I’ve owned my own unibody Macbook Pro for about two months now, and it’s time to sit back and look at it objectively, now that the hormones have subsided a little.  Here are some thoughts…

I’ve come to realize that in terms of actual hardware capability, this new Macbook Pro isn’t much different from the old one, with the exception of the 9600M GT for games.  Since I have three consoles to play games on, the only game I tried was Microsoft’s Flight Simulator X.  Being an avid flight sim geek, I knew that FSX is extremely CPU-bound, and that it prefers Nvidia cards over ATi, sorry, AMD ones.  From benchmarks at Tom’s Hardware, I also knew that the 9600 GT (desktop version) was one of the best-performing graphics cards (for FSX), so you could say my curiosity was piqued.  As it turned out, FSX ran like a fat kid in phys. ed. class due to the relatively slow CPU, so I suppose gaming won’t be happening for me on this laptop.   That doesn’t mean the CPU is slow, that’s just the case for FSX (it can struggle to display 30 fps on an overclocked Core i7).  A 2.4 GHz Penryn is pretty decent for a laptop.

I also pondered upon the value of this Macbook Pro.  I’ve defended my Apple computers to naysayers by pointing out the build quality, tactile feel and virtues of the OS X operating system, but after the heartbreak that was FSX, I was questioning my decision to drop two large on this laptop.  After all, I could have gotten an amazing Windows laptop that had a faster CPU, more RAM, a Blu-Ray drive, more HDD space, better graphics and a better screen for the same or less moolah.  After giving it some thought, I realized that, as a writer, I needed a reliable computer, one that wouldn’t be affected by viruses and other issues.  Having struggled through university with a constantly vulnerable PC, I’ve become quite complacent now that I’m using Macs.  I can download freely from Limewire, for example, knowing well that most files are viruses.  All they do is not open, so I can just delete them and move on.  I never need to format and reinstall, so my files are always safe; no more family photographs lost.  This comfort comes at a cost, that is the premium associated with Apple computers.  

I have dabbled in running OS X on PCs quite a bit, and while that was a good interim solution and an introduction to OS X, it’s not how I would choose to run my computer, wondering if the next update will break my install.  All things considered, I’ve come to terms paying the premium for the OS X operating system… it is worth it.  You simply can’t believe how much of a relief it is to be able to just use the computer without having to worry about malware, viruses, broken installs and other issues.  

The complaints I have aren’t all that great in number, but are niggles nonetheless.  The battery was reduced in capacity… as an Indian associate of mine says, “senses not making.”  With the LED display, low-powered graphics card and 45 nm CPU, instead of getting the same battery life as the old model, this one could have had 20% better life.  There are laptops out there that get 6+ hours on a single charge, but none of Apple’s laptops come even close.  The hinge, while having a delectably smooth operation, is not strong enough.  I’ve seen complaints on Apple’s forums where they think this is blasphemy and that Apple should compensate for their losses.  While the problem isn’t that big (they think you should be able to tilt the laptop 90 degrees so that the keyboard is like a wall, and not have the display tilt at all), it certainly deserves some attention. Heat, that eternal issue plaguing Apple laptops hasn’t loosened its grip even slightly, and the MBP does get pretty hot, pretty fast.  If only the underdeveloped world could afford Macbooks, birth rates could be controlled (it’s a conspiracy, cue X-Files theme).  The eject button for the DVD drive is software-based, not hardware.  It wouldn’t have killed anyone at Apple (I think) to have it hardwired as well.  It would make using Windows less complicated (as having software do something as vanilla as eject a DVD can have unpredictable results in the world of Bill), and while we’re on the subject, trackpad usage in Windows needs help.  It doesn’t register all the fancy new moves all the time, which to say the least, makes you very, very frustrated.  Even when in OS X, the trackpad’s detection needs a bit of help.  An update was released a couple of days ago, but I don’t notice anything different.  I was also expecting a bit of a boost with the DDR3, but in real-world usage and benchmarks, there is no difference.  While we’re on the subject, a $2000 laptop should definitely have 4 GB of RAM, especially with an Apple laptop where people are bound to be running Parallels, VMware or any of the other professional apps that Macbook Pro users love.  I will be upgrading to 4 GB very soon, the slow speeds of Parallels just has me down in the dumps.  

