HP 27er 27-in IPS LED Backlit Monitor

I use a MacBook Pro for digital editing, but I’ve always resisted buying an Apple external monitor because, well, they’re ridiculously expensive and I’m pathologically cheap! This new HP monitor is a brilliant compromise: while it doesn’t have the stunning image quality of an Apple screen, it’s very good and perfectly usable, and it’s a thousand dollars less (Apple has recently stopped making their monitor.) I was able to hook it up instantly with my MBP – no drivers or software required… not that HP has provided any Mac software for it, all of the utilities for the monitor are Windows based. I was able to calibrate the 23er via the onboard control buttons just fine, no software necessary.

The 1920×1080 image is very nice and fairly crisp. The colors and contrast are a little faded compared to the more robust MBP screen, but not enough for it to be a complaint for me. However, if you are a graphic designer it might lack the color accuracy and contrast that you require. Reading on it is absolutely no problem – most fonts are well rendered and none are at all pixellated. It does get a little wispy with black-on-white thin fonts like those in the Apple window menu bar, but not illegible, just a little thin. I’ve included some photos that hopefully show the slight difference between the details on my MBP screen and this monitor. Also, in the color "Neutral" setting it skews a little warm. You can bring up the blue by changing the setting from Neutral to Cool, but I’m finding I prefer the warmer setting – it seems a little easier on my eyes.

In terms of it’s footprint and form factor, it’s every bit as slim and low profile as the Apple monitor. The only thing that’s missing is the trademark Apple sleekness and designer-influence style – not worth an extra grand in my opinion. For the money this is the perfect monitor for general purpose work.

PS – Writing reviews has become an accidental hobby for me, and it always makes my day to know that people find my reviews helpful (and if not, why.) Also, if you have any questions, clarifications, or comments please feel free to leave a comment below. I usually respond pretty quickly and almost always within 24 hours.

Just the thing I needed to save my sight while post processing photographs on my Surface Pro 3. While my Surface Pro 3 is a great device, the screen is sort of small when it comes to post photography photo processing. The HP 27er produces large clear images and its screen is matte so there is no glare, no eye strain. It works for me. I highly recommend.

An excellent monitor all around and available at a great price. Super easy to set up. No screws or tools required. Just pop the arm to the back of the monitor and then attach the monitor to the stand. I use this as an extension of my Macbook Air and it works seamlessly. I really love the thinness of the profile as well as the almost non-existent bezels. The silver and black go well with the the color scheme of my Mac as a bonus too. This monitor’s buttons are easy to use and they feel solid. I would recommend this monitor to anyone who is looking to add a little more screen real estate, especially if you already have a Mac.