Rockin' the round monitor: Alienware's curved DLP monitor hits CES

[[PhiberOpticks]]

It's a couple days old, but I figure the collective news is worth posting.

Originally Posted by Engadget

Alienware curved display rocks Crysis at 2880 x 900

from Engadget by Barb Dybwad
Filed under: CES, Displays
Don't get all frothed up quite yet because it's still only a prototype, but this sweet doublewide curved DLP display with OLED illumination from Alienware will reportedly be available in the second half of '08. The curvature of the 2880 x 900 rez screen mimics peripheral vision, and in action the performance seemed pretty flawless to our Crysis-dazzled eyes (official specs report less than .02-millisecond response time). We did notice three faint vertical dividing lines that appeared to indicate four sub-panels making up this screen, but we may be willing to suspend disbelief in exchange for the potential of indulgent wrap-around immersion. There's not even an inkling of an MSRP on this thing yet, but you know we're gonna be keeping our eyes on this sucker for ya. Pics below and don't miss our video footage.

Gallery: Alienware curved display rocks Crysis at 2880 x 900

Originally Posted by Engadget

More details about Alienware's awesome curved DLP display

from Engadget by Nilay Patel
Filed under: CES, Features

We must have impressed Alienware's reps with our super-elite Crysis skills this evening, because it only took a little prodding for them to give up some more details on that awesome curved DLP display:

• It's definitely coming out in the second half of the year, but the model we've been seeing is just a late engineering prototype -- everything from the internals to the casing is probably going to change.
• There are four LED-backlit DLP projectors inside, which explains the lines in the image above, but the final version will show a seamless image.
• It's going to be an Alienware product, but it was developed by an ODM called Ostendotech.
• There's definitely some heavy-duty image-processing going on to make the images appear correctly -- the Ostendotech guy called it "the secret sauce" -- but most games will support it with very little effort, apparently.
• The ideal viewing position is directly in the middle at about two feet away. That's when the image seamlessly appears to wrap all the way around you, and it's just as sweet as you'd expect.
• Pricing information is still infuriatingly non-specific: the best we got was "more than a 17-inch flat panel and less than a Kia." Thanks, guys.
  Gallery: Alienware's curved DLP display
  
  

I want it. XD

[birdman]

I might get this. I have a good amount of saved up money and nothing to spend it on.

[[PhiberOpticks]]

It's like surround sound. Except instead of sound, it's surround video.

[skimike]

The lighting on it is currently uneven and it's very low resolution, limiting its usefulness to gaming. One certainly wouldn't want to do photoshop on it and, given that it's DLP, its sharpness will be limited.

I'm going to paraphrase someone when I say the following:

Wait, wut? I thought I was supposed to be excited when monitors became super high resolution and super thin. Now I'm supposed to be excited about a low resolution monitor with a big bulge in the back? I can't keep up.

Widescreen 16:10 monitors are only now gaining some developer support and acceptance in the industry. I don't even want to imagine the issues this monitor will experience. x.x

[plasma06]

o yes getting 1 for shore less then a kia bargain

[gunslingeraz]

Damn now this means I have to straighten up and do my job so I get my bonus. Damn you!

[EclipceR]

+1 to what Skimike said. Overrated.

[Koji]

I'd rather have 3 monitors than that. The resolutions for games would be disgracefully stretched on that.

[Hellriser]

Nice prototype but I really wouldn't go for something like that. Maybe in a few years, when they will make it a little more thin than that. Plus the resolution is so ... not good for gaming. I'll be happy with a 21" LCD for now. And it's price is more than a 17" one but less than a 22" one. Pricing is less than a Kia they say... rofl
1 word: Overrated

[[PhiberOpticks]]

With the invention of these flexy screens, I don't see why they don't make it an LCD. It's not like Alienware is worried about making their stuff affordable. I mean, just look at how much they mark their current stuff for.

[eternalchaos]

it is good for a prototype but isn't worth the money

do the resolution calculation

1680x1050 (standard for 20-22" monitors..) gets 1.765 million pixels

2880x900 = 2.592 million pixels so while it does offer more pixels; one thing that Alienware hasn't factored in, this monitor not only will require massive desk space; but also due to the massive length will not have even lighting. Not only is this grossly over-rated in my book, but like the KillerNIC it is going to basically fail.

I can't see people rushing out to buy a 2880x900 monitor simply to have "realistic" perception especially when 22" wide screens already have been more than enough. Not to mention "native" resolution requires it to produce 70% more pixels per image, you are going to automatically need a very very powerful video card to use the monitor. (meaning expect to shell out for a GTX, or ULtra.. or SLI setup )

[Chu]

I would prefer a standard resolution LCD monitor that just happens to be bigger and curved. I'm a creature of habit, and having a monitor that's more than twice as long as it is wide would just make me uncomfortable. The inward curve is a great idea, however.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by skimike

The lighting on it is currently uneven and it's very low resolution, limiting its usefulness to gaming. One certainly wouldn't want to do photoshop on it and, given that it's DLP, its sharpness will be limited.

I'm going to paraphrase someone when I say the following:

Wait, wut? I thought I was supposed to be excited when monitors became super high resolution and super thin. Now I'm supposed to be excited about a low resolution monitor with a big bulge in the back? I can't keep up.

Widescreen 16:10 monitors are only now gaining some developer support and acceptance in the industry. I don't even want to imagine the issues this monitor will experience. x.x

Read the rest of the second article. That's a prototype, supposedly.

[eternalchaos]

yeah it is a prototype there are a few issues with it right now but overall it is a nifty idea. I just don't think having a monitor with a native resolutoin that high is good for average compatibility. You'll need such a beefy GPU or SLI/Crossfire to run that it might cost you MORE than you anticipate