I haven’t outgrown the looks of this beautiful laptop, even if I’ve grown out of the gaga stage the beginning. I’m a sucker for anything well-built, and I notice minute differences in things, such as the solidity of the Japan-made PSP versus the relatively cheap feel of the Chinese-made one.  One of the best things about the new MBP is how solid it is.  This unibody thing Apple touts is more than a gimmick or simple selling point, it actually makes a big difference in a product that is portable.  Unlike a desktop computer where your interaction is limited to the mouse and keyboard, you’ll immediately notice the build quality of a laptop that you open, close and adjust frequently.  And since the keyboard and trackpad are integrated into the computer, you’ll notice if it creaks or feels cheap, but thankfully, this laptop does none of that.  The older Macbook Pros had a bit of a design flaw in that over time, the area to the right of the trackpad, where you’d normally place your right palm, would deform under the weight of your hand and change the shape of the DVD drive opening.  In  some cases, getting DVDs in and out would not be possible after this happened.  It looks like Apple has learned from this, and I can find zero issues of this type.  In fact, I was very impressed with the quality of machining… all the cuts and openings are positively jewel-like and the overall finish looks speckled, for lack of a better term.  Aluminum is just a wonderful material to work with, it’s light, attractive, strong (when anodized) and won’t wear like plastic.  The trackpad is now glass, but you wouldn’t know it if someone didn’t tell you, and even then, you might not believe them.  At first, I was skeptical, but I appreciate the fact that it is no longer plastic, and I’ll tell you why.  Any Macbook’s trackpad, be it black, white or aluminum, would show wear within just a few months.  What happens is that the oil from your skin along with the grooves that make up your fingerprints sand the area that you normally use.  In the beginning you can only see it from an angle, but as time goes on, it becomes increasingly noticeable. I’ve noticed nothing of the sort with this new glass trackpad, so that by itself will add to the longevity, as least aesthetically.  Finally, the writer’s instrument, the keyboard.  It is the best keyboard I’ve seen on a laptop, along with the Macbook Air’s.  I was a disbeliever in laptop keyboards until I tried these!  They have short, positive travel, and allow me to deliver my fastest typing speeds.  Months of hard, fast typing hasn’t changed them at all (not on the Macbook Pro, nor my aluminum keyboard for the iMac).  These are a vast improvement over the previous mushy, Cadbury Dairy Milk-looking keys on the last Macbook Pro.  Did I mention I love the backlighting?  I like it so much I can’t see myself ever buying a laptop without this feature.

I’m glad to see that the laptop is holding up well, and true to my experience with OS X, has given me no issues at all so far.  I can just use the laptop for whatever I want without worry, which is why I got it in the first place.  I think that Macbooks and Macbook Pros are great for anyone that values reliability over gaming, the only area where Windows laptops have an advantage.  The only thing is, you’d have to cough up a little extra cash to get them, but at least you know they’ll run OS X well for a few years to come, as even the oldest Intel Macs can run the latest version of OS X well.  And if you’re in the market for an Apple laptop, you can save yourself about $100, and wait till within a week of Snow Leopard’s release.  That way, you’ll get a coupon to get it for free, or get it in the box itself.  I welcome your thoughts!

The first few review samples are making their way out, but I had the opportunity to play around with Apple’s new 24″ LED-backlit Cinema Display a bit.  Apple seems to be going “with the flow” and riding the wave of design success it’s been experiencing lately, by aluminizing and glassing everything it can.  It certainly does work for sales, and even though every review you’ve seen puts the glass displays down because of reflections, that is only helping to draw attention to them.  Yes, the facts actually are these:  Apple’s sales have been increasing at a phenomenal rate, and real buyers (as opposed to internet trolls) have voted with their currency… glass is good for Apple.  

