Acer has really come out strong now that it launches no less than three new widescreen LCD monitors. The new monitors measures 22″, 24″ and 26″ where the first and latter are of a irregular size. Both the 22″ and 26″ models are a part of Acer’s Value Line and this means they lack digital inputs, only VGA inputs here. Something we’re strongly against as digital signals and not the least HDCP support is something you have to have with the coming hardware and operating systems. Ironically Acer writes in the same press release that it wil launch updated versions of these two models with both digital inputs and HDCP support, apparently it feels there is no need for this yet.
Acer AL2216W and AL2616W comes with some nice specifications otherwise where the first has a resolution at 1680x1050px, a contrast ratio at 700:1 and a 5ms response time. The bigger brother has a resolution at 1920x1200px, a contrast ratio at 700:1 and a 6ms response time. Tragically we will have to wait until the last quarter of 2006 until we get to see some HDCP support and digital inputs, which really disrupts much of the launch.
The third monitor it has launched is in Acer’s Office Line series and AL2423WR is a 24″ monitor with 1920x1200px resolution which share the other specifications with AL2616W, except from a 1000:1 contrast ratio and a 6ms response time. AL2423WR comes with a DVI input though, Acer has also integrated speakers into the monitor, which can be as much of a pro as a con depending on who you ask.
Acer has some really nice monitors coming but we can’t help feeling a bit bitter over the lack of HDCP support with the Value Line, but for those who can wait a few months this will be fixed.
