HP W2408

It’s easy to be seduced by the sheer size of a 24-inch LCD screen—any display that big just looks like it means business. And there was a time when large LCD panels were almost exclusively high-performance parts. That’s no longer the case. As the 24-inch LCDs reviewed here demonstrate, large screens are just as varied and prone to flaws as their smaller counterparts.

It might surprise you that the w2408 is the least expensive of the three LCDs here, because it seems to offer the most. It has a chic, shiny bezel like the Westinghouse—and a chic, shiny screen to match. The glossy surface can be real image booster, making colors appear more vibrant than they do on coated panels. But in a well-lit room the screen is like a mirror, reflecting you and everything else around, so consider your environment before buying.

The w2408 also offers ergonomic adjustments, including height and pivot, plenty of user controls via the OSD, and software that instructs the panel to assess environmental lighting and adjust the picture accordingly. It has DVI, VGA, and four USB ports. And it’s equipped with HDCP support.

But despite all the features in its favor, the w2408’s performance failed to win us over. The glossy 1920x1200 screen really enhances movies and games, and we didn’t notice visual anomalies in either circumstance, but a couple issues reared their heads in DisplayMate. Banding appeared throughout the utility’s grayscale test screens, and we detected some color-tracking discrepancies. These issues weren’t apparent in most real-world content, but they did show themselves in high-res illustrations. Enough so, at least, to temper our recommendation.