The Dell 2407WFP 24-inch widescreen LCD monitor offers enough features to please most desktop users. With five different video inputs, it can handle DVI, component video, VGA, S-video and composite video. The 2407WFP is also HDCP-compliant, allowing you to play copy-protected HD videos. Additional features include a nine-in-two memory card reader and four USB ports.

Dell has improved on its previous 24-inch widescreen monitor, the 2405WFP, by using a new display panel with a faster gray-to-gray response time of 6 milliseconds. However, the off/on/off response time of 16 milliseconds is unchanged. Additional adjustments to the 2407WFP include a slight lowering in brightness, which shouldn't be an issue, as many users found the 2405WFP a bit too bright. The 1,000:1 contrast ratio remains the same.

The included stand has height, tilt and swivel adjustments, and it can be rotated between landscape and portrait modes. As you might imagine, a 24-inch widescreen display allows you to view quite a long document in portrait mode.

The memory card reader is built into the side of the display, as are two of the USB inputs. The other two USB connections are placed along the bottom edge. Six buttons lined along the bottom-right bezel handle on/off, onscreen display, and PIP (picture-in-picture) and PBP (picture-by-picture) controls, as well as the ability to quickly toggle between the five video inputs.

The 2407WFP offers a few unique controls, including three imaging modes (Desktop, Multimedia and Gaming). Each mode uses a different set of predefined color adjustments and brightness levels. Multimedia and Gaming also employ a de-interlacer, converting the inputs from interlaced to progressive scan modes. The Desktop mode doesn't use the de-interlacer because it assumes the source is already progressive scan. If you connect a progressive source such as a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player to the component input, you may want to bypass the de-interlacer by using Desktop mode. Since PCs and Macs use different color space values to render images, the 2407WFP also includes a Color Space mode. In the long run, however, this function is usually rendered unnecessary thanks to the color calibration software included in modern operating systems.

The 2407WFP is as easy to configure as it is to set up, with easy access to (and labeling of) the front-mounted control buttons and multiple video inputs. Image quality is above average, with crisp text and good color reproduction.

The Dell 2407WFP 24-inch widescreen display is a good choice for multimedia and gaming.


Pros:  Five video inputs, nine-in-two memory card reader, four USB ports, bright display, widescreen format provides a generous workspace
Cons:  No HDMI input, PIP functionality is somewhat limited

Warranty
3 years