Samsung Quality, Exceptional Performance, and Value! The Perfect Combination!
Written: Jun 30 '07
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Pros: Contrast of 2000:1 with a 2ms Response Time! 3yr warranty! Affordable!
Cons: Too short, and needs an auto-adjust now and then.
The Bottom Line: An excellent monitor with steller performance and visual appeal. Combines the quality of Samsung with good looks and affordability! Buy it!
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| thetool721's Full Review: Samsung 906BW 19 inch LCD Monitor |
During my latest PC upgrade (its been a while), I chose to pick up a new display (two actually). My old 19 CRT was pretty bulky and I wanted to reclaim some of the desktop space I lost years ago!
The Monitor
The Samsung SyncMaster 906BW is a 19 TFT LCD Widescreen monitor. The high points of the specifications for this monitor are listed below for your reference:
- 0.285mm Pixel Pitch
- 300 cd/m2 Brightness
- 2000:1 Contrast Ratio
- 2ms Response Time
- Maximum Resolution of 1440x900
- Supports 16.7 million colors (24-bit Color Depth)
- 42 Watts Power Consumption While On (1 Watt in standby)
- 3 year manufacturers warranty.
Why I Chose the 906BW
While searching a few of my favorite e-tailers, I had narrowed my selection down to 3 separate units (all from Samsung BTW). After comparing them for what seemed like an eternity, I finally landed my sights on the Samsung SyncMaster 906BW. Since monitors today are so similar in specifications, its really difficult to choose a clear leader of the pack!
In my case, the factors that stood out the most were the Contrast Ratio and Response Time. The other monitors I looked at had half the contrast ratio, and twice (or more) the response time. For these two reasons alone, I chose to go with the Samsung.
Of course, these simple decisions were made after selecting Samsung (Ive always enjoyed their products), a screen size of 19 (above 19 and it gets pricey), and other considerations.
Assembly and First Impressions
After a few minutes of unpacking and unwrapping, it was off to assembly. Assembling the monitor was a real piece of cake. All you had to do was install and tighten the base to the rest of the unit, no tools required! Just flip back the metal tab and give it a few twists!
Once assembled, I sat in awe staring at my new screens. They feature a sleek black casing with a touch of silver trim across the bottom. When turned on, the power button has a hint of blue backlight behind the button. These things look great!
Installation and Setup
The actual process of installing/configuring the monitor is fairly simple. Simply connect the cable to your PC and boot the machine. Windows will detect the monitor, prompt you to install the device, and away you go. You can then access the display properties on your machine and set the appropriate display resolution.
When cabling the monitor, you have two choices; DVI or VGA. For those of you with DVI connections on your PC, this is most definitely the way to go (though youll have to provide your own Dual Link DVI cable). For everyone else, the monitor also supports a standard VGA connection, and this time the cables are provided!
In my case, I chose to go the VGA route due to the lack of available DVI cables. Once I get around to ordering some DVI cables, Ill definitely be switching over myself!
Ok, youve had them for a while. How do you like them?
I love em! These monitors have been able to keep up with everything Ive thrown at them. Whether its video games, word processing, DVD/Video, etc they have no problem keeping up.
I spent a great deal of time inspecting both screens, and have yet to find a single pixel out. With manufacturers allowing many pixels to be out before replacement, these screens are flawless. This speaks a great deal to Samsungs commitment to quality.
It has taken some time to get accustomed to the desktop though. Having a desktop two 19 widescreens wide is a bit odd (i.e. short and wide), but Im getting used to it. With both screens running at the max resolution of 1440x900, there is tons of desktop space available!
Power
Is an LCD really better?
Another big factor to consider here is POWER. Many CRT monitors out there consume 100W or more when running. If you use your computer a great deal, or leave the monitor running constantly this can add up over time.
LCD monitors usually consume much less power than their CRT equivalents. Take my case
The CRT I replaced consumed 100W of power while running. The TWO 906W LCD monitors on my desk right now consume 40W each for a total of 80W! When my monitors go into standby, that total consumption drops down to 2W (1W each monitor)!
Lets be truthful, whats the catch?
Ok, so Ive done nothing but talk up this monitor. There has to be something that needs improvement right? Sure!
My first gripe would be the monitor pedestal. The monitor is short, which leaves most users looking down toward the monitor. As you might guess, this doesnt help the neck or back muscles after a full day of computing. There is no adjustability here, so you get what you get and thats it. With that said, this is nothing a $20 monitor stand from your local office supply store cant fix (and they offer some under monitor storage too)!
The second grip would be screen adjustments. Ive noticed that every few days I have to tap the auto adjust button to realign my screens. Its not that far off, but just enough to clip an edge or two of the screen. I havent really pin-pointed when the screen drifts, but it happens every now and them. I do have a few games that change the screen resolution at times, so they might be the culprit. Either way, a quick tap of the auto-adjust button and its all back on track.
In Conclusion
In the end, a monitor is what you make it. Check out some monitors at your local shop, and let them sell you on features. You never know what you might learn! Id definitely recommend this monitor if youre looking for something in this range (though be prepared to drop $20 on a stand). I know I love mine!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 209.99 Operating System: Windows
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Epinions.com ID: thetool721
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Member: Joseph Hobbs
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Reviews written: 25
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me: An IT junkie...
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