OLED monitors are here
at last. But as Jeremy
Laird reveals, you can
expect plenty more
panel tech in 2022
NAILING DOWN the exact launch date of the very first color
LCD monitor for the PC isn’t easy. But one of the earliest
was certainly the NANAO F-1020 from Eizo. Launched way
back in 1993, the F-1020 spanned a mighty 10.4 inches and
rocked no fewer than 640x480 pixels. Count ‘em!
As it happens, by Eizo’s own estimations, it was a sales
flop. Yet here we are nearly 30 years later drowning in LCD
panels. The technology absolutely owns the PC monitor
market. But is everything about to change? The arrival of
the awesome new Alienware OLED gaming panel (see page
78) certainly suggests so.
At last, per-pixel lighting is actually a thing for the PC and
not just smartphones and TVs. Plus far faster response, not
to mention much better pixel response, and... we’re getting
ahead of ourselves. The reality is that OLED isn’t going to
assimilate the monitor market overnight. What’s more,
LCD technology still has plenty more to give.
So, yes, the story of the PC monitor in 2022 is likely to
be one of a technological turning point, the beginning of
the end for LCD panels. But even if that is the overarching
narrative, there are plenty of other subplots to enjoy,
including 8K awesomeness, ridiculous refresh rates, and
a whole lot more besides.JUN 2022 MAXIMU MPC 49