Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsIt's all about that curve.
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2021
Early review, as needed or in few months I'll update.
Bought this used/renewed. One 'dead pixel' maybe why was returned? Still I don't feel chances are much different for getting perfect panel buying new. But.. "Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." If expectation is perfection I recommend different and more established monitor size/curve and tech. I am so happy these monitors are on the market now at approachable price. But the pixel fault class for this monitor is II, so a few dead pixels are within parameters. The "perfection" some claim this price demands would actually make this monitor cost 3X as much I'd guess. Reasonable compromise. This was at the limit of how much I could invest on a single monitor. a dead pixel doesn't much subtract from it function. And I REALLY wanted a 1000R ultrawide.
Had hard time gauging what expect, but is as I suspected that the pictures/videos all kind of distorted the monitor appearance for me. Not as curved as I thought it might be, which almost a shame because some crazy imaginings of what might be like. Interestingly I think the curve tapers off at the edges as well. I was under impression these were all consistent arc's .. but pretty sure no, held flat edge along it and gap appear flat at edge. probably some science behind using a progressive curve for functional ergonomics, i just thought the curve was consistent. But yea, I thought the curve would be more. And from researching already knew the curves of most monitors was not stacking up to what I expected when I thought of transitioning to curved monitor design. If I going doing something different I like it to be really different. heh
Optimal viewing distance for 1000R is 1m (3 feet) .. even kicked way back w/ feet on desk, that still closer to optimal viewing distance than even an "aggressive" 1500R curve. Optimal viewing distance of 1800R is a1.8m or almost 6 feet. If that distance from monitor it time to look at TV's.
So yea. I read a lot of tech reviews on this monitor saying only buy if looking for high FPS gaming monitor. I think they've lost touch a little with the common cyberspace nerd. Yes, for browsing, trolling forums, researching or writing, most the high end features of this monitor is lost, and for bang for buck is other panels that will get you the pixel screen space. HOWEVER if the science on the curve is to be believed, the reduction in eye strain over long hours of screen viewing more then compensates for the price difference of a lesser curve, making this the ultimate albeit expensive simple desktop monitor. More than just a reduction of eye strain too, but also faster more efficient work flow in the sense of less time-distance of eye travel and head turning almost like overclocking your organic data input.
..so this does something a more flat ultrawide couldn't and reduces the argument for staying w/ dual 27" setups where one monitor can be angled, important for some workflows, even as going to 49" over dual setup is like adding an extra screen given that most web pages are designed for about 60% the width of standard screen. I'm using Windows PowerToys w/ fancy zones (all free) .. at the moment have it set 3 screen across, though 4 screens across is comfortable too I but transitions webpages into their "narrow" format.
Sure for workbench type workflows I'd want a flatter panel. but i just sit and use computer, so didn't want go below 1200R
Really had considerable fear of using a non-IPS panel. But they don't yet have what I call real curve as I wanted more my main center monitor. But I don't see a lot difference, I like the screen, is a good picture, comparable to my old quality IPS. I wouldn't have bought this if it didn't have 10bit color. I'm running it at 120Hz. I do like that in a couple years I'll be able to run it faster, maybe when doesn't cost quite as much electricity for a video card to move the pixels but for as little as I notice would be overkill for my uses today.
Now let's get back to the "dead pixel" on mine. I used camera to zoom in on it and what I saw was unexpected and interesting. my "dead pixel" magnified looks like a stain on the threads of a cotton weave. science behind how these are manufactured must be crazy interesting. As all the progress of science is.
Early adopter isn't usually my style, but in this case, waiting a few years was greater cost then pulling the trigger now. In 5 years I'll probably add a 49" DQHD+ OLED when they exist. DQHD+ is 5120x1600, this is DQHD 5120x1400. So I guess a DQHD+ monitor to keep same horizontal measure would be more like 52" or 55. and crazy heavy. Reminder: 49" is the diagonal measurement. a standard that doesn't work as well for ultrawides. I think this is 47" width but hard to measure the curve, is 45" straight across so I guess the curve only eats about 2" from actual width.
People talk about gaming but I not seen anyone yet mention the most important metric of a new monitor like this. Yes, the Winamp Milkdrop screensaver looks every bit as amazing as you would imagine on this monitor. (don't forget tweak the settings) Not saying that why I bought the monitor, but I'm not saying it isn't either.
Looking forward to seeing some MMORPG's on this. going try some flight sims on this too should be fun.
For the price of this you could get three 34". But for fully exploiting screen curve for work flow this only 1000R ultrawide, and quality display.
Writing this review I remembered the Infinity Core Lighting, figured out how turn it on, spent lot time debating if mine is defective or it suppose to be this dim. still not sure. It glows, can set the color, but doesn't project light, I mean the power button alone on an Alienware monitor projects more light I think. Is impressive such a large ring can light up while projecting so little light really. So if you want light behind your monitor you will still have to add that. which is fine, monitors should stick to being monitors. But sense I can't see behind my monitor it useless. So... should they not have feature it? rethought it, and actually I am glad they made the back look the way it did. it adds to the utility of ultrawide that they can be on display in open area's without an obnoxiously dull back panel wall.
I have not updated the panels bios yet, seems ok as is. Also will try track down which manufacturing batch mine is from for those interested in that.
Not sure if is just me getting older, or an increase in the density of media content, but I'd increasingly found my dual 27" setup super insufficient. When one died I really fell behind in being able to stay organized. I have panic attacks thinking about the time of single 16:9 monitor. This thing is heavy and awkward, but I couldn't imagine computing any other way anymore. To me, this now is just a proper monitor and don't know how anyone works on anything else. I mean 34" uw I can manage on in a pinch. But this what you wanna have at base camp.
49" 1000R is approaching perfection of the monitor format. It's all about that curve.
notes:
1. at 120Hz, >50% brightness .. the heat from this not much for a monitor. worried it might be exaggerated all the time but instead is probably some efficiency gains over 2x27" yielding less heat at comparable performance settings it seems and I'd guess.
2. the noise some commented on I finally heard. my environment noisy (so i run soundmachines) so didn't hear. when I first noticed, sounded like.. a 'stink bug' flying into thing, but they are absent this year / didn't see anything. next time realized it was the monitor. doesn't sound like thermal expansion, though that easier way to explain it, so might as well stick with the story. sounds to me electrical in origin, when at it loudest almost like degaussing. So tested this in a quiet environment and is way more common than I was previous catching and I can better understand why they thought was thermal expansion noise. does now sound more like taping (maybe similar but not as loud noise my creaky chair sometime make) and I wouldn't of thought was electrical in source. I should know more about the components of these things that I could give a theory of source, but sounds like something like capacitors/transistors or sort of thing that is discharging, phase changing or otherwise just doing something that makes noise on occasion. heck, could even be some sort of automated localized degaussing when something triggers the need for it. but whatever. my monitors a sound machine. that's cool. :p I like a little personality.
3. had some problems running this with another monitor. swapped cables, etc. isolated problem to the DP port on my 2070 super graphics card. this worked fine in that port, but when added another monitor, I could no longer use this from that port. switched this to different port and smooth sailing sense. i think that is weird, should matter what DP port, but it happened. it had me scared too, glad was my computers fault. had no problems running this and a 38" 1600p ultrawide. running this with a 34" 1400p uw at moment, eventually I will be running all three on my 2070s and will see how it does. will only game single monitor mode so shouldn't be problem.
