As the title suggests, this article is about the 27 inch PC monitor, the NEC PA272W. So, should you buy the NEC PA272W? The answer is – sorry I’m not one to spoil endings. We’re going to go over this monitor and see if it holds up across the boards. Can it perform at a high level when it comes to gaming, photo and video editing, every day use, etc?
You may have heard different things about it like that it’s great for graphics-based applications but it’s filthy-expensive and something about something called “SpectraViewII,” but what is that?
Well, let’s get into it.
NEC PA272W Specs
- The viewable screen size is 27 inches with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. That’s pretty much the best you’re going to get when it comes to a monitor these days.
- The NEC PA272W weighs a cool 28.4 pounds. That’s not light. In fact when you take a look at one of these things it’s got quite a thick body compared to other 27 inchers. The panel itself is 3.5 inches thick. You’re not getting that sleek, slim look you might be used to with an iMac or Dell UltraSharp U2715H.
- The NEC PA272W screen display is backlit by LED. This consumes 37% less power than earlier LCD screens including the NEC monitor just before this one.
- SpectraViewII, which I mentioned earlier, is a very important feature. This is specifically an NEC tech that utilizes a color measurement sensor and calibration software. In a nutshell it creates color-rich graphics that calibrate to whatever you’re viewing at any given moment.
- It has the typical convenient tilt, swivel and pivot ability with a height-adjustable stand.
What is the NEC PA272W good for?
What is it good for – absolutely nothing! Ok, that’s not true but I couldn’t help quoting that song. This monitor was practically designed with the photo and video editor in mind, not to mention the gamer.
With its kick-ass screen performance covering 99.3% of the Adobe RGB color space everything seems to pop. Any monitor that performs well in the graphics department will be sure to work well for general office use for simple black on white word documents as you’re looking at sharper imaging for text.
One important factor that you’re also going to want to think with, is whether or not it’s easy on the eyes. If you’re writing code or sitting in front of word docs or excel spreadsheets or working with highly detailed graphic applications, the last thing you’re going to want is to step away at the end of the day with bloodshot eyes looking like you’ve got a major case of pink eye. Luckily this display allows you to customize the brightness and RGB to find the exact right fit for your eyeballs.
Look for the NEC PA272W to be a perfect fit for:
- Gaming
- Video editing
- Photo editing
- General office use
- Medical office use
- Coding
What kind of connectivity are we looking at here?
Unlike the earlier NEC PA272W this newest model has better connectivity issues. And just to answer a question I’m sure a lot of you are burning to know – yes it is Mac compatible. This is what it looks like:
- 1 DisplayPort
- 1 Mini DisplayPort
- 1 HDMI-DVI-D Dual Link
- 3 USB ports – Downstream (for flashdrives, printers, etc.)
- 2 USB ports – Upstream (for connection straight to another computer or a USB hub)
NEC PA272W Pros/Cons
Pros:
- Amazing graphic display
- Amazing graphic display
- Amazing graphic display
- Oh and did I mention graphic display.
That is really what sets this guy apart from the competition. The NEC PA272W was made for this purpose. It was not made to show off other bells and whistles or even to be the prettiest one out there. It was made for robust graphics work and it does its job.
Cons:
- Bulkier than a lot of other monitors out there. It’s heavier and wider.
- The price is a little bit higher as well. But if you watch it closely on Amazon the price tends to drop several hundred dollars for a day or two so I suggest you keep your eye on it.
Price
As of this writing it goes for $1299 on necdisplay.com and $1,295.19 on Amazon. But as I said earlier, watch Amazon because sometimes the prices drop for a short period. I’ve seen it drop to just over $1000.
What you’re looking at here is a monitor specifically designed to run the full color gamut and extract the most from it. If you’re willing to deal with a bulky, high-priced monitor that delivers what it promises in terms of quality then this is definitely the monitor for you.
If price is a concern then keep moving, nothing to see here.