The Korean electronics champ, Samsung, has made significant inroads into the world of LCD flat panel displays for both computer monitors and LCD TV screens in recent years. The Samsung SyncMaster brand is the LCD monitor line, offering 15 inch, 17 inch, 19 inch, and 21 inch flat panel computer monitors. One of the main benefits of these new LCD screens is their size - or lack thereof. You can now easily fit a computer monitor on even the smallest desk or countertop, needing only about 6 or 8 inches of horizontal depth. And gone is the back-breaking 60 pound deadlift you had to do to lift your computer screen - most LCD screens weigh in at 12-25 lbs.
The Samsung 173P Snycmaster monitor was pricey but offered a top quality image from a analog/digital TFT screen. The 17 inch screen is packed into a silver matte bezel measuring 15 x 15.8 x 9.3 inches and wieghing in at just over 13 pounds. The Syncmaster line sits on a base that can raise and lower about 3 inches, and pivot left or right. Some even come with a rotating connector that allows you to turn the screen from a horizontal to a vertical orientation (you need special software running to recognize this and redraw your computer screen accordingly - otherwise you are reading sidewise text!). Most LCD screens also come with a VESA compatible wall or arm mounting bracket if you design you do not want a desktop placement.
Best LCD Flat Panel Screens - SyncMaster
The Samsung 910T is their black 19 inch LCD monitor. With bottom connectors for both standard and digital video out, cables and cords are kept discreetly out of sight. Samsung also makes a full line of multi-function displays which can operate both as computer moniters and TV display units. Basically, these units are like normal computer LCD monitors except they also come with built-in speaker and a TV tuner, and more input and output connections for audio and video signals. The 940MW is the 19inch model, while the 241MP is the 24" LCD monitor. There is also a 510MP at 15" and a 710MP at 17". Prices have fallen substantially on LCD monitors in the last few years. A 17 inch LCD screen can be had for just $350 these days, while a 15 inch screen goes for $250 or less - a great price when one remembers the big, bulky CRT monitors from a decade ago that would set you back almost $1000 for a 17" screen.
Best Samsung Digital LCD Monitors Screens
The digital line of LCD monitors from Samsung includes:
Syncmaster™ 214T - Silver/Black (21 inch)
SyncMaster™ 244T-Silver (24 inch LCD monitor)
SyncMaster 940B-Silver (19" Digital/Analog)
SyncMaster 940T-Black (19" Digital/Analog)
SyncMaster 740B (17" Digital/Analog)
SyncMaster 930BF-Black (19" Digital/Analog)
SyncMaster 940B-Black (19" Digital/Analog)
730B 17" Digital/Analog LCD Monitor
SyncMaster™ 204T-Silver (20.1 inch monitor)
SyncMasterTM 243T-Black (24 inch monitor)
SyncMaster™ 400P-Black (40" monitor)
Now believe me, you haven't lived until you have worked on a 40 inch monitor! In fact, that size is really meant as more of a boardroom display unit - not for desktop users. The specs are impressive though: the SyncMaster 400P is "a 40 inch analog/digital LCD display that offers a 800:1 contrast ratio, 1366 x 768 resolution, pixel pitch of 0.650mm H/V, a 170°/170° viewing angle, scanning frequency of 30-70kHz horizontal and 50-85 vertical, and dual inputs to accommodate either an analog or digital signal". It's quite a showpiece.
Buying the best LCD monitor display online
Before buying an LCD monitor, we recommend you visit a retail store like Best Buy or Circuit City first and look at some side by side examples. Keep in mind you will be staring at this screen for thousands of hours - spend at least 20 minutes looking at them up close in person before buying. Gone is the refresh rate (flicker) of the old CRT monitors - LCD screens are constantly lit and not scanned by an electron gun every second, so eye strain is considerably less. Find the picture that YOU like best - and don't just look at fancy screen savers and photo slideshows - look at webpages, spreadsheets, Word documents - the stuff you will be using everyday. Then choose the monitor that looks best to you and is comfortable for YOUR eyes.
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