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Philips uses packaging which outlines the monitor's key features such as the LED backlight, wide viewing angle and ultra slim design. Adjacent to an eye-catching main image, the monitor's ultra slim 12.5mm thickness is highlighted.
The Blade 2 monitor's healthy bundle consists of a quick start guide, HDMI cable, 1.5m VGA cable, kettle-style power lead and the power brick. Philips uses this external power brick to make it possible for the display to reach its slender 12.5mm depth.
Philips has created an exceptionally attractive monitor in the Blade 2. Inwards-slanting bezel edges and a petite stand help reinforce the intentional compactness of this monitor's design.
An ultra-reflective glossy finish to the Blade 2's 17mm-wide bezel creates a sleek and modern appearance. Fingerprint-resistance is an excellent characteristic of the plastic material – one that you simply can't put a price on.
Multi-monitor configurations are certainly a possibility with the Blade 2 monitor, but users pondering over the idea of a 3 screen EyeFinity set-up may be displeased by the broad 17mm surrounding bezel.
Reflectiveness is also a property of the Blade 2 monitor's rear panel. Once again, thanks to the sensibly-chosen material, even the most blatant fingerprint marks are easily suppressed.
Towards the middle of the panel's rear side, around 10cm above the bottom edge, lies a sturdiness-enhancing bar. A slim, tilt-adjustable arm feeds directly into the bar which spans the entirety of Philips' monitor's back panel. This allows the screen's measly 2.33KG weight to be evenly distributed, therefore enhancing the monitor's balance and rigidity when being tilted.
5 touch buttons, 4 of which double up as both selection and menu controls, are located on the front edge of the Blade 2's mirror-like base.
Even the highly-reflective material used to create a mirror-finish gives fingerprint-concealment an admirable effort. Unfortunately, with frequent button-pressing actions, the success isn't quite as praiseworthy as that of its bezel counterpart's.
A VGA and the primary HDMI ports reside on the base's rear side along with the power input. Sadly there is no DVI port.
Positioning the main inputs in this location has the benefit of making them more easily-accessible when the monitor is in use – the screen doesn't have to be held securely when connecting or tightening a cable. A negative point comes from the fact that extra space for protruding cables is required on your desk, behind the monitor's base. This design also makes wall-mounting via the VESA system impossible.
Located on the base's right side is the secondary HDMI input as well as a 3.5mm jack variant of the HDMI audio output.
A Kensington lock connector is the sole occupier of the stand's left flank.
AMVA LED and Brilliance 249CQH logos occupy the upper- right and left edges of the screen's front bezel.
Closer inspection does, finally, uncover some fingerprint marks. The reality of this fact is that very few users will be examining the bezel from 2 inches away on a daily basis.
