NAILING DOWN the exact launch date of the very first color LCD monitor for the PC isn’t easy. But one of the earliest was certainly the NANAO F-1020 from Eizo. Launched way back in 1993, the F-1020 spanned a mighty 10.4 inches and rocked no fewer than 640x480 pixels. Count ‘em!
As it happens, by Eizo’s own estimations, it was a sales flop. Yet here we are nearly 30 years later drowning in LCD panels. The technology absolutely owns the PC monitor market. But is everything about to change? The arrival of the awesome new Alienware OLED gaming panel (see page 78) certainly suggests so.
At last, per-pixel lighting is actually a thing for the PC and not just smartphones and TVs. Plus far faster response, not to mention much better pixel response, and... we’re getting ahead of ourselves. The reality is that OLED isn’t going to assimilate the monitor market overnight. What’s more, LCD technology still has plenty more to give.
So, yes, the story of the PC monitor in 2022 is likely to be one of a technological turning point, the beginning of the end for LCD panels. But even if that is the overarching narrative, there are plenty of other subplots to enjoy, including 8K awesomeness, ridiculous refresh rates, and a whole lot more besides.
LET’S MAKE ONE THING perfectly clear. LCD is a terrible technology for a full-color display. Truly, it could hardly be less suitable. The basics involve shining light through a small aperture containing liquid crystals, the latter changing orientation in response to an electrical current.
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Denne historien er fra June 2022-utgaven av Maximum PC.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Google Gemini vs. ChatGPT
Which LLM currently holds the crown?
Frostpunk 2
Endure a blizzard of tough choices and lasting consequences in the survival city builder sequel
Elgato Facecam Neo
Always sees us in the best light but lacks focus: 8/10 boyfriend, er, camera
Elgato Wave Neo
The Kanye West of mics: Easy to get into, but a little weird
Razer BlackWidow V4 75%
Solid and compact, with hot-swappable switches
Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
Razer's pro controller is even better than Microsoft's
Acer Predator GM712
2008 called, it wants its projector back
AndaSeat Kaiser 4 XL
A chair as big and as comfortable as they come
Gigabyte F027Q2
Speed is of the essence with this OLED screen
Acer Nitro 14
AMD puts on a good show, but it still lacks punch