisp, sharp and very impressive at its native 1,600 x 1,200 widescreen resolution.
The speakers, though embedded, exude power and amazing sound clarity - the best I have ever heard for a built-in set.
Simplicity and a minimalist design were clearly in the mind of the designer. The monitor rests on a pair of inverted "V" metallic stands and a dim blue glow emanates from the Dell logo at the bottom of the screen as well as one in the middle of its back.
At the top of the screen lies a built-in 2-megapixel camera and microphone. The package includes a webcam software which offers video and picture capture, motion sensing and face-detection solutions. The menu and volume keys are also built into the tempered glass and are unobtrusive touch-sensitive keys at the bottom.
What I liked best was the single cable that comes out of the back of the screen. This super cable branches off into a power cable, an HDMI cable, a USB cable and an audio-out cable to connect to an optional sub-woofer. Using HDMI means you can connect your PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 to it so you can play in the study while the missus catches Desperate Housewives in the living room.
However, there is only one HDMI cable so you can connect only one device at a time. Also, your computer needs to have either an HDMI (which is rare) or a DVI port as the package only has an HDMI to DVI converter. If you are using DVI, you will also need to plug the USB cable into your PC so that the speakers can function.
Rather complicated, but some things can be forgiven - especially if the monitor is the coolest you've laid your eyes on.
FINAL SAY
If you've got the dough, this beauty will give you the groove.