Dell SP2008WFP: 20″ Wide LCD Monitor with Webcam

September 3, 2007

Dell SP2008WFP

Size: 20″ Wide
Pixel Format: 1680 x 1050
Response Time: 2ms
Brightness: 300 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio: 2000:1
Inputs: DVI-HDCP, VGA, USB 2.0 (4)
Special Features: 2MP web­cam, micro­phone
Availability: September 12, 2007
Price: $289


Image Source: Engadget

Is it true? Dell has beat Apple to the embedded-webcam-in-monitor race? I thought Dell was the quick fol­lower when it came to tech­nol­ogy inno­va­tion? Maybe it is no longer true. Or maybe it is Apple being slow this time, though they have had embed­ded web­cams on its iMac line for some time now. It’s good to see Dell inno­vate and it seems the LCD panel is of a high-performance vari­ety with 3ms response time and a very high con­trast ratio of 2000:1. But the one thing that you should watch out for is that Samsung’s PVA LCDs have a very high con­trast ratio when you’re look­ing dead on; the con­trast ratio drops quickly as you move away from zero degree. LG.Philip LCD‘s IPS, on the other hand, has a rather low con­trast ratio at zero degree but falls slowly as you move from side to side. Which is bet­ter? I pre­fer IPS, but that’ just my per­sonal opin­ion. Dell’s SP2008WFP seems to be a solid LCD mon­i­tor.

Source: Engadget

Update September 28, 2007

As of today, Dell offi­cially announced the SP2008WFP. The inte­grated video cam­era is some­thing new and even lets you take pic­tures at 1600 x 1200. I am not sure, but the video is prob­a­bly capped at 640 x 480. Unfortunately for all 20″ and 22″ LCD mon­i­tors, the pixel for­mat of 1680 x 1050 is just use­less for HD: 720p is scaled up and 1080p is scaled down. Scaling tech­nol­ogy is pretty good in most high-end TVs, but for a mon­i­tor, I’m not sure. To get the best expe­ri­ence with this mon­i­tor, I would stay away from watch­ing movies in hidef.


Image Source: Dell

[tags]Dell, 20″, Wide LCD Monitor, LCD Monitor, 1680 x 1050, DVI, HDCP, Webcam[/tags]