It is true that the glass screens attract more reflections, duh.  However, what is also true is that they offer up more punch and contrast.  Colours look more vivid, blacks look blacker, things that people tend to like. In the case of laptops, an argument can be made for not having a glossy screen, or at least the option of a matte one, but with a desktop display such as this ACD, it’s not actually that important.  Increasing the brightness alleviates most of the problems with the glass panel, and if your workspace is bright enough to conjure up glare and reflections, then the additional brightness won’t be a problem either.  

I’m glad to see that Apple has finally included a wider range of brightness adjustments, as the 24″ iMac display is so unbelievably bright that, even at minimum brightness, it brands the Apple logo on your retinas.  I simply have no solution to this problem with my 24″ iMac!

The LED backlight is not something you’ll “just notice.”  It doesn’t really look all that different from the 24″ monitor in the iMac, something that isn’t surprising considering they’re both S-IPS panels.  The whites are a little different though, but the main advantage gained by the LED backlight is evenness.  24″ iMacs have long had uneven backlight issues, and when I was personally shopping for an iMac a while back, every single iMac I looked at in every Apple store, Best Buy and Future Shop had gradient (uneven backlight) issues.  It wasn’t until months later that I was able to get one that didn’t have the problem.  So now, we find that the backlight is no longer an issue, which is great.  I didn’t see any dead pixels on the display I evaluated, but dead pixels are more common with Apple displays than others, for some reason.  Perhaps its the S-IPS technology, but I think its high time that expensive displays such as this one have better quality control.  Only time will tell if these displays are prone to the dead pixel issues facing other Apple displays.

One of the best things Apple did was integrate many of the little accessories that might occupy one’s desk.  This display comes with speakers, a microphone and a webcam built right in.  This lends to the value, of which there isn’t that much, given the extremely high price of this monitor.  Some of it can be justified by the S-IPS panel, some by the LED backlighting and integrated accessories.  But all told, I think the monitor is still overpriced by about $150.  Also, Apple’s warranty doesn’t hold a candle to Dell’s for its Ultrasharp models, against which this panel will actually compete.  

Overall, I think that the monitor hits the target aesthetically, includes a lot of features, and performs very well with its superior panel.  It falls short in the areas of pricing and value, warranty and the fact that it cannot, at least for the time being, connect to anything other than the new unibody Macbook and Macbook Pro.  Quite the stupid decision in my opinion, because this is exactly the device that could have been sold to PC users who’d like the style and integration of Apple’s computers, but do not want to be forced to buy an iMac.  

I give this monitor a 7 out of 10!

They say PC gaming is dying, but Microsoft would like to think otherwise.  They’ve just released a new keyboard they call the Sidewinder X6 and the Sidewinder X5 mouse.  Black and robotic-looking with red lighting, the keyboard looks weird and geeky to me, but that’s good in a way.  At least it’s going for a certain look, and that gives it some personality.  

The design and layout isn’t that bad, the number pad can be attached on the left or the right, and it has dials for volume and lighting.  Yes, it is backlit… something I think is a fairly valuable feature, as most of the Homo Sapiens Geeks tend to hang out in dimly lit basements or secluded rooms away from the burning reality of daytime.  The keyboard and mouse will cost a reasonable $80 and $60 respectively, not bad as far as keyboards and mice go these days.  

Via Gizmodo

So after reading about HTPCs (part one), you figure you like them.  Based on what they can do, you might think they’d cost you an arm, a leg and a portion of your left butt cheek, but gladly, no.  We’ve priced out high-value configurations for both our American friends (from Newegg) as well as us Canucks (from our local chain, Canada Computers). Note the difference between the terms high-value and budget.  Budget usually means cheap, no matter what.  In the context of this little price-out, high-value means bang for your buck!

THE CASE:  Starting with the case… HTPC cases can and do go beyond a thousand dollars, but even crossing four or five hundred dollars is no big deal.  The vast majority of the money goes towards touchscreen LCD screens, motorized and huge in some cases.  The way we look at things is, an HTPC is supposed to be part of your home theater.  So, while a touchscreen LCD looks cool and is nice for showing your system off, it does little to no good when you’re sitting on your couch, and your HTPC is not.  You’d either need to constantly approach the box, or have it beside you, both of which are just awkward.

