| Hanns-G HZ281HPB WideScreen LCD Monitor |
| Reviews - Featured Reviews: Monitor | HDTV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Written by Marc Fruchtman - Edited by Olin Coles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tuesday, 21 December 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hanns·G HZ281HPB Widescreen LCD Monitor ReviewIn the 2D market, the video monitor is essentially the last piece of hardware in the complex conversion of computer data into visual images. LCD monitors ranging from 22 inch to 26 inch, are now affordable to most consumers. But, many of you are hungry for bigger monitors with better than 1080p (1920x1080) resolution. And these features have generally been out of the acceptable price range.This type of price adjustment often happens when new technology starts to enter the market place such as LCD screens with LED backlighting, and 3D capability. Many companies will pack the features into their products as they attempt to compete with emerging technologies. A keen consumer can grab a really great 2D monitor now as the 3D technology emerges. Benchmark Reviews presents the Hanns·G HZ281HPB widescreen LCD monitor by Hannspree. It's an affordable 2D monitor with a 27.5 inch viewable screen, and native 1920x1200 resolution. If you are looking for a colossal monitor, with a great image and economic price, then the Hanns·G HZ281 might be the one for you.
Manufacturer: Hannspree, Inc. Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been self-supplied. Hanns·G Monitor Features
• FULL HD 1080P TFT Color LCD Monitor 1920x1200. HZ281HPB Specifications
Features and Specifications per Hanns·G HZ281HPB Package Contents and supplied PDF. The User Manual comes on CD along with drivers for Windows Vista, and Windows 7. There are no apparent drivers needed for Win XP. The manual reports screen resolutions will depend on the model that was purchased. Windows XP reports the following available resolutions: 1920x1200, 1920x1080, 1776x1000, 1680x1050, 1600x1200, 1440x900, 1400x1050, 1360x1024, 1360x768, 1280x1024, 1280x960, 1280x800, 1280x768, 1280x720, 1152,864, 1152x648, 1024x768, and 800x600 (using a ATI Radeon 4850).
The Hanns·G HZ281HPB comes with a 3-Year Limited Warranty (3-Year Parts/Labor, "The LCD screen has effective pixels of 99.99% or more. It may include blemishes of 0.01% or less such as a missing pixel or a pixel lit all of the time." Taking this to the extreme level, and according to their user manual, a monitor with 1920x1200 pixels (2.3 million pixels) could have up to 230 pixels (.01%) that were defective. Hopefully, this is not how they are interpreting their own statements. But, one does wonder if perhaps they might want to put in a better pixel policy in their literature. I received 2 monitors with zero defects. +1 for Hanns·G. Closer Look: Hanns·G HZ281HPBThe Hanns·G HZ281HPB has a beautiful glossy black frame with a sturdy tilt back stand. Beauty can often require a little more dusting as even the faintest speck of dust will be readily recognizable on this frame. Finger print smudges are also easily noticeable. In comparison, I have a 22 inch Acer with a flat black frame that seems almost immune to smudges, and dust is less noticeable. You have to decide which is more important, an incredibly awesome glossy black frame or choose a different monitor which is more smudge proof. The frame is mounted to a very sturdy stand which can tilt the screen backwards only, from 0 to 20°. There is a little over 3.5 inches of clearance from the bottom of the stand to the bottom of the frame.
If you happen to have a keyboard that has stands that allow it tilt up from the back, then the keyboard will sit quite nicely over the stand base with clearance under the monitor.
The Hanns·G HZ281 ( HZ281HPB) arrived in its original box from Newegg. The Monitor was well protected.
There is a standard VGA (D-sub 15) connector, HDMI to DVI, Audio Cable, and Power Cord included, as well as a CD, Warranty Card, and Quick Start Guide. Hanns·G HZ281HPB Detailed FeaturesThe screen is simply beautiful. It towers over my 22 inch monitor, even as I write this review. It is quite bright. The screen itself measured just over the stated "27.5 inch Viewable" diagonally.
