Zalman Trimon Mini-Review
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:11 am
I've been a little busy lately but I wanted to post a quick mini-review for the Zalman Trimon 22" 3D monitor. I actually got into an accident and I'm stuck in a wheel-chair, but I just got out the hospital (yeeaaaa!!!!). That said I haven't got much of a chance to play with the monitor lately, but I did get to test it before I got hurt. Anyway, heres my little mini-review while its still somewhat fresh in my mind. I'll took pictures and stuff for a full review at a later time, this is just a teaser.
The Zalman Trimon is hands down the best stereo 3d I've ever seen on a home platform. I have not tried the iz3d and don't wish to make this about comparing them. Both are comparable solutions and both have pros and cons. However I am very happy with my purchase of the Zalman Trimon monitor and do not regret my choice at all. The picture quality is totally crisp and crystal clear. In the right hot-spot there is practically zero ghosting (aka stereo cross-talk). If you move your head around the image begins to ghost but once you move to the right spot its not an issue. The Trimon also has a very smooth adjustable neck similar to the old one-piece iMacs. Really this is one of the best monitors I've ever had the pleasure of using, 3D or 2D, its really that good. The screen itself is highly glossy, which I consider a pro, it gives great colors. Other people might not like the gloss so its something to keep in mind. The 3D glasses themselves are comfortable and easy to use (passive polarized) and a clip-on set is also included if you wear glasses already. Overall an outstanding package, worth every penny.
In terms of gaming I've only tried a few compatible games but they worked great. On Windows Vista I played Bioshock and it was simply amazing. On a high-end rig in 3d this was not even the same game I played on Xbox360 last year. Really I was blown away by the graphics on Bioshock in stereo3d. Some other titles I tried didn't work as well, games like GRID worked but not as good as Bioshock. Nvidia could work on the compatibility a bit more. On XP I was playing Unreal Tournament 2004 and boy was it intense. The Trimon monitor took this game to another level, past even what I've seen with shutter-glasses. What I got was a ghost-free, flicker-free, full-color crstal clear stereo 3d image. Really, its the only way to play. It even blew the VR920 HMD headset out the water in this game. I will admit the VR920 was capable of a deeper image, meaning the rooms looked bigger, but that was the only advantage. Otherwise the Zalman Trimon was easier and more comfortable to play while offering a high-resolution a full refresh-rate among other technical benefits. Really, I can't got back to those other stereo solutions now, the Trimon really is worth the ticket price. Half-Life 2 Episode 1 was simply breath-taking once setup properly. It really took the game to new heights. Highly recommended. I also tried Crysis under Vista and it looked awesome but I'll need to wait for a new video card to come out before this game will be fully playable in stereo3d. The only downside was the spotty compatibility, read up on the supported games list before you buy. Otherwise I was very happy with the product. It also matched well with my existing 22" widescreen 2D monitor, so now I've got a dual monitor setup going, much to my liking. Overall I'm a happy camper.
I can safely recommend the Zalman Trimon to other experienced stereo3d gamers. If you have never gamed in 3d before, the Trimon might be a little complex to get working, but worth the effort. But a cheaper solution may be better for a newbie looking to get their feet wet. Overall a high-quality product and a great monitor for both 2D and 3D purposes. I've been gaming in stereo3d for many years so this is not a light recommendation. Zalman has earned its place in history, this monitor is a real gem.
The Zalman Trimon is hands down the best stereo 3d I've ever seen on a home platform. I have not tried the iz3d and don't wish to make this about comparing them. Both are comparable solutions and both have pros and cons. However I am very happy with my purchase of the Zalman Trimon monitor and do not regret my choice at all. The picture quality is totally crisp and crystal clear. In the right hot-spot there is practically zero ghosting (aka stereo cross-talk). If you move your head around the image begins to ghost but once you move to the right spot its not an issue. The Trimon also has a very smooth adjustable neck similar to the old one-piece iMacs. Really this is one of the best monitors I've ever had the pleasure of using, 3D or 2D, its really that good. The screen itself is highly glossy, which I consider a pro, it gives great colors. Other people might not like the gloss so its something to keep in mind. The 3D glasses themselves are comfortable and easy to use (passive polarized) and a clip-on set is also included if you wear glasses already. Overall an outstanding package, worth every penny.
In terms of gaming I've only tried a few compatible games but they worked great. On Windows Vista I played Bioshock and it was simply amazing. On a high-end rig in 3d this was not even the same game I played on Xbox360 last year. Really I was blown away by the graphics on Bioshock in stereo3d. Some other titles I tried didn't work as well, games like GRID worked but not as good as Bioshock. Nvidia could work on the compatibility a bit more. On XP I was playing Unreal Tournament 2004 and boy was it intense. The Trimon monitor took this game to another level, past even what I've seen with shutter-glasses. What I got was a ghost-free, flicker-free, full-color crstal clear stereo 3d image. Really, its the only way to play. It even blew the VR920 HMD headset out the water in this game. I will admit the VR920 was capable of a deeper image, meaning the rooms looked bigger, but that was the only advantage. Otherwise the Zalman Trimon was easier and more comfortable to play while offering a high-resolution a full refresh-rate among other technical benefits. Really, I can't got back to those other stereo solutions now, the Trimon really is worth the ticket price. Half-Life 2 Episode 1 was simply breath-taking once setup properly. It really took the game to new heights. Highly recommended. I also tried Crysis under Vista and it looked awesome but I'll need to wait for a new video card to come out before this game will be fully playable in stereo3d. The only downside was the spotty compatibility, read up on the supported games list before you buy. Otherwise I was very happy with the product. It also matched well with my existing 22" widescreen 2D monitor, so now I've got a dual monitor setup going, much to my liking. Overall I'm a happy camper.
I can safely recommend the Zalman Trimon to other experienced stereo3d gamers. If you have never gamed in 3d before, the Trimon might be a little complex to get working, but worth the effort. But a cheaper solution may be better for a newbie looking to get their feet wet. Overall a high-quality product and a great monitor for both 2D and 3D purposes. I've been gaming in stereo3d for many years so this is not a light recommendation. Zalman has earned its place in history, this monitor is a real gem.
Once 1.09 will become stable it will be the awesomest driver ever.