“It can control my sprinkler system, entire house’s lighting and HVAC, stream a thousand movies and archive all my home videos and pictures.  What’s that?  No, I have to keep getting up and going to the box to change stuff.”

In all likelihood, you’re going to use a remote to control your HTPC, so I’ve excluded the choice of those ultra-lavish cases.  Being a high-value choice, I haven’t left out aesthetics.  The model I have selected is the Antec Fusion V2 case in your choice of silver or black.

It has a very appealing brushed aluminum front (real), and an LCD display.  Most people will think its a reciever or high-end video player of some kind, which is the goal!

It also has an integrated IR receiver which you’ll probably use for your Media Center remote or Harmony remote, which means a cleaner look (not having recievers hanging out the wazoo, ya know?).

THE POWER SUPPLY:  The Antec Fusion V2 case comes with a more-than-acceptable power supply, one that many people buy as a standalone.  Its not loud, and with 430 true watts, it provides more than enough juice for everything an HTPC needs.  While you can go quieter, that would add quite a bit to the bottom line, so if you’re on a budget, we recommend sticking with the included PSU.

THE MOTHERBOARD:  The Asus P5E-VM is like few other mATX boards.  It is actually robust enough to be good at overclocking and stability (hence, gaming) and has tons and tons of features packed into its small size.  It employs a modern chipset, decent onboard sound, firewire, has multiple options for configuring storage and best of all offers an integrated HDMI port.

This is one of the most important parts of a computer, even though it might not seem like it.  This motherboard checks off everything we need:  speed, stability, firewire, lots of memory control options, decent integrated sound with digital outputs and of course, that HDMI port.

THE CPU (cheaper):  We were going to recommend the E1200, a Celeron with dual cores, essentially a detuned Core 2 Duo.  But when we saw that you only had to add twenty bucks to double your cache and have an extra 400 MHz out of the gate, we had to give the value cake to the Intel Dual-Core E2180 CPU.  Being an excellent overclocker means that the E2180 can easily attain speeds of 3.0 GHz, sometimes even with the stock cooler.  For our application, I’d recommend running it at 2.4-2.6 GHz or so, which is easily doable with the stock cooler, and plenty for full 1080p playback.

The CPU (cheap):  And for those of you who don’t want to bother overclocking, we’d like to recommend the Intel Core 2 Duo E8400.  With a generous cache of 6 MB and a high multiplier, this is a highly sought-after CPU for overclocking and performance.  We have one here running at… are you ready for this?  4.3 GHz.  The E8500 is rumoured to be an even better overclocker, as these are the same CPUs but binned differently, but in some cases it costs a lot more than the E8400.  For our application, and in this group, you won’t need to overclock the E8400 even a little bit.  Running out of the box at 3.0 GHz, this is more than enough to tackle anything an HTPC can throw at it.

THE VIDEO CARD:  We won’t need one!  There is one integrated with the motherboard, and it does a good job for everything we’re going to have it serve up.  If you plan on gaming, you’ll need to add a better video card, but then, you probably shouldn’t be looking at a budget computer to serve your needs.  An added benefit to using the integrated card here is that there is no wiring to do to have sound+video through your HDMI connection.  If you have a separate video card, you’ll either need to use a DVI-HDMI cable/converter, or if the card has an HDMI port, you’ll need to have a connection from your motherboard or discrete sound card going to your video card.  I see that as being complicated for newbies, and the discrete video card will not improve picture quality in any noticeable way.  Some might argue that use of Purevideo or something might be a benefit, but with the CPUs we have chosen, that is a non-issue as each of the three CPUs in the recommended configuration will easily be able to handle 1080p video decoding.

THE SOUND CARD:  None.  Since we’re going to be passing sound through the HDMI connection, or through coaxial digital or optical digital connection to the receiver, there won’t be much noticeable benefit to using a discrete sound card.  The motherboard I’ve recommended has a sound card integrated, and it’s everything we need!

