Many Canadian computer users are looking for devices that fit a double bill – productivity workhorse and downtime entertainment unit.
This is especially so today, with telecommuting becoming increasingly popular, and the progressive growth of home-based and small and medium sized businesses (SMBs).
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For such users, Samsung’s 23-inch SyncMaster P2370 may be an attractive option.
SyncMaster P2370 is an attractively packaged low-cost and energy saving alternative.
At the risk of giving away the game right at the start let me immediately list what I liked and didn’t like about this super-sized monitor from Samsung.
Good:
- Beautifully designed
- Offers good overall performance with full HD resolution
- Wide screen ideal for multi-tasking
- Very light and easy to set-up
- Low price
Bad:
- Has only DVI connection
- Slightly washed out colours during movie-viewing
- Monitor is a bit wobbly because of its size and light weight
Easy on the eyes light on the wallet
The P2370 is definitely a beautifully designed display.
You would expect to see those sleek flowing lines, clear semi-transparent crystal-like plastic body and elegantly slanting stem on a champagne glass rather than a desktop monitor.
The bluish transparent bottom also reflects light and creates subtle variations in the colour of the unit.
Instead of the usual switches or power buttons, the P2370 uses a hidden onscreen display array. By simply pressing your finger to the bottom right hand corner of the screen edge, you bring up a row of glowing control buttons.
The array consists of a Menu button and the usual contrast, brightness and sharpness controls.
Users can set colour tone to Cool, Normal, Warm or Custom, and you have the option of setting the red, green, and blue attributes individually.
Users can also take advantage of seven preset modes: Custom, Text, Internet, Game, Sport, Movie and Dynamic Contrast.
Despite its size and dimensions – a screen area of 571 mm x 423 mm – the P2370 weighs a mere 4.1 kg (less than 10 lbs).
The monitor is also relatively light on the wallet. Canadian prices for the SyncMaster 2370 start at around $259.
Hybrid display
The Samsung SyncMaster P2370’s 23-inch screen sports a 16:9 aspect ratio and offers a “Full HD” 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution.
As images and other content on the screen appear clear and bright, the monitor is great for working on documents and surfing Web sites for extended periods of time.
Even with strong sunlight streaming into my work area, the glare was minimal. Its ample real estate makes the P2370 ideal for spreadsheet or split screen work.
Users avoid the hassle of minimizing or closing windows as the screen can accommodate multiple windows.
This monitor will be a boon for home-based or small business owners who need to multi-task or switch from one application to another frequently.
If multi-tasking happens to include watching videos on the side, the P2370 is up to that as well.
In keeping with an industry trend for monitors, the SyncMaster offers higher image definition capabilities intended to eliminate image distortion when watching movies.
The monitor’s colour rendition, however, did not hit the mark at times.
When watching movies I sometimes found facial colours a bit washed out. In some instances deep blacks did not appear as dark as they should be.
The Dynamic Contrast preset setting worked best for movie watching. This setting made blacks and darker colours more full.
Samsung claims their new Energy Star-rated monitor consumes only 30 watts of power — 33 per cent less power than other models.
An auto shut off feature automatically turns the monitor off when inactive for a long time. Power consumption savings, the Samsung site are “equal to planting four new trees per year.”
The company says many of the monitor’s parts can be recycled.
Minor flaws
The SyncMaster 2370 is best used as double duty work and entertainment monitor rather than a full-time movie screen.
Vanish any thoughts of hooking up the monitor to a standalone Blu-ray player. Perhaps to keep the cost down and the monitor as thin as possible, the 2370 only comes with a single DVI-D connection. It does not have a HDMI or even a VGA connector.
The monitor’s extreme lightness also comes with a penalty. As mentioned earlier, despite its ample base, the P2370 can be a bit unstable.
Tough luck if the gorgeous monitor topples over when accidentally brushed by wayward folder or elbow.