HP L2335: Low Response Time and High Resolution LCD

Introduction

It was only 18 months ago when we took a look at Samsung's SyncMaster 213T and declared it the best $1,000 LCD that we had seen. The (relatively) high resolution of 1600x1200, the bright backlight and sleek look put the 213T in the "Ultra-Enthusiast" pool with very few competitors. Ultra-High End has a whole new meaning now, and with reason. Since the Samsung 213T, we have seen high end displays shift toward wide screen, and support for higher resolutions and smaller pixel pitches (0.258mm versus 0.27mm). The entire industry owes Dell a slight pat on the back for their part in really pushing the price barrier.

We were a little surprised when Dell unveiled their next generation lineup last year, since it did not include a 23" display based on a SIPS panel. Instead, two of Dell's four displays went to Samsung (the UltraSharp 1905FP and the 2405FPW) and the mainstream model went to LG.Philips (the UltraSharp 2005FPW). Although the UltraSharp 1905FP and 2005FPW turned out to be phenomenal monitors and the 2405FPW is the cheapest LCD larger than 21", did Dell make the right move by ditching LG.Philips for the highest model? Apple and HP certainly think that LG.Philips LCD has the right formula with their Super IPS displays, and in past display reviews, 8-bit SIPS displays have done very well in our comparisons.

Today, we are taking a look at a display that has been available for a little while, but it's only been a few weeks since it broke the magic $1,000 barrier. The HP L2335 is actually a business display - but it just so happens to support component, composite, S-Video, signal zoom and a 16ms gray-to-gray response time. While I love working in Excel on a 23" LCD as much as the next guy, playing World of Warcraft at 1920x1200 on a low response time display doesn't get any better. Obviously, the market has changed quite a bit in 18 months. What was once top of the line barely gets recognition here on AnandTech, and the monitors that do end up on top are truly modern marvels. Does HP have the opportunity to pick up where Dell left off and capitalize on the success of previous LG.Philips panels? That's exactly what we are set to find out!