This is a good value for a large LCD, with a fast response time, somewhat weak backlight, the typical limitations of a TN-style panel, and also some minor quirks.
The backlight is notably less bright than the one in my previous
Samsung SyncMaster 226BW 22-inch LCD Monitor, meaning I run the LCD closer to 100% brightness much of the time. On my old Samsung, that would have been blinding, but here it's necessary. Backlight bleed-through is visible as typical for a TN, but less than most similar LCDS: only noticeable in the very top center-third of the screen when the display is set to solid black.
Color reproduction seems reasonable-- next to my more expensive PVA-type
Dell 2408WFP UltraSharp 24-inch Widescreen + High Definition Flat Panel Monitor, the Samsung's colors are washed out and drab, but normal for a TN. I found I had to use the preset LCD menu options for "dynamic contrast" or "Game" mode for my preferred warm/bright colors, "text" and "internet" modes result in a drab, cool-colored display.
The monitor does not have HDMI or onboard-audio, which makes it less useful for non-PC multimedia apps, but even so, its native resolution is limited to 1080p (eg 1920x1080) rather than the higher 1920x1200 that is more common in premium 24" screens marketed for computing. I missed the extra vertical 120px this screen should have.
The unit has the typical glossy Samsung bevel surrounding the screen, and the previously huge blue power LED has been shrunken, but still blinks steadily while the LCD is in standby. I'd prefer a skinnier bevel (the bottom part is nearly 2" wide), and a non-blinking LED. The controls are now smooth, touch-sensitive pads. This is nice for appearance, but with no tactile feedback at all, it takes a moment to find the correct spot for the button you intended to press.
Like many entry level LCDs, the stand on this model is tilt-only (it tilts back). No telescoping, swivel or rotation. Unless you intend to swap the stand (possible since it's a standard VESA mount), you will have to tilt the screen back to use it at normal desktop height; like most TN panels, the viewing angles are limited, and the angle "from above" is quite unusable. The stand also did give me some initial trouble, with the bracket refusing to slide into the slot on the back of the LCD until I applied what seemed like excessive force (and I'm a robust adult male). A brief google search turned up that Samsung stands are often "tight" fits and need a bit of extra effort to join up the bracket and monitor.
Twisted Nematic (TN) panels have very fast response times at the price of color accuracy/intensity and viewing angle, but they are cheap to manufacture, and well suited for high frames-per-second applications like gaming. My go-to game recently has been
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Game of the Year, and playing it, I didn't notice any blurring with this panel's 5ms response time. The LCD also scaled down to lower non-native resolutions (such as 1280x900, 1280x1024, etc) without any visible scaling issues.
Samsung continues to offer ever-cheaper LCD panels of solid quality (not a single dead pixel!), and this is no exception. The limitations of this panel are largely inherent to TN displays. However, Samsung could have done better with the stand design, the tactile feedback from the controls, and the brightness of the backlight.
While I prefer PVA or IPS LCDs, it's hard to beat the budget price on this 24" model. Recommended, for PC-centric usage.