High-definition monitor ready for future

Syncmaster 940BW 19-inch LCD monitor

Those who like to sit on the leading edge of technology will be happy with the SyncMaster - it has a fancy feature that won't be of use for at least six months.

The 19-inch monitor from Korean liquid crystal display (LCD) maker Samsung supports a standard that's going to play a big role in the high definition world - high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP).

Before you groan and switch off at the mention of copy protection, HDCP isn't a restrictive technology, it protects content from being intercepted and pirated as it is being transferred over a high-definition connection.

But as the standard is introduced into new high-definition DVD and Blu Ray players and computer disc drives, monitors and flat-screen TV sets are going to have to be HDCP-capable to ensure hi-def content is displayed at its full quality.

The SyncMaster has that base covered before hi-def players even hit the market here. With a DVI port and maximum 1440 by 900 resolution, it's ready to receive content. Unfortunately, a few free samples playable through Windows Media Player are the only such content available here at the moment, except for that recorded by users on their own HD video cameras.

Meanwhile, the SyncMaster is a great little screen for displaying standard video, photos, text and web pages. With a 4-millisecond response time, it will also keep hardcore gamers happy.

It has a generous 19 inches of screen space but looks smaller because it's designed in the widescreen format. The screen is well suited to DVD playback in particular, but at a high-resolution setting the desktop becomes a virtual football field.

The screen has an impressive level of intelligence and the MagicBright2 software lets users change settings to suit their purpose, whether it's gaming, video or internet.

The audio output is reasonable, but connecting to proper speakers is probably preferable when watching movies.

Aesthetically, it's a fairly low-key affair - a thin strip of silver or black surrounds the screen and a solid base holds it aloft. The absence of TV tuner card is disappointing, but for computing, gaming and DVD watching the SyncMaster is a capable player and affordable given it's preparedness for the HD revolution.

Pros: HDMI input; HD ready; good refresh rate.
Cons: No TV tuner card.
Price: $529
Herald Rating: 7/10