Formac Electronic Inc. is expanding its low-cost Oxygen line of LCD displays with the US$999 Gallery 2010 Oxygen. The new display joins a 17.4-inch model introduced last November.
The monitor features the same unique industrial design as Formac’s “Platinum” series, but comes with a 1-year warranty instead of the 3-year warranty that’s standard on Formac’s more expensive models. The Oxygen displays are also covered by a seven-dead-pixel policy, instead of the two-dead-pixel policy offered on Formac’s Platinum series. The new display operates at a native resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels, features a 600:1 contrast ratio, brightness rated at 250 nits, and 10-25ms pixel response.
Unlike Apple’s Cinema Displays, the Formac Gallery 2010 Oxygen uses a conventional 4×3 aspect ratio — hence the 1600 x 1200 native resolution. The screen itself actually measures about 16.3 inches wide by about 12 inches high. It features brightness buttons and a power button, and incorporates a two port USB hub as well.
As part of a promotion for the Oxygen line, Formac is offering the Gallery 2010 Oxygen for $999. It’s also offering the Gallery 1740 model for $499. The prices are good until April 15. After that, the regular price for the 2010 will be $1,149, and the 1740 will go up to $599. The new 20.1-inch display is expected to ship in mid-April.
The Gallery 2010 Oxygen will be available in DVI form only (the more expensive Platinum model is also available in ADC form), but Formac makes available a $29 ADC-to-DVI adapter cable as well.