Don’t be square! Give this 1:1 Eizo monitor a chance

By Adrian Diaconescu November 20, 2014

eizo unveils bizarre square shaped monitor ev2730q flexscan — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Wide or ultra-wide, that is the question on the lips of most computer enthusiasts scouring stores for high-res monitors. But what if you were to pick a decidedly unconventional square-shaped display instead of a 16:9, 16:10 or 21:9 standard screen?

We kid you not, there’s really a perfectly square option now for 3D CAD designers, programmers and anyone feeling nutty this holiday season. It’s manufactured by a little known Japan-based company called Eizo, and carries the convoluted FlexScan EV2730Q moniker.

Since we aren’t familiar with the rest of Eizo’s monitor lineup, we’re going to refer to this unorthodox thing as simply the FlexScan.

Equipped with an all-black flexible stand (hence the name), the 26.5 incher offers 78 percent extra pixels on the vertical axis. In total, the resolution is 1,920 x 1,920 for a 1:1 aspect ratio. Weird though it may seem, the monitor’s producers illustrate a few of the “standard” use cases on their official website.

Obviously, this monitor is not meant for gamers or movie addicts. But if you undertake tasks that require the perusal and manipulation of large blocks of data, it makes sense to use a screen that’s “wide all around.”

The FlexScan is decently bright, with a typical intensity rating of 300 cd/m², and fairly zippy, with average gray-to-gray response time of 5 ms. Color reproduction is mediocre, with only 16.77 million shades supported, while the maximum refresh rate sits at a respectable 60Hz.

Dual 1W speakers take care of audio output, and the monitor is allegedly viewable from 178-degree horizontal and vertical angles. Tipping the scales at over 9 pounds by itself, the FlexScan is no featherweight. That might be one of the reasons Eizo is so confident about the display’s reliability it sells it with an extended five-year warranty.

Or rather will sell it starting Q1 2015 for an undisclosed price. Who wants to bet we’ll be seeing the 26.5-inch square-shaped Eizo FlexScan EV2730Q on display at CES in Las Vegas two months from now?

Editors' Recommendations

Adrian Diaconescu

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Adrian is a mobile aficionado since the days of the Nokia 3310, and a PC enthusiast since Windows 98. Later, he discovered…

Computing

I couldn’t live without this underrated monitor feature

Yakuza Like a Dragon on the Asus ROG PG32UCDM.

It's easy to get fixated on image quality when looking for a new monitor, but one feature has flown under the radar for far too long. Over the past several years, we've seen an increasing number of monitors include a KVM switch, and it's a game changer for using your display with multiple devices.

It's one of those features that's easy to look past, as it gets jumbled in the middle of a list of obligatory features that you'll find on numerous displays. Don't discount a KVM, though. Next time you pick up a new monitor, make sure it includes a KVM switch.
What exactly is a KVM?

Computing

Don’t need a MacBook Pro? Save $300 on the 15-inch MacBook Air

The screen of the MacBook Air M2.

For those who are having trouble deciding which of the latest models to buy from MacBook deals, here's an offer from Best Buy that may push you in its direction -- the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air M2 with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for $999, following a $300 discount on its original price of $1,299. If you don't need the professional-level capabilities of the MacBook Pro, it's highly recommended that you take advantage of this bargain, but you have to act fast because there's no telling when it will get taken down.

Why you should buy the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air M2
The 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro M3 Max stands on top of our list of the best MacBooks, but if you prefer the lightness and quietness of the MacBook Air and you don't need the extreme power of the MacBook Pro, you're better off with the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air M2. Its design is very similar to its smaller counterpart, the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air M2, with the same flat panels, narrow bezels, and thin profile -- just 0.46 of an inch -- among other elements. However, the larger 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display makes a huge difference, especially if you'll be needing all the screen real estate that you can get for activities like building websites, managing spreadsheets, editing videos, and working on apps with complex menus.

Computing

Don’t miss your chance to save 31% on Dell’s iMac-style PC

The Dell Inspiron 24 All-in-One on a desk next to a keyboard.

If you've always been interested in iMac deals but you've been held back by the high prices of Apple's desktop computers -- or because you want to stick to Windows -- you may want to take a look at the Dell Inspiron 24 All-in-One PC. This iMac-style computer, originally priced at $650, is down to an even more affordable $450 following a 31% discount from Dell. We're not sure how much time is remaining before you miss this chance at $200 in savings, so if you're interested, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase as soon as you can.

Why you should buy the Dell Inspiron 24 All-in-One PC
The major draw of all-in-one computers like the Dell Inspiron 24 All-in-One is the space that they free up on your desk. Unlike traditional desktop computer setups that come with a CPU and a monitor, plus the cable that connects them, the Dell Inspiron 24 All-in-One combines a 23.8-inch Full HD screen and its CPU in one device. If you go with a wireless keyboard and mouse, the only cable that you'll need is the power cord, which will allow you to get rid of all the clutter on your workstation.