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Strengths: price, IPS panel technology, crisp text, adjustable backlight, HDCP-compliant
Weaknesses: QC issues, stand not fully adjustable, cheap badging, some units lack the AT-TW polarizer
Summary: It's too bad this model disappeared--I know there is a new model coming out that will be similar. But I think the fact that no stores have this for sale means that my review won't ever be seen by anyone. Oh well.
I love this monitor. I took a chance on this during the early days of its existence (before a very popular thread on HardOCP forums dried up the supply). The unit I received had an issue with the bezel on the top where the front and back pieces didn't mate together properly, leading to a bulge in the plastic there. I read a couple of other people report the same thing so it sounds like a manufacturing thing. As far as I could tell it had no impact on the monitor but it concerned me that there could be some problem underneath that bulge.
So I set up an RMA with doublesight, which was very easy and they shipped me out a brand-new one. Fortunately the new one is perfect in bezel and panel, with no dead pixels. As a bonus, this new one has the A-TW polarizer, which corrects an issue with IPS panels that causes a white glow to appear on the screen when viewed at an angle. Not all of the 263N units have a panel with that polarizer, so I feel lucky in that regard.
Though the stand is very sturdy, it lacks a height adjustment or a rotation function (it does tilt though). Also the gold doublesight badge looks a bit hokey, but who cares when the panel itself is so gorgeous. Viewing angles are the best I have seen in any monitor and colors are plenty vibrant (once calibrated). The brightness is way too high out of the box, but fortunately the brightness control of the monitor actually reduces the level of the backlight (as opposed to trying to manipulate brightness using the pixels themselves, which ruins image quality).
The 263N has one DVI input and one VGA input, with the addition of another DVI-I input that can do either DVI or VGA (with a DVI-VGA adapter). Those who want to connect analog HD sources will be disappointed, but most everything these days has an HDMI connector which can be easily converted to DVI.
I use it only for my PC and 1920 x 1200 is the perfect resolution for me--and 26" is a great size to display it at. Screen elements and text are at sufficient size to be easily seen even if you have vision impairment.
This monitor is a rarity in the industry--a 26" H-IPS panel for less than $600. You can bet that the new doublesight model will have a higher pricetag as they've realized how desirable IPS panels are amongst savvy computer users.
Highly recommended.
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