Dell 2209wa

jimconrad

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Jun 29, 2009
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This seems to be a good choice for my new build since it is an ips rather than a TN panel. I like the price and reviews. Any comments?
 
I ordered one a few days ago with a delivery date of 8/10. I figured I would have it in a few days, but I am starting to think that it will take that long to get it in. Apparently they are sold out. Here are some reviews that I looked at when deciding to purchase. A few of them are user reviews, but they are well done and have better pics than the professional reviews. The last link is a 60+ page thread at HardForum about this monitor.




http://www.erodov.com/forums/dell-ultrasharp-2209wa-review/18048.html

http://www.cnet.com.au/dell-2209wa-339294389.htm

http://fo0bar.livejournal.com/203363.html

http://www.overclock.net/monitors-displays/467862-my-review-dell-2209wa-ips-panel.html

http://www.lcdreviewz.com/review_Dell_2209WA

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1387587&page=60&highlight=dell
 
This is an S-IPS panel and considered to be strong in graphic works, video and picture editing and things like that.

TN panels are normally better for gaming and video watching.
 
I think I am going with a TN panel. There is one with 0 lag according to Anandtech. It won't be the end of the world if I don't get the Dell.
 


No. It is an e-IPS panel.

And no. PVA/MVA and IPS panels are better for watching video than TN panels.
 
As good as this monitor is in a number of respects, take a look at the brightness issue. If you like darker rooms, i.e., natural light to fully dark, this monitor may cause you problems, especially if you are more up there in age. Unlike most monitors, including their own, Dell designed the minimum brightness on this one for the standard brightness level of an flourescent-lit office (120-140 nits). That can be seen in the reviews, where the common setting is 10% to get down into the 120s. Cranking the contrast down towards 50 can only mitigate that so much. For me, even at 0/50 (and sharpness at 20), website whites are physically uncomfortable.
 
It's one of the best 22 inch panels on the market with a 1680x1050 resolution according to most reviews. However it sells out quickly. And yes as poster above mentioned, its one main weakness is the contrast ratio and brightness. I believe that it's contrast ratio is about 600:1 when properly calibrated.

"As so often on monitors, the upscaling is very poor. On the 2209WA, the flickering is well contained but the low contrast ratio gives blacks that are grey more than anything else.

Because of this problem, the 2009WA will always be your last choice for watching movies, but for everything else, it's a great all-rounder. Gamers have every reason to like it, for office work its flexibility is very practical and when on the right settings, this screen is perfect for working on your photos. Lets hope other eIPS screens appear on the market soon!"

http://www.digitalversus.com/article-358-4862-88.html#
 
Thanks, I hadn't seen that review. I wonder what settings the reviewer used to get his 100 cd/m². He calls it an image editing setting, missing the more general point that brightness should also correspond to the light around and behind the monitor.
 
I bought my 2209wa about 3 months ago and have been very pleased with it. Note that I have not done any gaming on it so don't know about that aspect.

Here are some of the places I checked before purchasing:

14 page review
http://www.erodov.com/forums/dell-ultrasharp-2209wa-review/18048.html

Review with tool for comparing color quality of different monitors
http://www.digitalversus.com/article-358-4862-88.html#

Minireview
http://www.overclock.net/monitors-displays/467862-my-review-dell-2209wa-ips-panel.html

ZDNet Australia
http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/hardware/desktops/soa/Dell-2209WA/0,139023402,339294431,00.htm

AVForums Thread
http://www.zdnet.com.au/reviews/hardware/desktops/soa/Dell-2209WA/0,139023402,339294431,00.htm

Owner reviews at OverclockersUK
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-032-DE&tool=3

Foobar
http://fo0bar.livejournal.com/203363.html

Hardforum – 80 page forum with discussions going back to January
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1387587&page=60&highlight=dell

I had a Dell 19" with a PVA panel for 5 years and was very happy with it - which probably influenced my choice. It still works great - no dead pixels - was just looking for a larger size.

Now my TV is on the frtz - picture is scrunched into a 5" band accross the middle - as if letterboxed plus a little distortion. About the same time as it started, I signed up for netflix - man what a deal. Not just all the movies - but some movies and a lot of old TV series available to download. They sure beat the heck out of todays crappy TV. CSI can't hold a handle to a good Kojack or McCloud. There are a to of new - eg 30 Rock - and old - The Jack Benny Collection - with wide variety. And I watch it all on my 2209wa. Have not watched "TV" in 2 weeks and have all but decided not to bother getting it fixed and to give up cable - save $60 mo on cable and pay $19 mo to Netflix for a much broader range of much better content.
I figure just watching a lot of my favorite old TV series - Maverick, Rockford, Law & Order, Dick van a lovely person Show, I Spy, Simon & Simon, and others could take me years. But they do have the CSI series for those so inclined. I received my first two movies about 3 weeks ago and have only watched one. The other is waiting till I am ready, but have been watching the TV shows instead.

And the best part - no Ads. Did you know 30 Rock is only 21 minutes long. I can watch 3 of them in the time you see 2 online. And you can pause whenever you want.

They won't be able to keep the rates low forever. The added cost for the unlimited downloads is about $4 per month. The rights owners are getting screwed and are going to have to do something before too long.

When I bought the monitor was not even thinking about this - just serendipity.