Monoprice

2016 Interactive Pen Display HD

A pen display that will give the competition a run for its money

I would like to thank Monoprice for providing this factory sample for my review.

All features of this review are based on an early factory sample and Alpha Drivers,
features, dimensions, and software are subject to change at time of release.


Monoprice the California Based retailer and manufacture has recently
introduced a number of products into the Pen display and tablet market. With many
pen tablets already available in the past year they have made great headway in the
competitive market of pen displays. With Wacom being the leader in Pen Display
technology a competitive challenger that can meet the quality of the standard at a
more agreeable price, has been desperately needed for years. Those of us who
adopted pen tablets in the 90s can remember forking out hundreds for the smallest
Wacom Graphire, Only to be envious of the pen displays the few could afford.

Today everyone is adding the pen input options form Asus Zen books, to
Lenovo, Microsoft and even Apples Ipad Pro. But the Old leader has always
dominated the Dedicated Desktop Pen Display: Wacom.

Monoprice New 22 Inch Pen Display is a contender that delivers Battery free EMC
Pen technology on a clear and responsive Display.




Pre-Release Sample* Specifications
Interactive pen display
530 x 317 x 40 mm
20.9 x 12.5 x 1.6 in

54.5cm (21.5inch)
MVA
16.7 million
16:09
176 (88/88) H, (88/88) V
1000:1:00
250 cd/m2
12ms
479 x 271 mm (19.5 x 11.5 in)
72% Adobe RGB
6500 K whitepoint default
HDMI1.4 , DVI-I , VGA, Audio in, Out
No
S-Pen
2048, both pen tip and eraser
40 degrees
60 levels
Pressure-sensitive, cordless, battery-free
Tip switch, 2 side switches, eraser
Silicone rubber
JET220FHD
Electromagnetic resonance method
5080 lpi
22 - 86
HDMI1.4, DVI, VGA
100 to 240 VAC, 50/60Hz
12 VDC, 3A (36Watt)
20(typ) ~ 25(Max)watt
Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP2, 7 (32/64 bits), 8/8.1
Mac OS X, v 1010.2
22HD interactive pen display x 1
Tilt Stand x 1
Grip Pen x 1

The Pen Display comes with an easel style stand pre- mounted. The display sits with
the bottom bezel nearly flush to the table surface, The back mount supports VESA
Standard and Monoprice has several monitor stands its suggest for those that want
something a bit higher or with more flexible positions.

For those that enjoy working more horizontal, the quick release latch, on the Back is

easily accessible and allows angles from near vertical to near horizontal. The Stand
is sturdy enough with the Rubber footpads to allow for little to no movement or
vibration while working even with a heavy hand. Construction feel Sturdy but not
oversized or heavy.

Overall foot print on your table is the size expected of any equivalent monitor
and the lightweight and integrated stand allows for easy mobility for those that
want to be able to carry their pen display with them.

Cable Mounting is on the left side facing the screen. You will find a HDMI, DVI,
and VGA for Video- In connections, a Required USB and power port.
For my testing I used both DVI and HDMI and found both Mac and PC had no
problem Connecting even when using a Display Port /Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter.
The Location of the Connection ports do cause cable to stick out a bit from the left
side but is a necessity for function of repositioning the display without binding.

Monitor Controls found on the right side facing the screen just behind the bezel
provide basic but ample controls for color, saturation, and brightness.

Provided with this sample is the Art Pen, an Ergonomic multi-button pen
with 2 buttons, a rear eraser and the pen tip. As shown it sizes up just barely
smaller then the length of the Wacom Cintiq Pen and roughly the same width with
the triangle barrel design. The Comfort of this pen took a little getting used to but
soon felt very natural and was easier to distinguish button location then with the
Wacom pens.

The pen tip has a nice firm but flexible feel like a 2B pencil and the Glass of this pen
display allows it to Glide across without streaking, screeching or sticking.

Screen Resolution of the Factory Sample was excellent for 1080p although this
sample only had a color accuracy of 72% Adobe RGB, Monoprice is working for
production to have a higher Color Accuracy. Viewable angles on this model are
excellent with out color shifting even at near horizontal angles. Very Impressive
quality for TFT LCD.

Testing
Testing was done on 5 different configurations and Operating Systems
Windows 7, Windows 8.1,Windows 10 Surface Pro, Mac OSX Mavericks and
Mac OSX El Capitan

Driver installation
Alpha Drivers where provided at time of testing and I found Windows 7 and
8.1 to have no problem but Windows 10 on a Surface Pro was currently
incompatible. This could have been caused by a driver error between built in tablet
computer and display, Final drivers should resolve this.



Windows Drivers support calibration, pressure and tilt controls. Calibration being
recommended immediately after install. As well as adjusting the pressure
sensitivity.

*Shown is Beta Driver and Software

Some functions of pressure and tilt in different applications will be covered later.

Mac Osx Mavericks and El Capitan both installed drivers very easily and functioned
perfectly, but current Mac Drivers showed very little controls for Tilt and pressure
controls. However Pressure sensitivity worked perfectly on Mac OS but had no
perceivable controls or affect on Tilt.

Pen Tip accuracy and response is on par with Wacom with a generous hover space
of and no offsetting in any of the corners. In Both Windows and Mac no lag could
be detected in basic OS functions.

Adobe Photoshop functioned with great pressure sensitivy and accuracy


The Foundry Mischief is where the Pen Display Truly Shined with great accuracy
and High sensitivity to pressure.

Application Testing

The aim of this review being based on the point of view of a Digital Artist I
ran test for compatibility and workflow with a selection of popular 2D and 3D art
applications. These test included the pens accuracy in menu selection, pressure
sensitivity and where applicable tilt functions.

Current Tested software as of 12/15

2D software

Adobe Photoshop CS6 and CC Pressure functions but little tilt function
Adobe Illustrator Pressure
The Foundry Mischief Pressure, Recommended
Autodesk Sketchbook pro No pressure (Pressure Functions on MacOSx)
Gimp Pressure Functions
ClipStudio/Manga Studio Pressure
Corel Painter - Pressure

3D software

Autodesk Mudbox Pressure (requires Windows Environment Variable to work)
Autodesk Maya works no pressure
Autodesk 3ds Max works no pressure
Algorithmic Substance Painter- Pressure
Blender - Pressure
Pixologic Zbrush Pressure, Recommended
Pixologic Sculptris Pressure, Recommended
Pilgway 3D Coat Pressure, Recommended

Conclusion

After testing with the current list of programs I can see some improvement
for driver function with some software but overall the Pen Display has proven itself
to function with a majority of Apps. The orientation of the display will take some
getting use for those with experience with the table-hogging Wacom Displays.
Pricing has not yet been announced but Monoprice has a history of providing
competitive pricing for quality products. Some Minor additions I would like to see
like different Pen Nibs and a penholder as well as a unified 2-1 HDMI and USB cable.
Other Monitor mounts are availed from Monoprice that allow more positions.

All being said I recommend this for all Entry to Professional level Digital Artist.
Having been truly impressed with the Overall Quality and Function of this product,
it will be the Digital Artist must have in their toolbox.

The 2016 Monoprice Interactive Pen Display is slated to be released early Spring
with pricing and availability to be announced.