Geeks.com sent us in the 28″ HannsG HG281DJB monitor for a review. This VGA/HDMI LCD monitor has an outstanding 1920×1200 resolution, making it good enough for both PC and TV usage.The HannsG HG281DJB has a viewable 27.5″ true color TFT screen with anti-glare coating, two small speakers that are good enough for some video-watching, 1920×1200 resolution, 800:1 contrast ratio, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 3 ms response time, VESA wall mount and height adjustable stand. It has two stereo 3.5mm audio ports, HDMI w/HDCP digital input and a standard 15-pin VGA port.
In the box we found the monitor, a VGA cable, an audio cable, the power cord, HDMI to DVI-D cable, 15-pin VGA to Y/Pb/Pr cable, 3.5 mm Mini jack to R/L cable, the installation guide on CD and a printed quick start guide. The monitor was well-packed and arrived safely, despite being a refurbished model.
This monitor replaced my 1200×1600 vertical 21″ Samsung monitor that I was using for the last three years as a document/web reader. I was sad to part ways with it, especially because it made my web experience so good. However, since I had upgraded my graphics card from a latest ATi to a latest GeForce model, I found that nVidia does not accelerate well 2D graphics when a monitor is rotated (this is a known limitation, I found out after the fact). Coupling that with my new videography hobby, it was obvious that I needed to upgrade my monitor. And this HannsG model proved to be an excellent reader (I usually have my Firefox window at 1200×1200 now), and at the same time I am able to watch my HD videos in full 1080p. Not only it’s cool to be able to watch your captured videos exactly at the right resolution as recorded, but it also helps heaps with editing. Now I can even see and correct noise, pixelation, or HDV artifacts that I could not see before during editing as my preview window was set to just 1/4 the original size.
The HannsG HG281DJB has a very nice matte black finish and it looks pretty serious sitting in one’s desk. One interesting thing is that while I was removing my Samsung monitor to get replaced, I was thinking how heavy it is. Surprisingly, the much larger HannsG monitor was way lighter! That’s racing technology for you!
The monitor does not have any buttons on the front, but its 4 buttons can be found on its side. The first button brings up the main menu. From there, you can use the “arrow” buttons to move left or right, and by clicking the menu button again you can enable a feature or not. The fourth button is the ON/OFF button.
Here are some of the things you can change using the monitor’s menus: brightness, contrast, color settings (3 presets, plus a custom one) OSD position/time-out/transparency/color/language (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch), volume, sharpness and analog/digital input setting. I personally don’t like “cool” colors, so I changed the color setting to “warm”.
The color precision is good on this monitor, and brightness/contrast levels are good too. However, I was not happy at all about the vertical viewing angle. On my 22″ Viewsonic monitor I can pretty much check specific test pictures from any angle while sitting on my desk and still make up most of the attributes shown in the picture. With the HannsG HG281DJB I have to sit up to view the details correctly. For example (and this is just one of the numerous examples I can give), my South Park picture’s hair on my blog is all blacked out when viewed on this monitor, while it’s fair and details easily identifiable on any other monitor or laptop in my lab. I tried playing with the various picture options on both the monitor’s and nVidia panel’s side, I tried adjusting the stand, I even adjusted my chair, to no avail. The monitor just doesn’t have a good enough vertical viewing angle as far as I am concerned.
Nevertheless, this is a good budget monitor for those who are after either large resolutions, or HD video watching. I was actually thinking that this monitor is also ideal for college students who share a crammed room. You see, this product can function both as a TV and as a PC monitor and that’s pretty convenient — not counting the fact that it’s full 1080p. Geeks.com sells the product for $480 (currently out of stock, the model still left in their store is the version that doesn’t have HDCP support).
Rating: 8/10
My Samsung 244t is now up to $800 at Amazon, I bought it for 500. Having gotten used to editing code with 1920 vertical pixels it would be difficult to go back.
It does not LOOK like this one has that big fat rear-swivel which lets it rotate into portrait-mode, or does it ?
For the price-difference, I think I would just use some duct-tape and cardboard to stand a cheaper monitor on its end, the video-card will rotate the image, hmm ?
No, HannsG’s own swivel does not have rotation support. However, if you remove it and add a special VESA stand, you can rotate it. Yes, ATi/nVidia can rotate the picture.
That’s a fantastic price considering the size of the thing. Shame it’s not noting to be anywhere near that cheap in the UK.
Did the 82dpi screen seem pixelated at all? I’m still a CRT man and that’s one of the biggest issues for me with fixed resolution screens.
A monitor with this resolution should be 22.64″ to get the same dot pitch of a 20″ 1600×1200 monitor (exactly 100 pixels per square inch).
I know someone with a 12.1″ laptop that does 1280×800 and it is beautiful (124.75 ppsi).
When I buy a laptop it will probably be a 15.4″ 1680×1050.
Anyway, that is my benchmark….this thing is only 80.86 PPSI. Pretty bad, although not as bad as my 60″ 1080P TV (36.72 PPSI)
Replying to self….Can we not edit comments anymore?
Found out that 1920×1200 is about the max that DVI can support, so I guess if you want something that size you aren’t going to get any better resolution without using two DVI ports on a single display.
I’m not sure on this, but I was under the impression that “dual” DVI still used one cable, just with extra pins.
