Play with me on my desktop!
Written: Feb 15 '04 (Updated Feb 15 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: I have a desktop again!
Cons: Monitor stand doesn't swivel well.
The Bottom Line: Great buy for someone wanting to free up their desktop.
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| kimmyjj's Full Review: Samsung SyncMaster 191 T 19 in. Flat Panel LCD Mon... |
Early last year, our hospital switched over to 15" flat panel monitors for everyone. I discovered then, how nice it was to actually have a desktop! At home I had a 17" monitor, which was huge and bulky and practically sat in my lap. On an impulse buy, I splurged and purchased the Samsung SyncMaster 191T monitor at Best Buy.
The Purchase
So many choices! There were many to choose from, but from those on display, and from the advice of my brother, I purchased the Samsung SyncMaster 191T. I could hardly believe that it was me that lifted the box containing the 19" flat screen from the shelf. I had to have my brother drag off my old 17" desktop model. I could lift it myself, but carrying it to the other room and not dropping it on my toe was a serious issue. The monitor was $699 with a $100 mail in rebate.
Set Up
The set up was easy. The power cord plugged into the wall, the other cord to the back of my PC. Some software came along with it so I was sure to load it on my PC, however it seemed to work fine without it (or maybe my PC had drivers already!). There was a small manual that came with the monitor. I did not use it since there were only two cords to connect and I was able to get things up and running on my own. The plug ins on the monitor are located between the stand and the actual screen, which I would have preferred them to be somewhere behind the stand, so you wouldn't have to see the wires hanging down. They are black like the rest of the monitor though, and the wires blend well.
Features
I am not a technology savvy chick. I do not work with computers. If you're searching for real down and dirty specs on this monitor, this may not be the review for you. If you are wanting information on how an "average jane" likes the monitor and it's performance, you're in the right place. I purchased this monitor for a it's dark outer frame and it's sharp, clear picture.
There are 6 buttons on the face of the monitor. Auto allows for an auto adjustment of all the settings. I like this one, because I hate to fiddle with all those options.
There is an exit button that will take you out of the settings mode. There is a - and a + button to adjust the levels, along with a menu button and a power button.
The menu button allows for adjustment of brightness, contrast, image lock (fine or coarse), position (horizontal and vertical), geometry and color reset, color temperature (options of reddish, bluish, or user adjusted), image size (normal, expanded 1 and expanded 2), Language (your choice of English, Dutch, Spanish, French, Italian and Swedish), halftone, menu position, menu display time (in seconds) and display mode. Phew! I've always used the auto adjust, and the picture looks great to me. I've never had a problem with poor image quality and the screen blinks on within 3-5 seconds of hitting the power switch.
The only complaint I have is that the stand is hard to adjust. You cannot easily swivel the monitor. I worry that I'm going to break it each time I try to lower or raise the angle of the screen. So basically, I stopped attempting to adjust it. It has saved me so much desktop space though, I can't help but love this monitor.
Overall
This monitor provides sharp clear image quality. It comes with software to pivot your screen. A friend of mine uses his and says it works great. I mainly use my PC for internet surfing and Microsoft Office software and playing a few computer games. For me, it has worked fine for these purposes. If you are looking for a good monitor that works great, is simple to use, and easy enough for a woman to connect, this is a great buy for you!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 599
Operating System: Windows
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Epinions.com ID:
kimmyjj
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Location: Missouri, USA
Reviews written: 61
Trusted by: 64 members
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