HP x2401

If thin is in, then the HP x2401 is "all in." Sporting a slender brushed metal cabinet and an MVA (Multi-domain Vertical Alignment) panel, this 24-inch monitor is as much about style as it is about performance. You get the bold colors and accurate grayscale reproduction that MVA technology is known for in a cabinet that is anything but ordinary. The x2410 only has two video inputs, but they are both digital and are both conveniently located so you can easily plug in your laptop, desktop, and other digital sources. Unfortunately, that's about all you get in terms of features.

Design and Features
The x2401's 24-inch screen is housed in a brushed aluminum cabinet that is only 1.02 inches thick. With this model, HP did away with the traditional stand assembly and instead outfitted the cabinet with an easel-type stand similar to the one used on the Viewsonic VSD220. The support arm, also done up in brushed metal, has a 25-degree tilt range and can be removed if you decide to mount the monitor on a wall.

The 1,920-by-1,080 panel is framed by thin (0.62-inch) glossy black bezels. There's a 4.25-inch-high panel below the bottom bezel that gives the monitor height and contains five rounded buttons, a power LED, and a silver HP logo. Behind the panel's left side, facing outward, are an HDMI input, a DisplayPort input, and a power jack. However, that's all you get in terms of features; you won't find any USB ports, a card reader, a webcam, or speakers on the x2401.

vPicture controls include brightness, contrast, sharpness, dynamic contrast ratio, and five color temperature choices. You can also change the scaling to fit the aspect ratio or fill the screen. The x2401 lacks an ECO mode but it does have a sleep timer to help conserve energy.

The x2401 comes with a one-year warranty and ships with an HDMI cable with an L-shaped connector on one end. Also included in the box are a VESA wall plate, a power brick, and a resource CD containing a user guide and drivers.

Performance
The x2401's MVA panel had no trouble reproducing dark and light shades of gray from the DisplayMate 64-Step Grayscale test. Color quality was also very good; reds, greens, and blues were nicely saturated and appeared uniform, gradating smoothly from dark to light. There was no obvious tinting and skin tones were balanced and natural.

The x2410's 12-millisecond (black-to-white) pixel response handled basic video without issue but I detected traces of motion blur while playing Midnight Run: Los Angeles, a fast-paced street racing game for the PS3. I also observed some motion blur while playing the PC version of Far Cry 2. Casual gamers may not notice the ghosting but hardcore gamers almost certainly will.

The x2410 doesn't require a lot of power. It averaged 20 watts during testing, which is only slightly more than the Acer T232HL, a 23-inch IPS monitor, and the BenQ GW2450, a 24-inch VA monitor, both of which used 18 watts in ECO mode. The x2410 doesn't have an ECO mode but it's efficient enough to merit our Greentech stamp of approval.

Conclusion
With the HP x2401 you get vibrant colors, solid grayscale performance, and good energy efficiency in an extremely thin 24-inch monitor. Although the easel stand has limited adjustability it does provide a generous tilt range and gives the monitor an edgy look. That said, the x2401's lack of features hold it back; a USB port or two would be nice, and a card reader would allow the x2401 to double as an oversized digital picture-frame. If you want to save a few bucks without sacrificing performance or style, consider our Editors' Choice, the AOC i2757fh. It offers a few more ports then the x2401 and it gives you significantly more screen real estate for less money.

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