3D monitors are still a rarity in the world of PC gaming, even though as of October 2011 over 500,000 pairs of Nvidia’s 3D Vision glasses have been sold, and with each at least one 3D display. Though the likes of Viewsonic, Acer, ASUS and Dell have all taken their go at it – some more successfully than others – this third wave of high-end 3D gaming monitors is looking very well. We’ll have a full review of ASUS’ latest display soon after CES, but at the show BenQ revealed not one, but two 3D-ready displays.

To say that they are two different monitors is almost a lie. The two are identical in all ways but one: the XL2420TX and XL2420T share all of the same specs but one: the TX model has 3D Vision built directly into the display. Both have the same 2ms grey-to-grey response time, the same 120Hz refresh rate, the same 24″ displays, the same specs entirely except for built-in Vision. If you’re confused, I was too, until I looked at the price: the TX model, with Vision, will retail for $500, while the non-Vision model currently retails for $400.

Now that may seem like a big difference for a display, but having tested and used Nvidia’s 3D Vision glasses for possibly longer than anyone outside of the company, I can state as a fact that using 3D Vision with an external IR reader to work with the glasses is a hassle. It’s far more convenient to have it built directly into the monitor for two reasons: first, the IR transmitter is near eye-level (and can be adjusted to point higher or lower), and second, because it doesn’t take up an extra USB port and contribute to your current table clutter.

Of course, anyone who already owns a 3D Vision set with the external IR transmitter can save some money for themselves and buy the display without the built in emitter. The only loss is convenience, though the BenQ representative told me that their current customers in Europe, who have had both displays available, requested a display without 3D Vision built in. And that both models have sold well.

Convenience is a surprisingly important factor, one I always say is perhaps the most important piece to the product puzzle, because it gets right into the users feelings on said product. They create an emotional attachment because hey, it feels like the phone or computer monitor was made with them in mind. The same holds true with the XL2420T models, both of which come with two (yes, everything comes in pairs) unique features available solely for the purpose of convenience. First is a glasses holder attached to the back of the display, as you can see in the image above.

Second is a mouse-like controller that magnetically attaches to the base of the display, on either side, and can be pre-programmed with three different display settings. Three numbered buttons can automatically change the display settings. It may seem silly, especially since the buttons on both XL2420T models are all touch sensitive, similar to the Dell Alienware OptX display, but even with very fluid controls and an intuitive and simply menu system having the ability to automatically change the display settings is huge. Most gaming displays today have a dedicated button to scroll through presets, which are generally defaults made by the manufacturer (and usually prior to someone actively calibrating the display altogether), but even that’s not as convenient as you can get. The button to do so is still attached to the display wherever the buttons are located. With the XL2420T, those preset buttons can be literally wherever you want. They can be magnetically attached to the base on the left or right side, or above your keyboard, by the mouse, or wherever the hell the cable will reach.

Simply put, it’s ingenious. I know for myself that I always change the presets on my display. I have a preset for standard computing (ie typing up articles like this), watching video, playing games, and for editing pictures. Being able to swap between even three of these presets at anytime with a simple extendable control that can at anytime be docked is…it solves a longtime problem that most people didn’t even know existed.

I’ll need some more face time with the XL2420T and XL2420TX to know how good they actually are and the video quality reproduction, but there was one impressive note I made during my hands-on. For 3D gameplay, the image doesn’t move. That means that if you weave and bob your head, in any way, the image won’t move with you. This typically happens on 3D displays (and most people see something similar occur when watching 3D movies), and it’s annoying. I walked around with my 3D glasses on and didn’t see any change, even at weird and extreme angles. I’ll need to test it more in the field, but thus far I haven’t found anywhere that the image moves with the glasses.

The XL2420T is currently available now in the US, for purchase directly from BenQ and some retailers, for $399. The XL2420TX will be available shortly in the US for $499, and is available for pre-order now from BenQ directly.

Projectors aren’t typically impressive to most of us, though that’s due to their high price and, well, our perception of classroom projectors. Those clunky things really are a thing of the past (unless you’re still in school), because today you can just plug your iPhone in and stream movies directly through the projector, no hassle. At CES, BenQ revealed the Joybee GP2 Mini Projector, which not only provides video out for your iPhone, but for any device you can think of. Or, even with nothing plugged in at all.

The Joybee GP2 is is a big step up from the GP1, which acted as an any-device projector utilizing a USB port and iOS 30-pin connector. It wasn’t really an any-device projector unless you had the right cable and had the device on and streaming, which for a projector may sound OK but will kill the battery life of cameras, laptops, and anything else with undue haste. So the GP2 makes one basic change that completely changes the way the projector handles media: it has more ports, including an SD-card slot reader, HDMI, standard USB and a USB-mini port. And, of course, the iPod dock on the top of the GP2.

These extra ports improve on the original not just by making it more accessible, but by releasing many external devices from handling data as intensly as on the GP1. Any computer with work with the GP2, either through HDMI or USB (though as we’ve seen in the past with USB-powered media streaming modules, USB isn’t suited for high-resolution video without a high-performance processor). Devices that use SD cards can remain powered off, and users need only swap the card into the projector. Devices without SD cards can also be plugged directly in using the USB port. If that means your phone, then you don’t have to worry about power, because it’ll charge the phone and stream the data to the projector.