THE OPTICAL DRIVE:  You might think I’m going to recommend a Blu-Ray drive here.  You’d be wrong.  In my opinion, a Blu-Ray drive in an HTPC is more trouble than it’s worth.  Instead, I’d recommend going with a nice DVD-RW drive, and if you must have the Blu-Ray playback, get a 40 GB PS3 for little, if anything more than the BD-RW drive for your PC.

THE RAM:  We’re not going for anything over-the-top here, just something that is fast and stable.  Our choice is the G.Skill DDR2 PC2-8000 speed 2×2GB kit.  It gives us enough headroom for overclocking, with a very good track record for stability.  We’ve chosen 4 GB here because in our use, it makes a noticeable difference in a Vista Media Center PC with lots of media stored on it.  The price delta from 2GB -> 4 GB is small enough that we can stretch this category!

THE HARD DRIVE:

For our American friends, I’m going to recommend the Samsung Spinpoint F1 500 GB hard drive.  It’s one of the fastest 7200 rpm drives you can get, and it is also very quiet, both attributes that are desirable in the HTPC context.  It doesn’t hurt that it is one of the two cheapest 500 GB drives Newegg has either!

For the Canadians, we’re getting a really good deal on the Hitachi P7K500 500 GB 7200 rpm hard drive.  It’s known for good performance, if at a slightly higher temperature with moderate noise levels.  We get this a lot cheaper than the States thanks to a MIR, so this is definitely a go if you’re buying soon!

I recommend two of each drive to get you guys started in the HTPC world.  Believe me, 1 TB might sound like a lot, but it isn’t when you transfer your DVD collection bit-for-bit, then all your pictures (and all your scanned pictures), and your music… and the list will indefinitely continue.

THE ACCESSORIES:  I don’t recommend you waste money purchasing a keyboard and mouse.  Just use something you have lying around, or just borrow your existing set for a day to set the HTPC up.  After you set it up, it’ll boot right into MCE and the rest you can control from the MCE remote.  You can also use a more fancy remote, like one of the Harmony remotes, but extravagance in home theater computing is best left for another such post, the “unbudget HTPC.”

So how does it all stack up?  Let’s have a look-see.

For America:

Antec Fusion V2 Case                                          $189.99

Asus P5E-VM HDMI                                             $129.99

Lite-On LH-20A4P                                                 $22.99

2 x Hitachi Deskstar 500GB                                 $139.98

G.Skill PC2-8000 4 GB RAM (2×2GB)                      $84.99

(Now, pick ONE of the below)

Intel E2180                                                             $69.99

Intel E8400                                                           $169.99

___________________________________________________________________________

Total w/ E2180                                                   $637.93

Total w/ E8400                                                     $737.93

For Canada:

Antec Fusion V2 Case                                           $189.99

Asus P5E-VM HDMI                                              $147.99

Lite-On LH-20A4P                                                 $29.99

2 x Hitachi Deskstar 500GB                                 $103.98

G.Skill PC2-8000 4 GB RAM (2×2GB)                      $86.00

(Now, pick ONE of the below)

Intel E2180                                                            $76.99

Intel E8400                                                          $192.99

___________________________________________________________________________

Total w/ E2180                                                    $634.94

Total w/ E8400                                                    $750.94

So there you have it!  I haven’t included shipping or taxes, so make sure you account for those if applicable.  Either of the two configurations are superb, and the only difference here is the CPU.  Both CPUs are capable of full 1080p playback, so that is not a concern.  The HTPC in its use will not go obsolete very fast, since what we’re doing on it will not change much, also nice to know.  These, however, are entirely meant to be media machines, and if you’d like your HTPC to be a HTGPC (home theater gaming PC), many of the component choices would be quite different.  We’ve tested these configurations and found that they work together very well.  When set up well with Vista Media Center and corresponding must-have HTPC software like FFDshow and AC3Filter, it will function brilliantly.  We’ll put a guide up soon showing you the software configuration of an HTPC. And if you want Blu-Ray playback, we’d recommend you pick up a PS3, or if you just hate them, another standalone player.  The price difference from a BD-RW drive to a PS3 is minimal if present.  In Canada, you can get a 40 GB PS3 these days on sale for $299!!

