Gateway intros LCD duo with HDMI, component [U]

(Updated with official shots) Gateway today rounded out its newly expanded HD-series displays with two new models designed for both computer use and movies alike. The 24-inch FHD2400 and 22-inch HD2200 back up their traditional DVI and VGA inputs with HDMI and component inputs that let them accept HD signals from Blu-Ray or HD DVD movie players, game consoles, and other set-top boxes; the FHD2400 also fits RCA and S-video connections for strictly analog sources. Either uses a Faroudja image processor to boost the visual quality of any source.

The FHD2400 tops the new entries and in some senses improves over the larger XHD3000, Gateway says. A new LCD panel brings the 24-inch screen to 92 percent of the NTSC color gamut, making it more useful for photo and video editors; the response time is also faster at a typical 3ms versus 6ms for the 30-inch screen and 5ms for most other 24-inch displays. The company also claims a slight edge for its 22-inch screen over similar models with a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and 4ms responses versus the 800:! contrast and 5ms responses of rival LCDs shipped earlier this year.

Both new displays have picture-in-picture support, advanced color calibration, and an optional speaker bar; the FHD2400 also doubles as peripheral hub with a standard 4-port USB 2.0 hub. Gateway ships both displays today, with the HD2200 starting the line at $350 and the FHD2400 climbing to $550. Adding the speaker bar to the chin of a given model costs an additional $50.