My, now ancient, Vaio T1XP has 1280 by 768 pixels on a 10.6″ X-Black screen – utterly stunning. If only I could now get, say, a 21.2″ display at 2560×1536 (LED backlit please)… maybe I can, but I bet I can’t afford it!
So what type of panel does this come with? What color depth does it display? Was there any ghosting when watching videos or playing games?
Not exactly much of a review…
>So what type of panel does this come with?
Excuse me, but did you read the review, or are you just trolling. It’s a TFT panel. For more precise technical description, no one knows but the company itself.
>What color depth does it display?
32bit, what else? Do you think we live in 1995?
>Was there any ghosting when watching videos or playing games?
I mentioned that video watching was fine, and that was specifically mentioned. I don’t play games anymore, sorry.
Edited 2008-01-30 19:17 UTC
I’m not trolling. I wanted to know if it was a TN panel like some of the other cheap 27-28in screens which would cause your viewing angle issues or whether it was a superior panel like PVA, IPS, etc.
In terms of color depth I actually ment bits, as in 6bit, 8bit, etc. Most of the nicer panels are 8bit, 16.7 million colors however the 6bit panels display far less and cause banding.
Those specs are important for me to look at a monitor. Granted, I could find them by digging through the manufacturers website or other reviews but its nice if thats actually in the review itself
Heh, if you review tech stuff don’t get offended if people ask you perfectly relevant questions.
By reviewing stuff and putting it on a site like this you’re in trouble if you can’t identify basic questions someone might ask about the technology.
Those questions were perfectly valid!
As others have said; you shouldn’t be so offended if someone asks for more information regarding something you review. If you can’t give the answers then just say so instead of acting like someone just violated you and calling them trolls.. I wouldn’t have known the answers to such questions either but I would have tried to find them out if I had made the review.
I get offended because it’s the *second* time I am asked such questions for a monitor review and the second time I am targeted that way. I don’t have such in-depth tech specs for the monitor. The review is a usage review, mostly from the video editing side (as this is my primary use for it). We got the review unit from a retailer, NOT the manufacturing company. Therefore, I can’t just fire a question to HannsG’s engineering dpt to answer such questions. What I wrote in the review, will have to do. Otherwise, feel free to email HannsG yourself and find the answer. I don’t have the ability to do so.
Edited 2008-02-01 08:39 UTC
I get offended because it’s the *second* time I am asked such questions for a monitor review and the second time I am targeted that way. I don’t have such in-depth tech specs for the monitor.
Maybe not everyone read the previous review? And not everyone gets offended by just some basic questions… All you would have needed to do was say “Sorry.
I don’t have such in-depth tech specs for the monitor.” and be done with it.. >_>
My sentiments exactly. This is not a review but a ‘brief hands on with my subjective impressions’.
I’ll restate my unanswered question from other reviews on the site.
Are these free gifts given in exchange for a good review on OSNews or are they review units that have to be returned after the review? If they are free gifts then that should be stated in every review, otherwise it’s just hidden advertising.
It’s a 160/160 degree viewing angle monitor. If it were a 170/170 or 178/178 you’d be looking at over twice the cost for this product.
The DoubleSight DS-245W is a superior monitor. It has the Samsung S-PVA panel with 90 deg rotating stand, giving you the 178/178 viewing angles with TRUE 8-bit color (no dithering like the 6-bit cheaper TN panels with 160/160 angles). It comes with a 3 year warranty. I noticed that the geeks.com Hanns 28″ is a refurbrished monitor with a 90 day warranty (you’re taking a lot of risk for that kind of money).
After rebate and shipping, total cost from newegg.com for me was $457 and got one with no dead pixels.
True, the DoubleSight doesn’t have HDMI inputs, but then again, I’m using this as a computer monitor with DVI input, not a television.
I bet this monitor is bunk. Probably has all kinds of contrast ratio problems. Tempted I was at first until I saw the price. That’s too cheap for a decent 28″ Widescreen. There a reason why they are all listed as “Refurbished” at this store.
I’ll stick with my 2ms Samsung 22″ for now.
It’s a low density display taking up a lot of space and that’s likely why it’s priced as it is. Most people won’t care whether it has decent pixel density or not. They’ll see 28 inches and the price and they’ll place an order.
I’ve seen a lot of 22 inch LCDs going for more than the 20 inch LCDs also at 1680×1050 but the 20 inch panels are generally better for graphics and photo work.
Oh, and surprise, surprise, this review is 8/10. Funny how these people never send anything that will get a 3/10 rating.
Before you pigeon hole this monitor into the low quality bin I strongly recommend you see it in person if you can. Best Buy and Microcenter both carry them in the U.S..
If you want DPI or fir use strictly as a workstation then you can go for 24″ monitor for a hundred or so U.S. dollars less. I do not find the real estate or experience all too different between the 24″ nd the 28″ as a workstation. The main appeal in the 28″ screen is that you can get back a bit further. I use it as the primary monitor on my home workstation as well as a TV, for which it performs admirably,
I am partially color blind so not the best judge of colors but based on reviews it can achieve very good color reproduction with proper calibration.
Edited 2008-01-31 01:24 UTC
Ya ya ya
1920×1200 @60 HZ
Looked into this in Dec. After sifting through all the “Bad Ass” info. Finally found this spec.