Samsung SyncMaster 204T
If you’re in the market for a sleek, stylish LCD, the Samsung SyncMaster 204T is certainly worth a look. This solid, all-around 20-inch display features both analog and digital inputs, as well as a height-adjustable stand that can also tilt, swivel, and pivot into portrait mode. The display comes in silver or black and features a slim-bezel design.
When I attached the display to our test Mac using a DVI connection, the 204T automatically started up in its full, native 1600-by-1200-pixel resolution. Like many LCDs, the 204T’s default color settings looked a little too blue and bright. (Manufacturers do this to make sure that their displays stand out from the crowd at your local retailer.) Luckily, it’s a cinch to adjust these settings via Samsung’s easy-to-navigate, on-screen controls.
After calibrating the display, colors looked vibrant and accurate. Even at small point sizes, text was easy to read, and I found no dead or stuck pixels during my testing. However, I did see a noticeable color shift when moving from left to right across the screen. This shouldn’t be a big concern, though, unless you regularly have groups of people gathered around your monitor.
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Though the picture looked a touch blue out of the box, just a bit of tweaking helped this display earn high marks on both color and text-quality tests. If you’re looking for a highly adjustable, mid-sized LCD, you should definitely consider the SyncMaster 204T.
jury tests
Viewing Angle | Good |
---|---|
Color Fidelity | Very Good |
Text Legibility | Very Good |
Scale = Excellent, Very Good, Good, Flawed, Unacceptable
SPECIFICATIONS
Size | 20-inch |
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Native Resolution | 1600-by-1200 |
Connections | DVI, Analog |
Viewing Angle | 178 degrees / 178 degrees |
Brightness | 300 CD/m2 |
Contrast Ratio | 700:1 |
Dimensions (height x depth x width in inches) | 18 x 9 x 17.5 |
Special Features | height-adjustable stand; ability to pivot to portrait mode |
Warranty | 3-year |
[ James Galbraith is Macworld ’s lab director. ]
Samsung SyncMaster 204T