Hanns·G advertises the HZ281HPB as "28 inch", on the box, with a clearly visible notice just below stating '27.5" viewable'. Fortunately Newegg has learned from vendors' past mistakes and advertises it as 'Hanns·G HZ281HPB 27.5'' 3ms Full HD 1080P HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor'. Marketing aside, there is no point in advertising LCD screens as greater than their viewable size, as this just creates confusion for the consumer. The monitor has a stated viewing angle of 170° horizontal, and 160° vertical. In other words, its viewable unless you happen to be practically behind it! However, there is a color change trending toward pink when the viewing angle exceeds 60° or from a different perspective, when it exceeds 30° from perpendicular to the screen. When you are close to the screen and move your head from the approximate center of the monitor you will notice it. If you are relatively centered, the screen looks really great up close and also from a distance. I have no reservations about using this monitor, however, if you often find yourself using your computer monitor at awkward angles, and need very accurate color rendition at any angle then this might sway you.
The controls allow adjustment from 0 to 100. The brightness level at 30 was very comfortable. The ability to increase brightness to a much higher level also means that this screen is very viewable in bright light when you need it. The monitor has several options for color adjustment There are 3 color presets that represent "Warm", "Cool" and "Nature", as well as a 4th "User" mode that allows customization of individual RGB values from 0 to 100. "Nature" trends toward a blue blocker with an attenuated blue signal, that is pleasing to the eye. The blues of the monitor are quite strong, and even with a reduction in the blue spectrum, blue looks quite good using the "Nature" setting. Color rendition: Provided you are within the 60 degree viewing angle, the colors are rendered similarly over the screen. At vertical viewing angles over 50 to 60 degrees there is a trend toward a slight darkening of colors toward the upper and lower edges of the screen. There is a pinkish hue when exceeding the horizontal viewing angle of 60 degrees. None of these color issues were present at normal viewing angles when sitting in front of a keyboard. There is also a Contrast and an X-Contrast on/off option. Contrast can be adjusted just like brightness, however, X-contrast is described in the manual as "Optimal setting for high contrast images or videos. The dark and light areas of the image are automatically detected, and the contrast is enhanced to provide a clearer, sharper image." What I can tell you about X-Contrast is that it does not work well while watching movies. Night shots with multiple light sources, such as highways and skyscrapers were adversely darkened in X-contrast mode.
The stand base has a tool-less design that was quite easy to use. Removal is also a breeze. The stand only tilts backward, and sometimes a slight forward tilt may be desired.
The Monitor comes equipped with multiple inputs (HDMI, DVI, VGA, Line In, and Headphone). Hanns·G also included volume controls and a mute option for audio. The monitor also has the ability to auto detect input which was handy when using the Xbox 360 via HDMI.
The monitor controls are located underneath in the center. They are not easy to reach, as they are recessed. The labels are very difficult to see, and in regularly lighting, are almost non-visible. The power-off/on switch is not lighted. There is a lighted Indicator for On / Off / and Power Save Mode just below the embossed Hanns·G label. Testing & ResultsTesting MethodologyOne monitor was used heavily each day as the main unit in a dual display setup. Games and applications were tested under multiple resolutions. The Majority of testing was performed at the native resolution of 1920x1200. The second monitor was placed on an Xbox console where it underwent frequent testing using multiple games. Test System 1
Test System 2
ResultsThe Monitor(s) worked flawlessly in both the PC and Xbox environment. On the PC side, the monitor looked best at its native resolution of 1920x1200. Image clarity is extremely good. Text is very crisp. The individual pixels with their .309mm x .309mm pitch are barely visible from a distance of 2 ft (304.8mm), so you won't see much if any pixelation at the native resolution. If you are a programmer, modeler, artist, or graphic designer, the large size of the Hanns·G HZ281HPB with its1920x1200 resolution will really impress. At lesser resolutions, you can see that text is not as crisp and images appear not as sharp, but this is pretty typical of all LCD monitors. The monitor had no problems cycling thru all the resolutions that my video card listed as supported. Also, that obvious relay switching that is common with many CRT monitors was absent when changing resolutions. Color and brightness consistency, when viewed front and center, are very good. When exceeding ~50 to 60 degrees viewing angle, there are color changes to the pink with some darkening. Game play is incredible on this monitor @ 1920x1200. The view fills your visual field and that really helps with immersion. I never noticed any flicker at all at 60Hz, but you can go as high as 75Hz if needed. Another nice feature is the input auto-detection. During my testing, when I needed to connect to the Xbox, it auto-sensed the new HDMI connection including audio thru HDMI. I also enjoyed the extra resolution when using applications. The Quick Start Guide is simple enough, but really does not get into the meat of the monitor's settings. You will need to use the included CD to access those. The Menu controls are somewhat of a pain to use and see. But the menu itself is well done. The monitor comes with 2Wx2 speakers. On the PC side they sounded tinny, using the Line-In Jack. There was some improvement for Xbox games using HDMI. Gaming PerformanceThe purpose of this section is to demonstrate how any one particular video card will scale its performance for each display resolution. There are four different video cards used: two mid-level and two top-level, so it would be best to follow the trend set by the product that best represents your level of graphics. The first set of performance results use the monitor resolutions of 1024x768 and 1280x1024 to represent standard LCD panel sizes of 17" and 19". Statistically speaking, most of the visitors here at Benchmark Reviews are using one of these two monitors on their computer system to browse this web site.
