User Interface

The 1905FP uses an interface familiar to anyone who has used a Dell LCD before. All input is controlled by the four buttons on the lower right corner of the monitor.


If you have seen one Dell on screen display, you have seen them all. Even the Dell 1702FP has the same look and feel as our 1905FP display.


Click to enlarge.


Using the DVI input, the monitor limits our ability to change anything other than the brightness and the color presets. We were a little surprised that the monitor gave us control of the color presets, since the digital signal should replicate accurately what the video card is rendering. To us, the red and blue presets were extremely uncomfortable. In the menu above, the items with gray boxes around them are unavailable.


Like Dell's previous performance monitors, the UltraSharp 1905FP screen can pivot 90 degrees on its side to convert the 19" 5:4 aspect ratio into a 4:5 ratio instead. Unfortunately, no pivot software or drivers came with the monitor, so we had to rely on third party tools.

There is also a slight clearance problem at the bottom of the monitor if we attempt to rotate with the screen at its lowest height setting. Fortunately, the UltraSharp 1905FP utilizes a universal joint in the back, so we only need to tilt the screen backward a little to compensate. Unfortunately, this is a little clumsy. In the end, the clearance problem isn't a big deal, but it can be a minor annoyance.


DSP & Panel Details Cost Analysis
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  • IceWindius - Sunday, January 30, 2005 - link

    I"ll wait for SED displays to come out, it will kick OLED's ass
  • MrEMan - Sunday, January 30, 2005 - link

    Are there people here who actually believe Dell manufactures any components (monitors, drives, motherboards, video cards, etc) in their systems?

    I would really be surprised if they actually do.

    My guess is that the specify which OEM products they want, and then, have them tweaked to make them proprietary.
  • avijay - Sunday, January 30, 2005 - link

    Great review!

    #31, that lady might get a few extra bucks based on her ratings, and to be honest, those guys try to get as much info as possible, but it doesn't quite work out all the time. I should know, I used to work in a place like that.

    BTW, any chance of reviewing the Sony SDM-P234/B 23". I've been trying to find a good review on that LCD for quite a while, but unable to do so. I'd really appreciate it if kristopher can review one and let everyone know the good and the bad about that monitor. Thanks.
  • najames - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link

    I agree with TwistyKat. I have had enough Dell for a lifetime and I have never even technically ordered from them. I put in a Viewsonic monitor order 1/5 to ship on 1/28, the system was so screwed up my account had somebody elses name attached. After 10 emails, one long call to Mumbai, and another call where the guy basically just sat there didn't answer questions, and said nothing, then cut me off, I gave up and canceled my order on 1/26. They never did get the account fixed so the account linked with the order. It was always my responsibility to fix their problems, including filling out forms for the "webmaster", even though Dell reps could see it was hosed. When I called to cancel the US staff told me my VIEWSONIC monitor was in production at DELL (WTF?), requiring yet another call to Mumbai. The lady in Mumbai did tell me that she wanted me to give her a good rating on service, 1 being poor and 9 being excellent.
  • HeatMiser - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link

    Link to Samsung's panel here: http://www.samsung.com/Products/TFTLCD/Monitors_n_...
  • pxc - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link

    The 1905FP's LCD is 376mm x 301mm, a 5:4 aspect ratio. That fits perfectly with the 5:4 native resolution (1280x1024).

    http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/monitors/r83...
  • reactor - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link

    good review, good timing too, was looking at getting a 19" lcd.

    would like to see a review of the Philips 190S5FB, or an updated roundup, as people on newegg are raving about it.
  • MAME - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link

    "Fast motion was on par with what we expected for this game; we certainly didn't notice any motion blur, but if the Dell 1905FP is your first LCD, then you will notice a difference immediately."

    What do you mean by "difference"? Not as good as a CRT?
  • MadAd - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link

    As well as reviews of other popular models (like the 2005FPW, the HP L2335) are we going to one day get at least *one* set of reliable benchmarks at resolutions up and above 1600x1200 please please!!!!

    Just a quick roundup of available dx9 cards with mid-high range amd/intel at resolutions up to 1920x1200 - is that too much to ask from your favourite hardware site? :)

    Wide screen gaming seems to be taking off and Id really like to know what kind of performance im going to need to run at good frame rates if I do get say the dell, or the hp. Will my 9700pro cut it? Probably not but do I need as much as an xt850?

    Go on, I know youd love to do them :)

    Thanks
  • robl - Saturday, January 29, 2005 - link

    Great article, thanks! Any chance of reviewing the Apple 30" HD display? I'd love to see how it compares, especially with which video cards support it on a pc. most sites I've seen only talk about it on the apple platform.

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