Samsung SyncMaster 213T: The Glass Ceiling for Enthusiast LCD
by Kristopher Kubicki on February 20, 2004 4:24 AM EST- Posted in
- Displays
On Screen Display
Samsung has always been a cut above with their interfacing abilities. Obviously, there is a substantial IO cross over between the other markets Samsung participates (TV, Cell Phone, PDA, etc). Check out some of our other reviews for examples of Samsung's ingenuity with OSDs.
Click to enlarge.
Across the bottom of the display we find five input buttons. This is the same layout of our Samsung 192T from last year, but Samsung changed the button design slightly. The menu scheme is fairly intuitive; it is basically the same as every other Samsung menu. Once inside the menu, we are presented with just a few basic items. Unlike the 2001FP or other high end Samsung LCDs we have seen in the past, there are no PIP, MagicBright or split screen effects.
Click to enlarge.
Click to enlarge.
Samsung includes one interesting image mask which allows you to change the sharpness on the screen. We actually ended up using this function from time to time, particularly when reading and writing. Using the "Soften" mask for text was much gentler on our eyes. However, graphics and imaging would definitely require the default "Medium" or "Sharpen" mask. Below you can see the three levels of sharpness with Soften on the top.
Click to enlarge.
One thing to note is that the DVI interface disables virtually all of the fine controls on the monitor. Brightness is still accessible, but Auto Sync, contrast, positioning and color correction are disabled. This forces software calibration of the LCD. Samsung includes software with the monitor that allows you to do this.
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araczynski - Friday, February 20, 2004 - link
so the bottom line is that for the serious gamer there's still no reason to get an LCD.PrinceGaz - Friday, February 20, 2004 - link
Do you have any CRT monitor reviews coming up or only LCD ones?damage75 - Friday, August 5, 2011 - link
I have been running two 213T monitors continuously for 7 years. Both displays, including the CCFL's are working perfectly. Zero dead or stuck pixels. If there is a diminished brightness, which there has to be, it is not causally visible.I think I am tempting fate by posting this ;-)
The only negative items are these:
1) I bought them when very first available - $1600.00 each.
2) After about 5 years one monitor became unable to hold it's weight. It would slump. Even after disassembly and reassembly it would not hold it's position. This "can" be corrected, but frankly at this point I can live with it.
In 2004 I blew away my colleagues with two amazing 21.3" PVA monitors (powered by a 9800XT). Here we are in 2011 and they are still running perfectly. I know I am "lucky", but it is worthwhile to post that they are still in use and still excellent monitors. I would like to thank Anand and Samsung for this outstanding purchase. Even at that very high cost, they have amortized themselves into nearly free service. The points made by Anand are true - slow response and the black level is not optimum. That has not affected my pleasure/perforamnce with using them.