Dell's 22-inch Crystal LCD monitor gets reviewed, panned

It seems as if Dell reckoned that the Crystal's boyish good looks would be enough to push it into the hands of style-obsessed nationals everywhere, as a scalding review over at Maximum PC asserts that little else beyond that is actually going for it. Said to have exhibited "absurd glare, low grayscale range and fussy touch-buttons" the 22-inch stunner frustrated critics beyond the point of forgiveness. More specifically, the glare was said to be so bad while watching dark scenes in a film that it "destroyed the picture." To its credit, it did manage to present ultra-vivid colors and an accurate dynamic contrast, but those two bright spots were far from being enough to overcome the negatives. Needless to say, the unit did well to fetch the 5 out of 10 score that was bestowed upon it, and based upon what we're hearing, we'd highly recommend checking one of these out in person before buying this thing on appearances alone.

[catachip @ Apr 18th 2008 10:19AM]

All it really looks like to me is a standard Dell LCD with a superfluous glass bezel and exposed speakers. It's hard to make the Costco of computers look classy. It's like Hyundai and their luxury cars. You think, "oh that looks good". Then you see it's a Hyundai... "oh". It seems to me that more fashionable computers are best left to the likes of Sony and Apple - who have some caché and tend to cater to those consumers interested in a "good looking" computer.

[Dahk @ Apr 18th 2008 10:23AM]

I differ on that opinion of Hyundai. To be frank, I don't think I've ever thought it any of them looked good haha.

But yeah I get the idea. It's more... like an Alfa. You LOVE looking at it and admiring it. But once you get in and driving it everyday, it starts to fall apart lol. =D.

[Lein @ Apr 18th 2008 10:25AM]

Hey, what's wrong with a computer from Costco? I don't see anyone else giving a 90-day return policy on them!

That said, it's not as good as the 6 month policy they used to have...

[Phil Perman @ Apr 18th 2008 10:31AM]

The problem with that analogy is that, while their pc's cater to the low and mid range, their monitors are known to be generally very good and it would be foolish to write off one of their screens just because it has a Dell logo on it.

They may have missed the mark with this one, but all they need to do it find a good anti-glare coating and fix those buttons (and probably the price too) and they would have a pretty good screen on their hands

[0megapart!cle @ Apr 18th 2008 11:02AM]

You do know that Dell generally has the best consumer monitors money can buy, on practically every metric but style (And Dell style has been getting better and better with the latest monitors). This monitor unfortunately doesn't fit into that category, but that doesn't change Dell's overall track record. All you have proven is that you are a complete idiot who has not idea what they are talking about.

[Chad @ Apr 18th 2008 11:58AM]

You haven't driven a Hyundai in the last five years have you? The quality, fit, and finish as reported by multiple rating groups rivals most of the big players today. Dells OTOH.......

Here is what Edmunds.com has to say about the latest Azera

"Like other Hyundais, the Azera is a value leader in its segment, offering a price tag that undercuts top competitors. However, the 2008 Hyundai Azera is more just than a good deal: It feels like a premium car on the inside and delivers on that promise when you actually drive it."

[Reid @ Apr 18th 2008 12:46PM]

Frankly, the picture is about the only thing good about Dell monitors. They're not pretty (though mine certainly isn't unattractive), and they're not well-designed. The UI of the menus on my 2407WFP is absolutely terrible. It's so fiddly and slow to switch inputs. This is because, get this, it won't respond to any button presses until the on-screen menu from the PREVIOUS button presses goes away (3 sec or so). They must have picked this up from the Windows "wait-wait-wait--- now there's a menu!" school of thought.

This is a big deal because some moron at Dell decided that it should revert the default PIP source back to a source I never use and don't have plugged in. It seems to switch back every time it is turned off, or sleeps, or just gets bored.

I hope the guy who designed this crap got fired.

That said, it's been a great display, the price was right, and it had the component video + s-video + composite video inputs that the Apple display lacked, so I certainly don't regret my choice. I just regret Dell's lack of any usability department whatsoever.

[catachip @ Apr 18th 2008 1:31PM]

@ 0megapart!cle

"All you have proven is that you are a complete idiot who has not idea what they are talking about."

Yikes. I apologize for offending you so much. I will endeavor to be more respective of 14-year-olds like yourself in the future.

[Abuzar @ Apr 19th 2008 12:14AM]

Yeah catachip, the only problem is that Dell makes much better monitors than Apple.

[Reid @ Apr 19th 2008 2:18AM]

Funny, Abuzar. I just googled apple versus dell LCD, and the first two hits (30" versus 30" and then 20" versus 20" back in '02 or something) had the Dell and Apple identical. In the more recent 30" review the Apple edged the Dell by a very small margin, and in the ancient 20" comparison, they were judged identical but at the time the Dell could be found on sale for $300ish and the Apple was $800.

