Customer Reviews

Samsung SyncMaster 940MW 19" LCD Monitor

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I purchased this monitor primarily for my 2nd PC monitor for dual display setup; and to use it as TV monitor sometimes as well.

My overall impression is that I am satisfied with the product. Picture quality as PC monitor was great. As TV monitor, it was not GREAT but NOT BAD AT ALL. Since I am not interested in watching TV program(I only need TV monitor for DVD or video games), I don't know about stuffs like how it performs in HDTV. But for viewing DVD and playing video games, the monitor was more than enough. I would recommend this monitor for anyone who has same need as I did.


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However, there were a couple of things I didn't like (but acceptable).

1. Screen ratio: The screen ratio of this monitor is 16:10, not 16:9. It is a bit awkward to play widescreen video set to 16:9.

2. Position is not adjustable: This monitor cannot be tilted. Therefore I had to pile two books under the monitor for best position.


Update(11/15/2006):

1. So far, the display is performing great. For playing PS2 games(S-VHS connection), the display showed sharper and more vivid image than my old Sony 27" Flat TV(not slim-type, just flat-screen).

2. Remote is very, very handy. In other words, without remote, it is hard to use controls.

3. Fixed monitor angle is still my biggest complaints...

Update (12/11/2006):

To M.A. Elkins:

Thank you for you comment. You were right. I found out that this monitor could also be tilted. The reason I thought that the monitor cannot be tilted was because the joint was too stiff, while my old Samsung monitor had lot softer joint from the beginning. Anyway, this monitor could be tilted with hand, without need of release switch or anything.

Update (06/06/2006):

The monitor turned itself off at May 30th, and I couldn't turn it on again. It seems that the integrated power circuit of monitor broke down. I requested service at Samsung website, and Samsung sent refurbished unit for replacement to UPS store nearby. It seems the replacement unit works well, and I would give Samsung some credit for their fast response. However, it is not acceptable that the monitor I bought only a year ago shows power failure, while my old Samsung LCD monitor(which is pure computer monitor without TV or A/V input feature) showed no problem for about 3 years. (Both monitors were connected to surge protected outlet of my UPS unit.)

My thoughts:
1. Very bright display, I only need to use 50% brightness to achieve a visually stunning view.
1.5 Very beautiful and vivid picture quality. No dark pix. No visible light drop-off at corner.
2. DVD playback showed no flaw.
3. TV playback was known to be a complaint in the earlier model. Though the quality is not HDTV, but again I do not expect HDTV quality out of a regular cable signal. Most importantly, this model does not support HDTV. Customers who complain about TV quality might want to pay (a lot) more for a LCD TV that does support HDTV. For me, this is just what I expected.
4. Man there are a lot of inputs.
5. Picture in picture works without delay, very useful as you can change the size and position of the in-picture picture.
6. Neither the box nor the tag in BestBuy advertise the inclusion of a remote control, but it does come with a very useful remote control that has plenty functions and easily navigated.
7. Very easy set up. Screw-on bottom.
8. No DVI cable included.
9. Has both DVI (digital) and VGA (analog) inputs, I wonder if this can hook up to two computers (one from DVI one from VGA).
10. I like the 1.6:1 aspect ratio. I can finally utilize (almost) my entire screen for watching my 3:2 ratio pictures, widescreen DVD, etc. It also resize 4:3 video source per your choice: 4:3, stretched, or zoom in.

Who shouldn't buy this:
If you have a giant living room and you want this to be the center piece of your home entertainment and hook up to a HD source, not ever using it as a computer monitor. This is after all a monitor first before a TV.

This is perfect for a student's workstation in a dorm or bedroom, or for a desk unit in a study/office for a working professional.

I have this setup at my desk hooked to my laptop with a spanning desktop. I also have Cable TV piped into the back, and an Xbox plugged into the component ports.

I can use my PC while watching Cable TV in a Picture in Picture window, that is awesome! When I'm done, I can just click one button and it's full screen TV or I can select my Xbox to kick back and play a little.

The Cable TV source control allows for different Cable TV source protocols and does auto programming, allowing for manual operation also.

The Input Source labels are all user modifiable.

The sound is ok for the intention of the unit, for me, I plugged the output of the unit (Yeah... it has outputs!) into my subwoofer surround system.

If you want to have a work area with all the amenities, this is definately a keystone to building it. It isn't the best HDTV made but it's a great LCD and a really good TV and a good media center type of appliance.

Definately glad I bought this.

I bought the Samsung SyncMaster 940mw a couple of days ago, wanting to upgrade an older 17in Samsung LCD. My desktop is a Gateway GT5028 with AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual 3800+ and 1536 MB ram.

