Liquid Posted March 26, 2005 Share Posted March 26, 2005 Dell UltraSharp 1704FPT Review Home Specs - 17? Viewable - 3 00 cd/m? Brightness - 500:1 Contrast Ratio - USB 2.0 4 Port Hub - 12ms Response Rate - 5.1in Height adjustment - Price: $399 CAD Package - Monitor - Adjustable stand - Power Cable - VGA Cable - DVI-D Cable - Documentation and Drivers CD Installation Installation was what you would expect from any monitor, very quick. The one thing that bugged me is that the VGA cable was already hooked into the LCD panel. I hooked the DVI cable up to it, plugged it into my computer, started up and it was already set up, just like that. Drivers are not necessary but I installed them for peace of mind. First of all when you turn this monitor on you say WOW. It is beautiful, vibrant, bright, and crystal clear. In fact, it may be too bright, if that is even possible. This monitor show every little detail in everything you see, I don?t know if this is a plus or minus since it makes most JPEG pictures look horrible. General Usage This monitor is perfect, maybe a bit too good for the average user. It has the ability to turn 180degrees to allow the screen to be taller instead of wider which is great for internet browsing (I use this when on Neowin). It also has a built in USB 2.0 hub, which includes four ports, very useful for digital cameras, USB keys, and even my new PSP. Gaming This was a good experience. Absolutely no ghosting at all thanks to the 12ms response time. The colors were clear and vibrant and allowed me to see things in games I could never see before. I tested this in Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike Source, and Battlefield 1942. All showed a much better improvement in clarity and color compared to my CRT display. Digital Media Usage Using Photoshop CS was a bit different for me while using this monitor. I am so adjusted to 1024x768 that I got a bit confused when sizing graphics and photos. Although this took some time to get use to it was all worth it in the end. The color is much more precise and I can now see the images the way they really are. Pros - Bright - Clear - USB Hub - 12ms Response Time - DVI and VGA (can two devices hooked up as well) - Rotation - Height Adjustment - Included DVI Cable Cons - Almost to bright, hurts eyes in the dark (easily adjusted) - Did NOT include USB cable for hub (I had one anyways) - No tilt sensor when turning Conclusion Overall this monitor is a great purchase and has a low price tag ($399 CAD). It easily competes with the high end Samsung screens. This monitor is worth a look at and I highly recommend it. 4.5/5 Sorry but no pics, my parents broke my ca:angry:ngry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackice912 Veteran Posted March 26, 2005 Veteran Share Posted March 26, 2005 No tilt sensor? Meaning that it doesn't know when it's turned sideways? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquid Posted March 26, 2005 Author Share Posted March 26, 2005 No tilt sensor? Meaning that it doesn't know when it's turned sideways? 585673420[/snapback] Yea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yinyang_34 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 great review.....i just got mine yesterday and i'll have to agree this is an awesome screen i would highly recommend...... (Y) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andr Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 Great review. I already have one at home. By the way, I got a USB cable with mine. It's weird how you didn't get one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yinyang_34 Posted March 30, 2005 Share Posted March 30, 2005 I also got a USB cable with mine too....that is odd that you didn't get one with yours.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquid Posted March 30, 2005 Author Share Posted March 30, 2005 Well I will be getting a new one, not that anything is wrong with this one. Just the computer it came with has a defective hard drive so they have to replace the whole system... Im scared I will get dead pixels now :x Why cant I just keep this monitor Dell? WHY! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrogers Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 - No tilt sensor when turning 585673381[/snapback] :blink: I've never seen an LCD with a tilt sensor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirjava Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 Nah me neither lol.... There wouldnt be a lot of point to it would there? Just added expense... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manroweb Posted March 31, 2005 Share Posted March 31, 2005 I just got 2 of these! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquid Posted April 2, 2005 Author Share Posted April 2, 2005 :blink: I've never seen an LCD with a tilt sensor. 585700363[/snapback] I'm pretty sure I saw one. All it did basically is plug into the USB port, and when you turn the monitor it sent the shortcut key to change rotation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valerus Posted April 2, 2005 Share Posted April 2, 2005 These look nice, thanks for the review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lukemc86 Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 I just got one of these monitors, mostly because someone on Neowin posted some great coupons and I got it for just under $200 shipped. It's great! I also got a USB cable with my monitor, seems like Liquid is the only one who didn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGeorge Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 Bought one a couple of weeks ago. Love it! