14 DAY TRIAL // The past weeks have seen the rise of a significant number of personal computers, components and display solutions, and Samsung is well aware of the ever present need to update its product lineup. As such, it resolved to take its own turn on the liquid crystal display market and unleash a new monitor of its own. The newcomer will be part of the Syncmaster line and goes by the name of Syncmaster 90 FX2490HD. On the outside, it may look quite similar to its predecessors, but the “Quad” stand design is hardly what gives it its air of uniqueness. What truly makes the device stand out is its ability to take on the role of not just a PC monitor, but also that of a TV.
As one may have already guessed, the display is equipped with a built-in TV tuner. This will allow its owner to plug TV cables into it and enjoy broadcasts just as easily as one would play files stored on a computer. The rest of the specifications are also nothing to be frowned upon, though this is hardly unexpected knowing the track record of the Syncmaster line.
One thing is that the monitor makes use of LED backlighting, which is much more power efficient than other solutions and contributes to the eco-friendliness of the product. The 24-inch panel also has a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels and a response time of 5ms. Furthermore, the contrast ratio is of 1,000;1 and the brightness 250 nits. There are, in addition to this, a few details that Akihabara News appears to have uncovered. The display apparently supports PiP and has a jack that allows for USB-stored media to be viewed directly. What's more, 7.1 channel Dolby Digital and DTS audio is supported.
For maximum intercommunication, in addition to the TV tuner, Samsung threw in a pair of HDMI inputs, as well as D-Sub connectivity and, a SCART connector. The United States and European countries should start receiving shipments sometime this month, and the price will be of roughly $540.