The SyncMaster 242mp has a sticker price that may make your jaw drop and your heart stop, but the fact that this Samsung computer display can double as an LCD TV may ease the pain a bit. It also offers a sleek, stylish design and plenty of features, including a built-in FM radio tuner.

Of course, the most important aspect of a display is image quality, and in this regard the 242mp is no slouch. Images are bright and clear, with crisp detail, sharp text even at small font sizes, good tonal range in grayscale and color images, and vivid, true-to-life color.

Set-up is easy, and the package includes everything you need. Despite its size, the 242mp is relatively lightweight (just under 20 pounds), although it does demand a healthy share of desktop space. Video input options include VGA analog, DVI digital, S-video, composite, and component. The display doesn't include any USB ports, so you won't be able to use it as a USB hub.

The 242mp has a 24-inch viewing area, with a native resolution of 1,900X1,200. Horizontal and vertical viewing angles of 178 degrees help reduce blurring and distortion when viewing the display off-axis, which is a plus if friends or family members gather around the screen. The 16-millisecond pixel response time is excellent for a display of this size, virtually eliminating blurring and ghosting when viewing video or playing games.

The integrated TV tuner includes an antenna connection, so you can connect it to your cable TV or satellite service. The 242mp is also HD-ready, but you will need a separate HD receiver to enable high-definition viewing. Video quality doesn't match that of a dedicated HDTV, but it's more than satisfactory for a dual-purpose display.

Seven buttons along the bottom-right of the front panel provide access to all controls, including volume up/down, onscreen menus, signal source, and the tuning of FM radio stations. There are no height adjustment or swivel options, and, not surprisingly for a display of this size, no option to switch between landscape and portrait modes.

The 242mp package includes a remote control, two detachable speakers, a VGA cable, a DVI cable, an antenna cable, an audio cable, a user manual, and a CD with drivers.

Pro: Above-average image quality. Multiple input options. Integrated TV and FM tuners.
Con: No USB ports. No height adjustment or swivel options.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Samsung Electronics USA
105 Challenger Road
Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660
201-229-4000
http://www.samsung.com

Warranty
3 years