Friday 28 October 2011

3D and touch technology give monitors a lift

3D and touch technology give monitors a lift:


Gamers and movie buffs: If you’ve been holding out for lower prices and better performance on 3D monitors, it might be time for you to start shopping. We just completed testing on a number of new monitors, most coming in at less than $500, and we found several that produced a great 3D picture.



For example, we’re recommending a 23-inch model from Planar (SA2311W) with very good overall display quality that costs just $370 and is 3D-capable—though you have to buy the active-shutter 3D glasses separately.



The monitors we tested used either active-shutter or passive 3D technology. Although passive 3D lets you use less expensive glasses, similar to the ones given out at 3D movies, the viewing angle on monitors with passive 3D technology is narrower and can cause eye fatigue. Monitors using active-shutter technology, however, looked great.



Another feature you’ll be seeing more on new monitors is touch-screen technology. The monitors we tested already work with Windows 7’s touch-screen capabilities, but it’s more important to consider what’s coming with Windows 8: Microsoft’s new OS is being built with tablet computing in mind and will incorporate touch-screen features that will add to your tablet experience as well as to your computing. Windows 8 is due for release in the fall of 2012.



Finally, a new monitor from Apple, the 27" LED Cinema Display, is one of the best displays we’ve ever seen, with a wide viewing angle, appreciable contrast, high resolution, and accurate color. You may not be too surprised to hear that it’s also one of the most expensive monitors in our Ratings. Find out more about the monitors we tested in our freshly updated Ratings (available to subscribers).



Source: Google Reader

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