Hanns G HG216D 22-inch LCD display
Inexpensive 22-inch LCD features HDMI Connectivity
With standard aspect ratio LCD displays relegated primarily to the sub $500 Wal Mart computer, 19 and even 22-inch wide screen models have been the normal upgrade path for those looking for wider display real estate. Hanns G is a Taiwan-based company that offers such displays in the value segment of the market. The company sent an HG216D in for us to take a look at, and for the price, it is a decent offering for those looking to upgrade from a 17-inch standard aspect ratio LCD.
The Hanns G model is somewhat unique in this category and price point in that it offers the capability to connect to your computer either via VGA or HDMI, which replaces the DVI connection. An HDMI cable however is not included with the display.
Specifications
The HG 216D is features a 22-inch (21.6 viewable area) Active Matrix TFT LCD display that supports resolutions up to 1680x1050 WSXGA widescreen resolutions (16.7 million colors) with the appropriate graphics card. It features a 0.282mm horizontal x 0.282mm vertical pixel pitch and a 300cd/m(2) brightness rating. It sports a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a response time of 5ms. As such, it supports all HD gaming consoles via Y-Pb-Pr. It has a viewing angle of 170/160 degrees and can be adjusted forward and backward but not up and down. It also features a 3.5mm stereo audio input and 1watt x 2 channel built in stereo speakers, Kensington lock, and On screen controls in 11 languages. It ships with a three year warranty and includes VGA cable, audio cable, QuickStart Guide, and the user manual on CD-ROM.
First Impressions
With the display hooked up via VGA to a NVIDIA QuadroFX 500 graphics card, and at 1600x 1200 resolution, I noticed weird text issues in both Microsoft Word 2007 and Notepad. Portions of some letters, such as the letters r, i, d, h, p, and n, were darker than others in the same words. The same was true when in Notepad. When upping the resolution to the recommended 1680x1050, everything became more clear, as there were no longer any darker portions of a single letter. Images were a different story. Those taken with a Canon Digital Rebel and viewed in Adobe Photoshop Elements, had excellent color reproduction. Pinks were definitely pink and blacks were black. Hooking the display up to an HP workstation running an NVIDIA Quadro FX 1700 using an HDMI cable, things became more vibrant. The weird text issue was a non-issue, and MS Word documents looked good. DVD movies especially were more enjoyable and clear. In my DVD test showing the movie Riding Giants, which was mastered in HD, I took a close look at still image scenes in the movie that featured big wave rider Laird Hamilton negotiating a steep drop on a huge wave at what looks to be Peahi. The stills, rendered in Adobe After Effects, has a 3D look to it. shows a lot of colors, and more importantly, a lot of water spray. It looked very good on the display, as did the rest of the movie.
The controls on the display are accessed under the display bezel with just four buttons used to navigate the on screen controls. They are easily adjusted and readily accessible. The one real annoyance is that of the lighted G denoting power, because when watching a widescreen DVD, the blue G light continues to shine bright in the lower right corner of the bezel, and there is no way to turn it off. For less than $300, you can purchase a decent 22-inch widescreen display that is no frills, but outputs a good to very good image, yet mediocre text. It works well in movie situations as well, and with the added HDMI port, you've got options as to what you can hook it up to.
The HG216D is an interesting solution for those who use more than one entertainment device in the home. Not only does it serve well as a computer display, but it is also compatible with HD gaming consoles, such as those coming out of tokyo and Redmond, WA. If your Media Center PC is equipped with an older LCD display that doesn't offer widescreen capabilities, it makes a nice step up. If you've got a compatible graphics card, the HG216D is a competent solution at a decent price point of $259.00. For more information, visit www.hannsg.com
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