Please feel free to leave comments, we’d love to hear from ya!

Given that there is no simple Add/Remove Programs for the Mac, CNET’s Download.com has found some uninstallation programs to ease the process for newbies and just-switcheders.  Very useful links, and they’re free!

Download AppTrap 1.0.5

Download AppCleaner 1.2.1

Via Download.com

AT&T’s second-quarter earnings came out and if the numbers are to be believed, broadband growth appears to be slowing.  46,000 new subscribers is a fraction of the 400,000 new subscribers in last year’s second quarter.  It’s not clear at this time why this is happening, but some of the theories put forth are that the premium market has been tapped and/or people are less willing to pay premium prices for broadband.  However, I believe that this is just a matter of broadband being a “cash cow” for the major providers.  With the exception of Verizon and its FiOS, none of the broadband packages are all that enticing for new customers.  No major efforts to increase speed have been made for cable networks, most are still well under 10 megabit, and no additional benefits, aka augmented benefits are made available.  

Imagine, for example, bumping the speed up to 20 megabit or more.  Then, the provider, and for a tongue-in-cheek joke let’s choose Rogers of Canada, decides to include some nice premium features that people haven’t seen before, at no extra charge.  For example, compressed high definition streaming of all the channels you have subscribed to, made available on your Rogers portal page.  With slightly customized software that allows you to make the streaming video your background, and lets you play with the transparency, so that you can watch TV and work on something at the same time.  Cost, not much.  ATi has had this stuff for a long time.  The TV channels?  You’re subscribed to them anyway.  Some sort of “My Rogers ONE” package” where you can access all your TV channels on your TVs, computers and 3G cell phones might change the opinions that many possess for Rogers, and would encourage new subscribers.  And that’s just one new feature they could market.  It probably is true that most people who understand the Internet and want broadband have it already.  The remainder of people are probably not as computer-savvy, and may not understand the benefit of faster Internet.  Its time for an ISP to build a superportal, not just partner up with Yahoo or some other shenanigans provider for portals they can go to anytime and free emails they could have gotten anyway.  Like AOL did in the early days of the Internet, a superportal would be something that would offer real value, and a perceived benefit to those who don’t currently see any.  

Via Wired

We’ve seen the Macbook, the Macbook Pro and the Macbook Air.  We’ve also seen the iPod Touch and the iPhone.  We’ve seen Apple borrow features like the finger swipe from the iPhone to put into the Macbook Air.  Now, it’s time for the ultimate consummation.  According to sources at Apple, a new device will be launched in the fall… have a look.

Think MacBook screen, possibly a bit smaller, in glass with iPhone-like, but fuller-featured multi-touch. Gesture library. Full Mac OS X. This is why they bought P.A. Semi. Possibly with Immersion’s haptic tech. Slot-loading SuperDrive. Accelerometer. GPS. Pretty expensive to produce initially, but sold at “low” price that will reduce margins. Apple wants to move these babies. And move they will. This is some sick shit. App Store-compatible, able to run Mac apps, too. By October at the latest.

We can see this product generating more buzz than the usual customer service buzz, not only because the product will be at least slightly unique and be the recipient of Apple’s focused marketing efforts, but also because of Apple’s new pricing strategy.  You see, they’ve just figured out that if they sell more units at lower prices, they can make more money overall!  