For the sake of giving an example we can follow, I will discuss how the range of resolution settings impact the FOXCONN GeForce 9800 GTX video card, which has a balanced performance between video memory frame buffer and graphical performance. In the image above Foxconn's 9800 GTX begins with 69.3 FPS at 1024x768, which is what you would experience on a 17" LCD monitor. Moving up to a 19" LCD monitor that same video card performs 29% worse, dropping 20 FPS at the 1280x1024 resolution.
Moving on to the widescreen monitors, we use the 1680x1050 resolution native to 22" (and some 24" monitors). At this resolution, the GeForce 9800 GTX drops to 37.8 FPS which is a reduction of nearly 46% compared to 1024x768 resolution and down 29% from 1280x1024. At the highest test resolution of 1920x1200, the Hanns·G HZ281HPB widescreen LCD monitor draws a total of 2,304,000 pixels (2.3 MP). Compare this to the minute 0.8 MP of a 1024x768 resolution, or the 1.3 MP of 1280x1024, and you can begin to see how there would be a performance hit caused by generating more than twice as many pixels on the screen. In our example, the 9800 GTX produced 30.7 FPS in the Crysis timedemo benchmark, rubbing the edge of a 30 FPS playable rate. World in Conflict works a little differently, though. Because of a huge world-scape, the widescreen display becomes much more important for productive gameplay. The graphical demands are just beneath those of Crysis, but even still the 9800 GTX drops 11 FPS moving between 1024x768 up to 1280x1024.
Most modern video cards, which is what we've collected for our tests here, will have no problem generating a suitable frame rate at each resolution settings. But unless you're using the most powerful video cards available, you'll need to be cautious of how the larger display resolution could harm your gaming experience.
Even though the difference between the 1,764,000 pixels comprising the widescreen resolution of 1680x1050 is 35% more than the 1,310,720 pixels in a 1280x1024 resolution, there's still only a 15% difference in performance; proving that every graphics card will produce a different linear curve or performance as the strain increases. Using the Hanns·G HZ281HPB to produce 38 FPS at 1920x1200, this video card generates almost 16% fewer frames per second than the smaller 1680x1050 resolution. The idea you'll need to form for yourself is not whether you have the desk space for a large 27.5" widescreen monitor, but whether or not you'll have the graphics processing power to support playable performance in most video games using your current video card. Benchmark Reviews offers plenty of capable suggestions in our Video Cards section. Hanns·G Final ThoughtsThe Hanns·G HZ281HPB 27.5" WideScreen LCD Monitor is truly an excellent monitor. The brightness, colors, and contrast are all user adjustable. Text is very crisp, and sharp. There is no visible flicker, and the screen is consistent in color and brightness thru-out the entire viewable area at standard viewing angles (sitting at the desk). The price of similar monitors on Newegg, for example, are hundreds more. There are a couple of monitors in the same price range but the reviews of those other similar sized monitors were often negative. The biggest issue I faced with this monitor, was getting used to the monitor controls which are under the frame and recessed. The black on black descriptions for the buttons are very difficult to see, and I found myself time and again fumbling around trying to adjust the monitor. However, given the other positives of the Hanns·G HZ281HPB, this is a minor nuisance. Hanns·G HZ281HPB ConclusionThe Hanns·G HZ281HPB performed spectacularly during the review process. The screen looks amazing. Its so huge that it dwarfs my 22 inch 1080p monitor. The 1920x1200 resolution really improves how I can work with various programming tools and modeling tools that I use on a regular basis. Autodesk Revit, 3DS Max, and Inventor, Microsoft Visual Studio, and other similar tools have more than enough viewing real-estate. Games looked so big and real (they fill up your viewing area up close), that I felt I was immersed in the game itself. At one point