There is definitely a minor to moderate Apple Tax on displays, but quality-wise they are near the top of the consumer grade.

[Fruition @ Apr 18th 2008 10:20AM]

I'd consider one if they lost the speakers... Those things just look silly, and I wouldn't use them anyway...

[Chebwa @ Apr 18th 2008 10:57AM]

Yeah, integrated speakers is such a low end feature. Why would they include it with their extremely high end monitor?

[AlekZander @ Apr 18th 2008 10:21AM]

Headline news: Dell tries to be Apple, fails.

[Zeus.:God @ Apr 18th 2008 10:58AM]

I don't think Apple has any monitors with a glass bezel...

Then again, it will be original and new when and if they do it.

[Chebwa @ Apr 18th 2008 11:00AM]

It's usually Sony with the glass bevels (although not as extreme). And where are these Apple displays with a mess of integrated speakers? Also, this monitor can display millions of colors, which some Apple displays have had a tough time with lately.

Headline news: AlekZander fails.

[0megapart!cle @ Apr 18th 2008 11:03AM]

AlekZander fails++

[Zeus.:God @ Apr 18th 2008 11:11AM]

I'll go one further...

AlekZander fails +++

[phanbouy @ Apr 18th 2008 1:26PM]

what is this, ebay feedback?

[Smegdude @ Apr 18th 2008 4:30PM]

Zeus.:God @ Apr 18th 2008 10:58AM

I don't think Apple has any monitors with a glass bezel...

Then again, it will be original and new when and if they do it.

iMac G4 had a clear bezel.

[Zeus.:God @ Apr 18th 2008 4:55PM]

Entirely different situation, Smeg.

Also, I don't consider a small piece of glass around the outside of the monitor to be much of anything, considering it wasn't actually a functional part like the one on this Dell is. Also, that is an entire computer (a rather lame one at that), and the screen was also not sold as an add on for any other computer.

[Abuzar @ Apr 19th 2008 12:15AM]

If Dell tried to be Apple then their high end monitors would be overpriced but mediocre performing.

[Abuzar @ Apr 19th 2008 12:15AM]

If Dell tried to be Apple then their high end monitors would be overpriced but mediocre performing.

[Frank @ Apr 18th 2008 10:23AM]

Wow, harsh comments. I for one think it is actually designed well. I am surprised that the reviews were so bad since Dell monitors seem to always be up to or above par.

[Eh @ Apr 18th 2008 9:01PM]

Dell monitors used to be above par, but theyve virtually dropped all S-IPS monitors from their catalog and are still riding on their reputation from the 2005 and 2006 Ultrasharps. This monitor is just decoration, once you turn it on youll see that its nothing more than the most expensive TN display ever made with unusable glare. Its just a horrible monitor, some business suits definitely got their hands on this thing's feature list and made some "adjustments"

[ma5t3rw1tt @ Apr 18th 2008 10:24AM]

Looks good an all but whats with the extra areas thats not being used as the actual viewing screen. Just a waste of unwanted space.

[Michael Chastain @ Apr 18th 2008 11:58AM]

Wasted space? Yes, because space hovering over your desk is so often used for other things.

[palehorse @ Apr 18th 2008 12:10PM]

how does one "waste unwanted space"?!

better yet, what exactly is "unwanted space"?!

weirdness...

[Homeboy @ Apr 18th 2008 10:41AM]

It's a very fancy display and I can't wait to see it in real life. But 1680 x 1050 for $1 200 is totally unacceptable. The design, resolution and size are simply not worth all that money.

[Mark @ Apr 18th 2008 10:50AM]

glare?

don't tell me this thing has a glossy screen .. would dell be that stupid?

[vdogg89 @ Apr 18th 2008 11:14AM]

glare?

don't tell me the iMac has a glossy screen .. would apple be that stupid?

[Raptor007 @ Apr 18th 2008 2:14PM]

I really hate glossy LCD screens. I tolerate the one on my HDTV because I usually watch movies in the dark, but I don't usually use my computer in the dark. I would never buy a glossy LCD computer screen (or a laptop that has a glossy screen).

The article's mention of "absurd glare" certainly suggests this is screen is glossy.

[joe23521 @ Apr 18th 2008 10:53AM]

Nothing stopped Apple from selling things on appearance alone. Gotta give Dell credit for trying.

[Shinigami @ Apr 18th 2008 11:45AM]

Nothing stopped Apple from making it plain simple design, which sells itself.
Nothing stopped Dell for thinking they're smarter...