Via Gizmodo and MacDailyNews and AppleInsider

Dell’s latest 27-incher, the 2709W is finally here. The 27-inch category is underappreciated in our opinion, because we find that it satisfies a sweet spot that doesn’t really exist with the 30-inch models, and to a lesser extent, the 24-inch models. The problem with 30-inch monitors is what I call the distance-resolution-size relationship. Basically, because of the resolution, you must have the monitor fairly close to you, but because of the size, it’s a little strenuous to take in as a result of it being larger than your normal field of view at that distance. You’ll have to constantly turn your head to look at different parts of the screen. In addition to that, it’s more difficult to have even backlighting in larger monitors, a problem made worse when you sit close, and you need to. We were under the impression that the 24-inch models offered the best distance-resolution-size relationship, but after seeing this 27-incher, we think it takes the cake. You can move the 2709W back to a comfortable distance, where it perfectly occupies your field of view, and look at an almost perfectly even backlight. The resolution at 1920×1200 is the same as 24” models, but is more comfortable to view at the 27” size. It also allows for more flexibility in terms of monitor placement.

Aesthetically, we think the 2709W takes a step back from its predecessor, the 2707WFP. That model had a metal casing, a glass base and a beautiful weighted height adjustment. By comparison, the matte black plastic encasing, the plastic base and the occasionally-stuck height adjustment mechanism pale in comparison.

The 9-in-2 card reader occupies its usual spot, and there are 4 USB 2.0 ports, as usual. Connectivity is definitely better than before with Displayport, HDMI, 2 x DVI and component, so that makes up for the aesthetic loss somewhat.

One cool thing is capacitive touch controls, though our 3007WFP-HC has them as well. Here though, they somehow detect your presence even before you touch them! Normally, you don’t see anything except the blue status/power light. When you approach it (with your hand or an inanimate object, I did attempt to fool it with my mouse) a light mysteriously appears.

You touch this light… and four more appear, along with the menu on the screen. The five blue lights act as soft buttons for the menu, and this one is fairly intuitive as far as monitor menus go. Pull your hand away, and the lights disappear into the black bezel one by one. Nice, but I’d still rather the metal and glass.

The display quality is where the 2709W redeems itself and marks a bit of a step forward for computer monitors. You see, the 2709W is the first consumer-grade LCD monitor that is competent in terms of black level and, resultantly contrast. It is not only significantly better than other computer monitors, but better than some LCD TVs as well. And this difference is immediately obvious as well. Others who came and saw the monitor were surprised at the intense blacks and vivid colours.

A desktop wallpaper of a leopard’s face showed such great contrast between the light and dark spots of fur that I was reminded of the latest and greatest in the other room, the Pioneer PDP-5020HD 50-inch 2nd generation Kuro plasma. OK, so it wasn’t nearly as good as the Pioneer, but it’s a huge step in the right direction. Suffice to say, this is one of the best choices for people who watch movies on their oversize computer monitor, bar none. Lag was not noticeable, though if it is an issue for you, many TN panels are better in this area. Overall though, they cannot compete with superior panels like the one in this 2709W. The colour accuracy is not as good, but more noticeably, colours just look flatter and have less pop. There is also very little colour shift on this unit, a significant departure from the TN we were previously testing. The colours out of the box were quite decent, and after a little calibration were just about excellent. Most 24- and 27-inch models have some sort of built-in scaling, and this one does as well. On a purely subjective level, the quality of scaling appears to be much better than the 24-inch 2408WFP and its predecessors. No “jaggies” were visible at any time, even in BIOS, so kudos to Dell on this feature. Our unit didn’t have any dead pixels, just like all the other Dell Ultrasharps that have made their way here, but curiously had dancing red pixels around some text when connected to our Hackintosh running 10.5.4. It didn’t exhibit this phenomenon in Vista, but strangely again, it surfaced when connected to another computer running XP. We have concluded that it is indeed the monitor, and we’re looking into it further.

If I may relate monitors to cars, the Dell 2709W is what we’d call a sleeper. It doesn’t look particularly fancy, none of its bits cry out for attention (like the 2707WFP did), but its performance belies its looks… excellent. We were very impressed with the deep blacks, the contrast and the overall image quality. The 2709W offers a smattering array of inputs that would please just about anyone, making this a very strong offering. Dell offers a zero dead pixel program on their Ultrasharps, which is great, except for their outsourced support, which is not. We also weren’t too fond of the dancing red pixels, but we’ll get back to you with more information on that once we look into it.

Overall, we give this Dell 2709W an 8 out of 10. Highly recommended!