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metro Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 Just got mine on my doorstep today and got it hooked up. Beautiful picture, really crisp and clear. I haven't had time yet to game a bit on it, but it kind of odd adjusting to LCD since I have been using CRT monitors for almost 10 years. I wasn't sure if I would like it, but space that is saved is so well worth it since I now have 2 subwoofers and 4 speakers on my desk ready to p*ss off my neighbors :D I wasn't sure of a driver CD though. I did get a CD but it just had documentation on how to set up features on the monitor and how to hook up the USB and get everything interfaced correctly. I know that I don't have to use the drivers or anything, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to install them so the system detects and PnP's everything connected to it. When the coupon prices hit again, I will be adding another one of these to the setup. Does anyone know what panels these monitors use? I have heard that they use Samsung, but I have also read that they use LG as well. Some clarification would be nice, but I guess I could hit up google for more info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C. Gomez Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 This monitor is perfect, maybe a bit too good for the average user. 585673381[/snapback] Huh? :blink: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGeorge Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 What kinda prices has everyone been getting? Mine was $329 w/free shipping and came with USB, DVI and analog cables. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangbang023 Veteran Posted July 30, 2005 Veteran Share Posted July 30, 2005 I got mine for $200 after taxes. Free shipping, usb, dvi cable, vga cable. Awesome monitor but bright as hell. I had to turn it down immediately. Also, the lack of ability to alter the contrast on the monitor itself, while in DVI mode, is a little annoying but the ati drivers will suffice. One thing is for sure, you notice every single detail with it. Every singe flaw to the little things you never noticed before. What a deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGeorge Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 (edited) I never considered it too bright, but I think its because my old Samsung Syncmaster 152n was bright as hell. Guess I was just used to it. One thing I'm curious about is the image clarity between DVI and analog. Is there a real difference when using DVI? I don't have my new PC assembled yet, so stuck with analog at the moment. Bangbang, there is a contrast setting, it with the brightness control. Edited July 30, 2005 by denzilla Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangbang023 Veteran Posted July 30, 2005 Veteran Share Posted July 30, 2005 I never considered it too bright, but I think its because my old Samsung Syncmaster 152n was bright as hell. Guess I was just used to it. One thing I'm curious about is the image clarity between DVI and analog. Is there a real difference when using DVI? I don't have my new PC assembled yet, so stuck with analog at the moment.Bangbang, there is a contrast setting, it with the brightness control. 586298603[/snapback] It is greyed out when in DVI mode. No idea why, but they chose to do it that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 I believe (I have been known to be wrong sometimes :D ) that any monitor in DVI needs to be adjusted by the computer and not the monitor itself. It is one of the benefits of the DVI connection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangbang023 Veteran Posted July 30, 2005 Veteran Share Posted July 30, 2005 I believe (I have been known to be wrong sometimes :D ) that any monitor in DVI needs to be adjusted by the computer and not the monitor itself. It is one of the benefits of the DVI connection. 586298947[/snapback] That's probably it, but that means I'm stuck with the ATI Driver bug where I have to go and open the ati control panel for the gamma to reset properly after gaming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raikou Tch Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 Holy crap, my mom has one of these at work. They're really sharp and nice. Could you tell me a coupon code or something? That would be excellent if I could get one of them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metro Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 What kinda prices has everyone been getting? Mine was $329 w/free shipping and came with USB, DVI and analog cables. 586297414[/snapback] I got mine for $186 shipped, no tax since I live in Oregon. Picture on this thing is amazing. Played some Battlefield 2 earlier today and had no ghosting problems. Now I can't blame my old CRT for not "seeing" where the guy was that killed me. My own noobness now shows and I am running out of excuses. Opps, I mean OMFG LAGGEDEDED~!!!!11 :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGeorge Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 I got mine for $186 shipped, no tax since I live in Oregon. Picture on this thing is amazing. Played some Battlefield 2 earlier today and had no ghosting problems. Now I can't blame my old CRT for not "seeing" where the guy was that killed me. My own noobness now shows and I am running out of excuses. Opps, I mean OMFG LAGGEDEDED~!!!!11 :D 586301412[/snapback] Damn, you guys got some awesome deals. When I was browsing Dell's website they had refurbys for about $230, but the warranty sucked so I didn't take the chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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