HP 2311gt 3D Monitor Review

While 3D televisions are still unjustifiable-to-the-spouse expensive, the PC monitor end of the spectrum is increasingly heading to the polar opposite. The HP 2311gt is one such solution that is aimed at that market, providing 3D capability along with the usual PC monitor features at an affordable price. How it does during our test, is what we find out.

Design

The HP 2311gt is aesthetically similar to the company’s existing 2311x monitor. Both share the same specs too, such as the 1080p resolution, LED backlighting, 5ms response time, and 250-nit brightness. The only main difference is the 3D support.

The 2311gt isn’t particularly sharp in appearance – it black and drab – although the tiny sky-blue power light and its roundish form do add a bit to uplift the look. A little. The OSD controls are snuck under the right bottom edge of the frame and are sufficiently accessible. The menus are a bit awkward at first due to the lack of markings of what they do and don’t – I once reset the settings to its factory default because I couldn’t understand how to select ‘no’ and go back. However, you get the hang of them quickly once you start using them regularly.

The monitor is light on ports – there is only one of VGA, DVI and HDMI, but considering the price point, it’s a fairly acceptable crime to commit. What I did really like about them, though, are their placement. They are slapped flat straight on the back of the monitor, instead of hiding them in a dig that requires you to tip the monitor on one hand, wear a miner’s helmet to read the markings and fiddle around to install the cable on a slot. It even has a little green light that indicates if the power is working! It’s the little touches, I tell you.