When I unpacked the monitor the quality was apparent, and the silver and black matches the silver and black color scheme of the Gateway. The 19 inch screen gives me plenty of work space and even though 1440x900 is a bit odd (same as 17in iMac) my Gateway video card had no problem with it.

The colors are vibrant, the screen is bright, no dead pixels and the text is clear and easy to read... The monitor comes with a few presets like, internet, text, and entertainment... And a custom setting that's easy to set up and allows you to change the monitor's setting to your liking. Watching a DVDs is a satisfying experience on the 19 in wide monitor and the sound from the built in speakers are better than I expected (even has a Dolby setting).

The TV tuner is a real plus... I don't have cable TV or HBO... I have an antenna on the roof, but the 940mw has an input, so I bought a splitter... One antenna cable goes to the my TV and one to the monitor. Picture in Picture (PIP) is great... I webmaster a few web sites and spend hours a day on the Internet... With PIP I can watch the local news or PBS and work on my web sites, check email and surf. Picture quality in PIP mode is really good, even with an antenna on the roof, and with the touch of the source button I can go full screen. In full screen mode the picture is good, but not great... I'm thinking with cable or satellite the full screen picture would be a lot better.

A thought on having the TV tuner in the monitor and not in the computer, it has no impact on the OS or memory... Downside, you can't record and save for later.

I'm happy I went with a monitor/tv combination... For the price ($399 @ BestBuy) I got a great monitor and a good TV... I have more work space and a whole lot of media connection options for the same price as good 19 in monitor without a TV tuner... Thank you Samsung.

I bought this monitor back in August 06. This is a very good LCD panel as a computer monitor or (HD)TV. All of a sudden, within 2 months, the monitor turns itself off automatically. The symptoms continued for a week and a few weeks later, it completely dies.
I called Samsung Customer Service (1-800-SAMSUNG) and they agreed to send a replacement. RMA arrived in a week, I hooked it up and ... viola .. there is a yellow vertical line in the middle of the screen. I called Customer Service again, and they agreed to send me 2nd RMA.
I'm crossing my fingers that I do not have to do RMA again.
This is a really good monitor when it is working, customer service is very good too ... but .. very disappointing experience so far.

My first monitor is manufactured in July 06 in Mexico.
My second monitor is manufactured in September 06 in Mexico.

I wonder if there are serious QA issues in Mexico.

The guy who said this isn't HDTV is very, VERY wrong. This is an HDTV, but it doesn't have the tuner built inside of it. It supports HDTV, but you need a tuner in order to get it. This is an excellent piece of equipment for playing the xbox 360 on, although it definately has backlight leaking on the top and bottom. As said before, VERY bright screen and I also run it at 50%. Besides the backlight leak, it is an excellent HDTV/monitor and plays games well with NO ghosting. BUY IT!!

You probably know how great it is, but i just wanna give you some tips:

1.) Your PC might not support the akward 1400 X 900 res, but you can go online and download PowerStrip and it will add that res to your PC.

2.) When playing on an XBOX 360 component, your cross-hairs will have a slight egg shape to them, and everything will appear a little taller than it should. If you don't have OCD, then it shouldn't be a ploblem.

3.) Contrast sucks on Component.

4.) Thinking about buying a PS3? you can still conect it to this monitor thingy by buying a HDMI to DVI adapter for $30 at monster.

Can someone see if you can switch between DVI and VGA if you have them both plugged in?

Well, i bought this monitor about 2 months ago.. at the time i also needed a tv..so i thought this was a great buy..took it home set it up and boy it was awesome...the picture was great..(internet)....evrything was fine until about a month after i noticed that it would just shut down..then i would try to turn it back on and it wouldnt..so it takes for me to unplug for a few min then restart..since then it still shuts down..or freezez...i think that this item in general is defective..i noticed other people had the same problem..as of right now im waiting for my replacement...

Well after my first one started turning itself off and requiring unplugged rest time before it would come back on I called Samsung. They shipped me a refurbished replacement and it worked for four days. Now it won't display anything. On to replacement number two...

I just bought the 940MW and it is great. The remote is convenient and the TV picture, while not perfect, is acceptable. I'm sure that with HD hooked up it would be better. The computer source yields a crystal clear picture with no ghosting in motion. I enjoy the PIP function which allows me to watch the news while I am working. The only thing that I would change is that I would add a tilt capability, but this is minor. I am moving to the UK soon and I am especially excited that this tuner will work in just about any country with any TV protocol.