First Look: Dell 3007WFP-HC

Excessive is fun, and now better.

Although you wouldn’t guess it, you’re actually looking at Dell’s revised 30” monitor, the 3007WFP-HC. The design is identical to the 3007WFP, but inside it’s a different story.

The most important change is the panel. The internet has been rife with assumptions that it used a Samsung panel, however Dell have told us that it is powered by an LG/Philips panel. It uses a WCCFL backlight to provide a wider colour range for the pixels in the inline plane switching panel to filter out colour.

In this case, the pixels can filter out many more colours from the WCCFL backlight. The display looks less red and more natural than the predecessor, as it can display 92% of the NTSC colour gamut as opposed to 72% that the Dell 30” of old was capable of. If you’re scratching your head, this means that using the American broadcast standard as a yardstick, the 3007WFP-HC will display more colours than its predecessor, and almost all other monitors.

We say almost all other monitors because HP has released a 30” monitor that can also display 92% of the NTSC colour gamut, and one we currently believe uses the same electronics as the Dell. However, the HP has three DVI-D inputs compared to the Dell’s one.

Why exactly Dell chose not to add HDMI (let alone component or VGA) connectors to this revision is a bit of a mystery. The single DVI-D connector was understandable on the original 3007WFP, as it was aimed at CAD professionals, but 30” displays have been seen as something of a geek grail for some time now, and neither the Xbox 360 nor the Wii have digital video outputs.

The four port USB hub and card reader in the sides are still with us, and there’s no on-screen display, only a power and brightness button. All other settings are controlled from your video card. In that respect, the 3007WFP-HC is an understated overhaul of Dell’s old 30”er. The contrast ratio, response time and colour reproduction are all evolutions, at 1000:1, 8ms and 92% NTSC respectively.

You notice the huge difference when editing high definition video, a fact that will have many editors (and their desks, weighed down by highly accurate CRT behemoths,) rejoicing. Gaming is still a treat, but with an extra welcome dose of whipped cream and hot molten chocolate topping.

It’s currently retailing on Dell’s site for $2,799. For more, check out issue 74 of Atomic.

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