[jon @ Apr 18th 2008 11:10AM]

fatal design flaw is the glass covers the screen, if it were only on the bezel the glare would not be a problem. matte screens do not make colors pop but as most photographers understand its artificial and not so accurate.
most new dell monitors match or outperform the aging (3 yr old) apple cinema monitors, but look cheep in comparison with matte black plastic bezels.
dell needs to keep working on industrial design and make their monitors look as well as they preform, but not sacrifice on the performance.

[Deed @ Apr 18th 2008 11:17AM]

Well, it certainly looks pretty sharp with those clean lines. This could be taken somewhere if perhaps Dell decided to make it a two-piece front. So where the actual image is projected, the screen could be matte and the bezel still is shiny and completely transparent. Otherwise I for one have a glossy display and I don't really have any problems with it when I'm computing in a proper environment.

"Oh shite the display has loads of glare from our mass of clinical lighting everywhere in our elaborate office-like setting."

Then again that's probably an unfounded thing to say, and monitors should be able to display properly even in strong lighting sometimes.

[Dave Murphy @ Apr 18th 2008 2:18PM]

Hey Deed, just to answer your comment:

"I've been rushing at lightning speed to put it through its paces in both our Lab benchmarking environment and the confines of a typical bedroom setup. Why this scrutiny? I was worried that some of the effects we were seeing in the benchmarking process might be a result of the Lab's less-than-ideal lighting situation. But I'm proud to report that everything we experienced with this monitor can be replicated in both an office and home environment."
--from http://www.maximumpc.com/article/world_first_dells_crystal_display_reviewed

[KorruptioN @ Apr 18th 2008 11:33AM]

All that money for what is probably a TN screen (as most 22"s are)? Vomit.

[Eh @ Apr 18th 2008 9:07PM]

Tech specs list it as having a 160 degree viewing angle, which is a TN. Its garbage.

[Eric @ Apr 18th 2008 11:34AM]

I was just looking through Dell's selection of monitors yesterday, and this one stood out only in the fact that it costs way, way more than other Dell monitors of this size. Even the 24 inch monitors are way cheaper.

The comment about Apple selling things on looks along is flat out wrong. They have never done that. Their design philosophy is how a thing works as much as how it looks - which is important too. The difference between them and the likes of Dell and others who at times do practice the high art of design is that they never caught on to that fact about Apple. It not only has to look good (and whether this monitor fits that bill is up to anyone to decide for themselves - I think it's lipstick on a corpse) it has to work good. Dell seems to have missed that point.

Their line of fast gaming PCs, though, do look cool, and they actually work well too - though not worth the price premium you pay. (Way above even Apple.)

[Mr. Gremlin @ Apr 18th 2008 12:35PM]

pshh... haters

[Alex @ Apr 18th 2008 12:56PM]

Never understood the hype surrounding this monitor. Yes, it has a glass bezel, but it's also awkward as heck with its way oversized bezel, visible circuits and out-of-place and completely pointless speakers. It's one of those things you see and at first think, "hey, that's kinda neat!" But then, after a couple minutes/days/months, you start to question the timelessness of the design, like those fugly JBL creature speakers. And, no, I'm not an Apple-fan-tard, but a satisfied Dell customer.

[Raptor007 @ Apr 18th 2008 2:17PM]

I agree. To get my attention, it'd have to either:
(a) look really good, or
(b) be very useful (high resolution, thin bezel, etc)

This has neither of the above qualities.

[ill trooper @ Apr 18th 2008 1:31PM]

Looks really terrible. Daily we see industrial design students' renderings here on these gadget sites that easily show better understanding of design than this fucked-up recipe of left-overs will ever have.

What does Dell have against eyes?

[Mike B. @ Apr 19th 2008 7:01PM]

As a Dell customer, but also as a web page designer and IT specialist, I've found Dell to be a great manufacturer, specifically over the last 4 years or so. The Dell FTP monitor series, though the menus *are* iffy, have a great picture rivaled only by Sony and Apple. I am very disappointed in Dell for dropping the ball on this one, because I was planning on purchasing of these monitors upon release (I prefer dual monitors). If this review is accurate, it seems like I'm buying some Apple monitors or awaiting a revision to replace my near-exhausted monitors. Oh well.

[Japester @ Apr 21st 2008 2:30AM]

They've tried pretty hard but the result is just ugly. The design is busy with too many elements embedded in the glass. Isn't transparency the point of glass? Why fill it with junk? Of course, if they hadn't filled it with junk, then there wouldn't be any point to the bezel. So that which makes the monitor unique design-wise also reduces its functionality. You would not be able to butt this one up against another monitor for a workable dual-monitor arrangement.

The stand is also busy. A one-piece cantilever would have been cleaner, but too close to Apple's design.