during gaming I kept saying "Wow, I feel like I am here in the game" If your video card can handle the increased resolution, you will love how it looks. Games played on the PC look fantastic. Also played on Xbox 360 were Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Left For Dead. Both looked excellent. The only connection needed for this monitor was the HDMI cable which handled both video and audio, and was auto detected. On the other hand, the audio from the speakers lack bass and thus sound somewhat "tinny". Audiophiles would be wise to only use these as a back up to separate set of amplified speakers or head-phones. The supplied head-phone jack is a nice plus. For gaming, the audio thru HDMI was acceptable, with the greatest benefit being that it could save you from having to cannibalize your Xbox 360 connector in order to save a few bucks on a special HDMI adapter so that you can get audio to work, thru the the RCA Jacks. The X-Contrast does not perform well under certain conditions: dark movie scenes with multiple lights such as night time city views. The Hanns·G HZ281HPB monitor is very slick. The glossy black frame, is stunning. The Active Matrix TFT produces an excellent bright uniform picture, with crisp text, and minimal distortion at normal viewing angles. Glare was also minimal. The frame and stand are quite sturdy even when fully tilted back. The screen includes an anti-glare coating. Both of the monitors purchased were free from any visible defects. The unit was very well packaged. The video functionality of the monitor was excellent. However, the Hanns·G HZ281HPB could have had some minor improvements in user functionality. Specifically, the controls are too recessed under the bottom of the monitor to make them easily accessible. Side mounted button controls or even underside controls that were visible to the user would have been a better choice. On the plus side, the actual user interface was well done. If you can remember which button to push, it is navigable, and almost any function you desire for adjusting the image in an LCD monitor comes included in the interface. However, grayed out were horizontal and vertical offsets, as well as clock and phase which are only available when using VGA inputs. The power button is not lit, making it somewhat difficult to easily identify. The stand could benefit from height adjustment and ability to forward tilt about 5 degrees. It only tilts back from 0 to 20 degrees. Alternatively, it does sport HDMI, VGA, and DVI, as well as Audio Line-In and Headphone jacks. It also comes with a VGA cable, and DVI to HDMI cable which are the most common video card outputs. If your video card only comes with HDMI then you will need to buy the extra cable, as would be the case for Xbox 360 users. Many monitors now come with USB ports, but there were no USB ports on this version. The minor issues aside, this monitor displays a beautiful large image, with clear text, and vibrant colors. The Hanns·G HZ281HPB is a superb value. Newegg has been selling these monitors for $309.99 as of December 2010, and there are promotions for even better savings. Monitors of this quality, with a 27.5 inch diagonal screen size (viewable), and 1920x1200 native resolution, are usually very expensive, typically in the $500 plus side. This is a great looking monitor, that exceeds FULL HD 1080P at 1920x1200 resolution. Its best used when your are sitting in front of it, as opposed to a wide viewing angle. The pros far outweigh the cons as listed. Would I buy this monitor again? Absolutely. If you have been looking for a huge monitor, with a typical usage requirement, and a great price, then this monitor should be at the top of your list. Pros:
+ Large 27.5-inch screen Cons:
- Lacks forward Tilt, height Adjust Questions? Comments? Benchmark Reviews really wants your feedback. We invite you to leave your remarks in our Discussion Forum.
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Comments
Please give your opinion about your Hannsg monitor.
I am really looking for a 16:10 ratio for my flightsim.
Thanks for your replay.
Harald
The netherlands
Toeringsandthong = Troll & a Liar. Next Please! :)