| ASUS VW266H Widescreen LCD Monitor |  |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Monitor | HDTV | |
| Written by Doug Dallam | |
| Sunday, 05 June 2011 | |
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Page 7 of 7
ASUS Monitor Final ThoughtsWhen I was looking for a larger than 23" monitor I new I wanted a 16:10 aspect ratio that had at least 1920x1200 resolution. As I looked, it became obvious that the trend was to move from 16:10 to 16:9, and I dislike that trend. Although the ASUS VW266H is priced higher than a like sized monitor at 16:9, the increase in screen space in relation to cost was a pleasant surprise and well worth the few extra dollars. While writing this article, I read where, indeed, the reason this monitor is hard to find is because it is in such demand, but again, I can't prove that. At 279.00 USD (plus the 30.00 USD rebate I received), it was, at least for me, a bargain. I suspect that in the coming months, you'll be able to get a monitor similar to this for even a better price, so keep looking if you're not in a hurry. You're probably wondering why I haven't mentioned the internal speakers yet. Well, because they hardly merit any discussion, except to say, like all monitor speakers, they sound like cheap, tinny speakers. The reason manufacturers do this is because their competition does it. It's not because having speakers in computer monitor is a great idea, especially when you can pick a pair up for less than 20.00 USD that will give you better sound quality. On the other hand, if you're already stretching your budget, those internal monitor speakers may be a life saver.
Something else to think about is how big is too big for a specific resolution? As mentioned above, if 23" monitors are using a native resolution of 1920x1200, how big can you go until things get too grainy? I can't answer that question. My advise would be to read reviews and look directly at a monitor in a showroom, if possible, before you buy that new 27" with a 1920x1200 resolution. ASUS VW266H ConclusionThe ASUSVW266H maintains the 16:10 aspect ratio so desired by computer enthusiasts, while keeping the price down to manageable levels. There are bigger monitors out there for around the same price tag, but not at this aspect ratio, so watch for that. Also watch for quality. We never know what goes into a manufacturer's offerings, but ASUS is a well respected company and the 266H has a great warranty. Perhaps the trend for 16:10 25"+ TF monitors is to become even cheaper, much cheaper in fact than even a year ago. One example is the Hanns·G HZ281HPB Widescreen LCD Monitor reviewed here at Benchmark Reviews just last December. So keep that in mind. However, by the time ASUS fills the "out of stock" suppliers again, the price might be even be lower than 279.00 USD (plus the 30.00 USD rebate), when I bought this monitor. We'll have to wait and see. You won't go wrong purchasing this monitor though. It's done everything I've needed to it do, play games, compute, light graphics work, and that big, big beautiful picture, plus the 3 year dead pixel warranty. Additionally, after color calibrating, the color is exceptionally accurate, at least compared to my Phillips 23" Brilliance IPS panel, and I was very impressed with its horizontal viewing angle. As for the aesthetics of the ASUSVW266H, it's in line with most other monitors. It's black, thin bezeled, sleek, clean. What more can you say, right? At least that's better than the trend a few years ago that used a silver bezel. I have no qualms with the quality of this monitor. I've been using it everyday, 8-10 hours a day and have had not one problem with it. It came without one dead or hot pixel and today it remains the same. Remember too that I have two other monitors for caparison sake: the Phillips 23" IPS 16:10 graphics panel and a 23" AOC standard 16:9 panel. From a quality perspective, it's just as nicely built as the other two. Functionally speaking, it's a monitor on a monitor stand that functions like any other monitor today. It's adequate and I don't know what could be done to make it any better, except to put it on a monitor arm, like I have done. The only thing that bothers me a little is the OSD navigation, but that's a minor issue. Once you play with it for a while, you get the hang of it. When I bought this monitor, it was the cheapest thing going for a quality name brand 16:10 25.5" LCD panel at 279.00 USD. After nearly a year, it's still going strong without one problem, it shipped without any pixel problems, and it remains so today. Pros:
+ Big screen Cons:
- Hard to find Questions? Comments? Benchmark Reviews really wants your feedback. We invite you to leave your remarks in our Discussion Forum.
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Comments
It's an older version but works just like the new one does, so far anyway.
I set out to purchase the best monitor for the price and after months of research I decided on this one. I find the 16:10 aspect ratio is excellent for coding and just having more space on the screen for applications.
For me, the only way up is to get a 2500x1600 monitor (which are on the $1000 range, a bit out of my budget right now).
Would defiantly recommend these monitors to anyone.
Me and my brother buy our PC usually at the same time, and he gets the same hardware as I have, only he went for 27" 1080p monitors, were I went for the VW266H.
And now every time he is at my home and uses my PC he regretting not also getting 1920x1200 monitor even do he likes the bigger size screens he got now, he really dislikes 1080p.
But to me it dose not look like its a supply problem whit this monitor, more like that EOLed the monitor as it not bin available her in the EU any ware for the last 6 months and only some sparsely VK266H are available
I got E2607WSV-B1 for a friend and seeing that monitor standing next to the VW266H, there was not mouths of a difference between the to of them in picture quality
What monitor did you buy that did not have VESA mounts? Every monitor I have checked in the last 2 years had them, and I mean every monitor.
If you don't need a monitor for color accurate use, such as photography, you really don't need the IPS panels, though. The monitor in this review is pretty amazing for saturation, brightness, and size. If I weren't a photographer, I'd be happy with it. But even with hardware calibration, the white balance is off from the Phillips, and when I print, the Phillips looks just like the print.
I might get one anyway just to see how it looks next to my old Phillips. I feel like the Phillips is too warm, even after calibration though. If I choose a white desktop background, it looks yellowish compared to my other monitors (TN panels). Can you check and see what yours looks like when you choose an all white background?
White Point Xw 0.3127 Yw 0.329 Primaries Xr Yr Xg Yg Xb Yb
0.64 0.33 0.21 0.71 0.15 0.06... This is out of the box,no hardware calibration done; I may tweak it down the road but at the moment I LIKE IT AS IS...even my MAC buddies love it....My card is a AMD Radeon? Sapphire 6950 with 2GB Of memory;it has no problem supporting the monitor...