The GP2 is very light and very easy on the eyes. The glossy top has a simple control scheme, and it’s small and weighs just 565g. When we get one in for review, it’s the sort of device I’d take with me on trips to watch TV shows or movies I normally store on my phone, instead of holding the relatively tiny display close to my face.

While the GP2 supports 720p video and recommends 44″ between the projector and a screen or wall, BenQ representatives told me that it’ll hold a solid image up to 160″ (the image can be up to 160″ diagonally). Even at 44″, that’s huge compared to a smartphone screen. BenQ promises 30,000 hours for a single bulb at regular brightness settings, which is about 3.5 years of continuous use.

The GP2 also has 4W speakers, which while minimalist are more powerful than today’s mobile devices. Everything can be controlled either through the dial control on the top of the GP2 or with an included remote. I was impressed with the picture quality on two videos that were playing back in BenQ’s suite at the show, Burn Notice and Moneyball. I’ll need to play with a unit more before I can verify the screen quality, especially indifferent lighting conditions, but from a preliminary look I was satisfied with the video quality.

The BenQ Joybee GP2 Mini-Projector is out now, and can be purchased today for $549 from Amazon, though I’ve already found some lower prices down around $470. It may seem pricey, but for a 720p home projector that can be used for just about any purpose, including business, office, home video, or even travel, the GP2 looks like the kind of projector we should see in classrooms today.

Buy.com via eBay is offering a super low price on this BenQ G2222HDL 22-inch LCD Monitor!

Here’s your chance to either upgrade displays or even start up a dual-monitor system. And don’t be fooled by the impressive low price on this monitor, it certainly packs a big punch. That is thanks to the full 1080p High Definition resolution that it provides which not only gives you super high quality picture but also plenty of room for some intense multitasking. It also has a huge 50,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio for some deep color quality along with a quick 5ms response time which eliminates motion blur and ghosting with ease. It also has inputs for VGA and DVI-D at the same time.

This large display comes at a super low cost of only $112.99 and includes free shipping!

Benq’s newest camcorder comes with a pico projector built in, and a 5 megapixel CMOS sensor that, at 1/3.2 inch, has been the middle-of-the road consumer standard for years.

Nevertheless, off the small sensor come 1080p videos. And to go even a little further down the consumer road of compromise, there are no actual individual settings for shutter speed and apertures and the like, but rather 10 shooting modes to cover most of the situations a user might encounter.

The DV S11, which is what Benq named this gadget, looks more like a photo camera than a camcorder. In truth, it’s both, as it’s meant to capture all sorts of media for display through its internal pico projector.

A projection size of 50 inch can be reached, but keep in mind, that will require at least a reasonably dark room for any kind of easy viewing. Other ways of getting video off the device are HDMI and AV ports, and SD/SDHC cards.

Sales are currently restricted to Hong Kong, and the cost hovers around the $300 mark.

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BenQ has jumped on board the ‘all-in-one‘ PC bandwagon.  At the core of the nStation i91 is a 16:9, 18.5-inch LCD.  Embedded in the lower right corner is a volume knob, which doubles as a power switch – reminds me of the TVs from the 80s.   Under its hood is an AMD Sempron 210U processor, 1GB of RAM and 160GB hard drive, while a webcam and media card reader are present.  Expect additional details for BenQ’s nStation to leak out sometime soon, but in the mean time we’ll leave you with the prospect of a larger version: the 21.5-inch i221.

[Reghardware]

Features:

• 1920×1080 resolution
• 5ms response time, 300 cd/m2 brightness, 1000:1 contrast ratio
• HDMI and DVI inputs

Features:

• 1920×1080 resolution with a 5ms response time
• 300 cd/m2 brightness, 1000:1 contrast ratio and HDMI and DVI inputs

Don’t forget Newegg’s newsletters subscriber coupon (sign up is easy): EMCBCAEAC (expires: unknown)

Features:

• 800 x 600 resolution
• HMDI input, built-in speaker, 2200 ANSI and 2500:1 contrast ratio

What is it: A touchscreen mobile Internet device

Features: 4.8-inch touchscreen (800×480), 800Mhz Intel Atom processor, 3G and quad band connectivity, includes stylus, three axial G-sensor for scrolling through web pages and landscape mode, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, multiple video and audio support.

Availability: Italy currently with the possibility of US.  Official product page here

Price: $580

User guide video after the ‘leap’

[Electronista]

Features:

• 1680×1050 resolution with a 5ms response time
• 300 cd/m2 brightness + 1000:1 contrast ratio
• DVI and VGA inputs

Buy it: BenQ FP202W V3 20-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor – $169

Features:

• 1680×1050 resolution with a 5ms response time
• 1000:1 contrast ratio
• DVI and D-Sub outputs

Buy it: BenQ G2000w 20-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor – $170

Don’t forget Newegg $20 coupon: LCD72820

Features:

• 1920×1200 resolution at 5ms response time
• 4000:1 contrast ratio
• HDMI input, DVI and D-sub

Buy it: BenQ G2400WD Black 24-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor – $350