Cadalyst - September 2007 - (Page 20)

cadlabsreview only. After the monitor driver is installed, a control tab is available in Windows Properties that users can access to set the Power button to function normally, launch the Windows shutdown box, or disable it entirely. The Dell UltraSharp 3007WFP-HC is a digital-only monitor with no analog, video, composite, or component connectors. An included CD contains drivers and an ICC color profile for the display, as well as an operating manual. The special cable required for secure HD operation is included as well. A Dell AS501 multimedia soundbar accessory with speakers is available as an option, but it wasn’t tested. The display and backlight is covered by a standard three-year warranty. A USB 2.x hub is incorporated into the display, with USB connectors in a row on the left side of the panel. The Dell UltraSharp 3007WFP-HC operates only in landscape (horizontal) mode — typical of panels this large. You can adjust the height of the display, and the mount allows you to swivel and tilt the panel. Despite the large size of the panel, the mount is stable and doesn’t wiggle. The UltraSharp 3007WFP-HC is currently priced at $1,499, down somewhat since its introduction. A 30” panel is not for everyone, but if you need the visual real estate and the lack of connectivity options and display controls aren’t limiting factors, then the Dell UltraSharp 3007WFP-HC may be just what you need. Highly Recommended. The FlexScan S2431 display’s wiggle-free stand pivots for horizontal and vertical modes. FlexScan S2431W Eizo Nanao For this roundup, EIZO Technologies submitted its FlexScan 562.431.5011 S2431W display, a widewww.eizo.com aspect ratio (16:10) 24” Price: $1,399 S-PVA display that has a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,200. The S2431W has a brightness rating of 450 cd/m2 and a contrast rating of 1,000:1. The dot pitch is given as 0.27 mm, and the viewing angle is rated at 178° both vertically and horizontally. Mid-range response time is a relatively speedy 6 ms. I put the FlexScan S2431 thorough its paces using DisplayMate and found no problems. In terms of color purity, the yellows were a tad dull, but other colors — particularly red and magenta — were excellent. Grays were fairly neutral and slightly warm, with grayscale ramps being repre20 September 2007 | cadalyst | www.cadalyst.com sented smoothly without any noticeable banding. No ghosting or flickering was evident at any setting. The FlexScan S2431 has built-in speakers as well as USB 2.x hub. Connectivity options included both a DVI-I connector and a standard 15-pin D-Sub connector. The stand, which pivots for vertical (portrait) mode, was very stable in all tested configurations and showed no wiggle at even the most extreme extensions. The pivot and other adjustments are very smooth, lending to the stability of the mount. A standard VESA wall mount option is integrated. I wasn’t greatly enamored with the OSM, though it is serviceable. Physical monitor controls consist of 10 dark buttons against a dark housing and are located at the bottom center of the bezel. These controls include two buttons for the left and right sound adjustments of the integrated speakers, as well as the expected up/down, right/left navigation buttons, a mode selector (movie, picture, text, etc.), and the Power button and LED indicator. Text was a bit difficult to read at 9 pixels in height (6.8 points), but the contrast and brightness of the display made other text sizes easy to read. In general, the presented onscreen image was clean and attractive. The warranty coverage on the EIZO FlexScan S2431 is an exceptional five years, well beyond the typical threeyear coverage offered by most flat-panel vendors, earning it an A+ grade in that category. Pricing for the display is $1,399, which to my thinking is a bit on the expensive side for a 24” LCD panel; however, the quality of the S2431W is excellent, so I rated the pricing A–. Because of the tight nature of our rating system, this factor alone resulted in an overall A– grade that the monitor received. The EIZO FlexScan S2431 is an excellent display. I’d just like to see it at a lower price point. http://www.eizo.com http://www.cadalyst.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Cadalyst - September 2007

Contents Editor's Window Techtrends: Resurrecting an Unforgettable Second Living Large UGS Solid Edge v20 Adobe Acrobat 3D v8 Adobe Photoshop CS3 Extended CAD Manager: Managing 2D and 3D in the Same Office MCAD Modeling: Where is MCAD Going? AEC in Focus: Automated Estimating and Scheduling Using BIM CAD Cartoon Issue Indexes CADfidential

Cadalyst - September 2007

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