Acer P223w review
I finally got a new monitor on my desk, an Acer P223w. It looks great and I’m very happy with the performance, i mean its not top of its class but its worth the money i payed for it. I choose Acer after doing allot of research, of-course there were allot of other models and makes on the 22inch segment like Samsung that are slightly better but those were over my budget. Another reason i chose Acer for, its the Crystal Brite technology (CrystalBrite is Acer’s marketing name for high-gloss laptop screens, representing the latest in anti-reflective LCD screen technology). I own an Acer Aspire notebook, which has CrystalBrite display and it looks great, so i wanted the same technology on my desktop monitor.
Before i got the Acer P223w i was using a 17 inch CRT monitor(yeah i know, i should of got a new monitor some time ago) so you can imagine that i was truly impressed with the size and properties of the Acer. Here is a list with the main features of the Acer:
- Screen Size : 22″
- Resolution : 1680 x 1050
- Contrast Ratio : 2500
- Response Time : 5ms
- Connection : DVI, D-Sub
Acer actually build two versions of this monitor one with D-Sub(VGA) and one with DVI connector. I have the one with VGA, because at the store where i ordered the monitor they only had this version. But i don’t think the DVI version would of been any better, because most of the differences between DVI and VGA monitors are just numbers, nothing to be seen with your eyes.
The first thing i did when i powered it on, was to check for any dead pixels (i recommend you do this every time you buy an LCD display). The best way to check for dead pixels is to run a program called LCDtest (i attached a zip archive, so just click on the link to download it). What the program does is to display 5 colors on your screen(white, red, green, blue and black), this make spotting dead pixels really easy. So i ran the test and everything was ok, actually during the test i could see how nicely the monitor displays the black colour(very black).
My video card already detected it as a wide screen monitor and set the 1680 x 1050 resolution. Next thing to do was to find a nice High Definition wallpaper, i chose this nice mountain scenery. I’ve not seen bleeding issues like others report on various forums and sites, in fact i have no issue at all with the monitor. Even if it doesn’t have the 2 ms required response time for gaming, the monitor still displayed the games i tested without issues(Comand&Conquer latest versions, NFS Carbon).
Another great thing about the Acer P223W is the OSD menu, which is great. Other monitors have really complicated OSD menus, but not Acer. You can access 2 main OSD menus, the full menu by hitting the Menu button, or the E button (e comes from Empowering, another technology from Acer). So far i only use the empowering button, because i only change the display mode from Text to Movie sometimes, everything else the monitor adjusts automatically.
As a final word, the Acer P223W is a great monitor and definetely a must see on your shopping list. If you have a limited budget and you want to get great design and performance, this is a perfect choice.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
22 inch is definetely the best deal at the moment, and as you said acer looks great
April 26th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
that’s not bad at all
June 23rd, 2008 at 5:46 am
I just got mine here in Miami from Tiger Direct’s company store.
It is a white bezel version of P223w (same model number),
and is DVI input only.
Am very pleased, stepping up from a 20″ standard aspect Acer I got a year ago, but it met with accident to its screen (still works though).
To compare these two: the glossy screen of the P223w is like looking into a clean, clear window.
Side by side, YES, a glossy screen gives you ‘free’ added image quality.
I guess most monitors have frosted screens to help people deal with hard reflections of room lights. I have no hard lights behind my back here.
In the store, the store all bright lit with overhead lights, side by side with frosted screen monitors, this glossy Acer just shone–a lot more WOW factor.
I expect good service from this, my second Acer. I can say this: even with a shattered TFT panel, my old Acer refuses to quit. It was just too nasty looking.
Also, compared with my year-old cracked Acer, this newer model offers better range of the vertical viewing angles–you can tilt it more, or be lower below the screen’s upper horizontal and still have an acceptable view.
I read somewhere, and observations at the stores confirm, manufacturers all tend to optimized their displays for viewers whose eyes are at a level one or two inches above the top of the display.
In my room I have the Acer on an Ergotron LX double swing arm (it’s great!) and this lets me laze next to the computer desk in a reclining chair, with the monitor swung out and in front of me, but my eyes are in line with the middle of the screen. No problem–while this is NOT the optimum eye-stance point, it works OK, and better with this new Acer than with the old one.
I like this new monitor very much already.
I wonder if it has any bugs that will bug me? I doubt it. But I don’t doubt Acer for delivering great value and good performance and rugged design, well packaged and packed and delivered.
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 am
yup, it’s cool, not the best 22 inch monitor out there but it definitely stands out. I’m happy with it, no bugs so far.
September 24th, 2008 at 7:45 am
I bought this monitor yesterday it is beautiful and i payed a low price also mine came with dvi and vga… i live in australia
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:18 am
video demo made by self with the awful-audio Panasonic TZ5.
This wonderful Acer monitor continues to give flawless service.
In my darkened workroom (garage!) The glossy screen makes the clearest possible picture (no annoying lamp-window glare. This is nearly the only high gloss faced monitor.
Note that I work from a zero gravity reclining Lafuma chair,
so I am BELOW the usual monitor level. ALL LCD monitors are designed, polarized for vertical veiwing best with the eye one or two inches above the display.
But in my installation, I am BELOW the monitor. Therfore,I have it mounted UPSIDE DOWN on the Ergotron.
The viewing and flexibility are perfect. I use this monitor and arm eighteen hours every day, and it’s just super for me.
Special applications for special wants: I have inverted the Video output for this application, to see the picture right side up!
Just, the DOS booting info is upside down, funny.
I continue to love the “crystalbrite” gloss screen, yet if I were in a sunny room it would be a drawback.
All is well as I lounge-lizard my back in total comfort, surfing and reading good things. The video, in very low light, was made for a german friend who wanted to see the Ergotron arm’s range of downward adjustment. Hope this gives ideas: the Ergotron and this Acer are totally winners, plus, that annoying blue LED ON light, atop is not a visual distraction as it was when this Acer (a white one) was right side up.
Recently I mounted a pair of Harmon Kardon Sounsticks II to either side of the monitor (foam core artist board and double sticky foam tape: secure and good stereo, no added bulk or weight (cut off the base rings from the soundsticks.
It’s all good.
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:19 am
^ ^
dummy forgot the youtube link. this was before the speaker installation.
Note that the acer is UPSIDE down, for my special needs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfPpsRFX1wU&watch_response
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:37 am
Nice Reid
October 7th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
BTW, I have NO connection with the Ergotron makers or sellers.
OR Acer either. Just a happy camper with both fine products.
The with its V shaped bottom, actually looks better-styled mounted upside down as it is for my special needes. The buttons, too, are easier to push from above, than when they were below. Even that overly-bright blue ON light, which is a distraction in stock mounting,
when it’s at the top now, it’s like, out of the visual view.
The upside down acer in white as this one is, looks sort of like a house roof-line. It’s just lucky and totally ergonomical, especially now wiht the Soundsticks stuck to either side of the monitor.
I should take a picture to show how “OK” it looks. NO lost desk space,
no clutter. Cheers, Florin.
R.
October 7th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Thanks Reid, a picture would be great, i could add it to the article.
Reagards
January 25th, 2009 at 6:08 am
i only have acer_x173w , i choose small n cheap one. i plan to pair with TVtunner but fail, the LCD diplayed “NOT Supported signal”, then i back to my CRT. but i’m happy to see mine
January 25th, 2009 at 9:24 am
Rahman, 22 inch is the best price/size at the moment. And you get a really nice display for the money you pay.