Samsung SyncMaster 940MW 19 inch LCD Monitor

I got this lcd to replace my 17" CRT monitor on my custom built gaming computer.

I really liked the specs on the unit, especially that it was widescreen, 19", 8ms response time, 700:1 contrast, and that it has dvi input(with hdcp).

SPECIFICATIONS:

a-si TFT/TN Panel
19" Wide (16:10)
Pixel Pitch(mm)0.294
Brightness (cd/mA?)300 cd/m2
Contrast Ratio 700:1
Viewing Angle 160?/160?
Interface Analog/ Digital
Response Time (ms)8
Horiz. Frequency 30~81
Vertical Frequency 56~75
Maximum Resolution 1440x900
Color Maximum 16.7M
Input Video Signal Analog RGB,
DVI Digital link : TMDS
Composite S-video
Component, TV(antenna/cable),
SCART
Input Connectors 15pin D-sub,DVI-D,
CVBS, S-Video, SCART
Component RF
VESA 100mm x 100mm
Emissions Standard TCO' 99
Power On Mode 55 Watts (Max.)
DPMS Mode less than 2 Watts
EnergyStar / NUTEK
Multimedia Speakers 3W x 2CH
OSD-Digital Display Director™
Cabinet Color Silver
Other included accessories
Power Cord, Audio Cable,
Remote Control, Connector
Mac Compatibility
Dimensions
Set(W*H*D)mm(with stand)
466 x 406 x 216
Set(W*H*D) mm(without stand)
466 x 371 x 66
Packing(W*H*D)mm
532 x 553 x 165
Weight (kg)6.2
Packing (kg)8
Special Features
HDTV Ready
MagicTuner (Support W/W TV System)
Virtual Dolby, BBE
Composite S-Video
Componenet TV(RF), SCART
PIP/PBP (PC mode only)
Foldable Stand

MY THOUGHTS:

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:

I really like this LCD. Colors seem vivid, and motion is pretty good, not quite like a crt, but not a problem to me. I find the unit to be very bright, it needs toned down a little from max brightness. I really like the widescreen aspect ratio. I don't think I'd want to go back to using a 4:3 ratio any more, the extra width is very nice. I also like that the power supply is built into the unit, so the cord is more manageable.

SIZE:

The viewable screen seems much larger than my 17" crt, I guess because the crt was actually ~16" actual viewable space where the lcd has a full 19" diagonal screen. It also takes much less desk space than my crt. I think the size is just right for both pc and tv usage, as long as you are using the tv from a short distance.

TV USAGE:

I like having a tv tuner built in, so I can use PIP to watch tv while I'm on the computer. Regular tv looks comparable to our "normal" tv if viewed from a similar distance (looking closely, as you would with a monitor it can look a little grainy, but standard def tv looks grainy at 2' away as well). The speakers sound very good for being small integrated ones. The speakers have plenty of volume for my use.

DVD USAGE:

I connected the lcd to a dvd player over a svideo connection and thought the picture looked good. The movie did still have bars on the top though, since the screens aspect didn't match the movie's ratio, but this hasn't been an issue to me. I can imagine that using a hd-dvd or blu-ray player would make a very nice picture on this lcd, since it's high def.

PC USAGE:

I find that the monitor works great for gaming as well as internet/word processing use. I notice "tearing" more on this lcd in games than I did with my crt, I think it might just be the higher resolution makes it more apparant though. The picture is clear and vivid. I didn't notice much difference between vga and dvi signals however, but I couldn't really do a side-by-side to do an accurate comparison, since I only have one of these monitors.

REMOTE:

I like the included remote, it has a good layout, and is easy to use. I had no issue with distance in using the remote, it works fine even at ~17' away(as far as I can get from it).

HDCP:

I like that the samsung 940mw supports hdcp, so if I'd connect it to a dvd player with hdmi(through a dvi-d to hdmi adapter) the signal would still be supported. Also, I've heard that the next version of Windows, Vista, will require a hdcp compatible monitor to display high definition content.

CONCLUSION:

I really like the lcd and would recommend it. It would be perfect in a bedroom, kitchen, or other area where a small tv and pc co-exist.