Dell E198WFP 19-inch widescreen monitor Review

My big old CRT monitor at work finally started going bad, so my employer switched it for a sleek new Dell E198WFP 19-inch LCD widescreen monitor. The E198WFP is really a pleasure compared to the old monitor and it takes up MUCH less desk space.

Since I didn't pay for it, it's hard to get the exact cost. However, I think the Dell E198WFP is currently selling for less than $150.

What it is

The Dell E198WFP 19-inch widescreen monitor is an LCD computer monitor. I has both VGA and DVI inputs, and comes with cables for both input types. (The VGA cable was attached and I had to remove it to attach the DVI cable.) The monitor comes with a stand and the whole thing presents a pleasingly conservative look. Dressed in black, the Dell E198WFP is a good monitor for an office setting -- nothing flashy, just purposeful.

The Dell E198WFP's native resolution is 1440 x 900, which is typical of 19-inch widescreen monitors. This actually works out to a 16:10 aspect ratio -- that's somewhat standard for wide computer screens but it's slightly squarer than the standard 16:9 television widescreen.

Standing about 14.4 inches tall, the Dell E198WFP is 17.5 inches wide and it has a true 19-inch diagonal measurement. The display is about two inches thick. One disappointment is that the Dell E198WFP has no speakers and no provision for audio. If you have audio, you better plan on using external speakers or headphones.

Using it

The screen on the Dell E198WFP 19-inch widescreen monitor is crisp and bright. I use it with a laptop and have both the laptop's screen and the Dell monitor on at the same time. Of the two, the Dell E198WFP is brighter. Of course, it's also much bigger, which makes it a pleasure to view. Colors are bright and natural-looking, and text is sharp and easy-to-read.

There are five buttons at the lower right, one of which is an on/off switch. The others control the screen and the instructions for what they do are vague at best. Although the Dell E198WFP came with a thick manual, it is a generic manual that covers entire families of Dell's monitors. There is nothing specific about the E198WFP and nothing to explain the adjustment buttons. Thankfully, nothing really needed to be adjusted... I just poked at the buttons for a bit to see if I could figure them out.

I use the Dell E198WFP's DVI input, which is a digital input that usually results in the best possible images. If your computer has a DVI output (not all do), I strongly recommend that you use it -- it is a significant improvement over VGA technology. I'm sure the VGA input of the Dell E198WFP works fine, but I have only used the DVI input.

Other than poor instructions for the adjustment buttons, the Dell E198WFP has worked beautifully for me.

Summary

For the money, the Dell E198WFP 19-inch widescreen LCD monitor is a fine office monitor. It makes excellent pictures and its simple black design fits in with anything without attracting attention. It would be nice if the unit included speakers and it deserves a better manual. Otherwise, the Dell E198WFP is a good choice for a widescreen monitor and I recommend it.