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NEC goes pro and (relatively) cheap with new LCD

NEC announces professional-level display, the P221W.

Eric Franklin Former Editorial Director
Eric Franklin led the CNET Tech team as Editorial Director. A 20-plus-year industry veteran, Eric began his tech journey testing computers in the CNET Labs. When not at work he can usually be found at the gym, chauffeuring his kids around town, or absorbing every motivational book he can get his hands on.
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Eric Franklin

NEC

All of the monitors I've reviewed at CNET are consumer-level designs. One of the reasons for this is that professional-level monitors have a limited audience because of their expense.

NEC is seeking to change that, somewhat. On Friday, NEC announced the 22-inch P221W LCD monitor. This is being targeted at professionals who need to work in color-critical environments, but don't want to break the bank. You'll have to be the judge--for now--on whether $637 is "breaking the bank".

NEC's supplied features for the display include:

  • 1,680x1,050-pixel native resolution
  • Wide color gamut that achieves 96 percent coverage of AdobeRGB
  • Internal 10-bit programmable lookup tables (LUTs)
  • S-PVA LCD technology that provides for the widest viewing angles available with minimal off-angle color shift
  • AmbiBright automatic brightness adjustment
  • 1,000:1 typical contrast ratio
  • 16ms response time
  • 300 cd/m2 typical brightness
  • XtraView+ 178 degree (88 degree/88 degree/88 degree/88 degree) viewing angle
  • ECO Mode and carbon footprint reduction
  • Analog and digital input signal
  • Four-way ergonomic stand (tilt/swivel/pivot/height-adjust)
  • Optional soundbar

The monitor includes a three-year limited warranty and will be available in December.

You'll also have the option in December to purchase the NEC Spectraview kit which purportedly includes an optimized calibration sensor based on X-Rite iOne Display v2 for a price of $374.99.