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Product:
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Samsung SyncMaster 211MP TFT-LCD Monitor |
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Price:
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$3115 (CAN) / $2300 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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Samsung Canada
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Author:
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Hi-TEK
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Date:
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September 28th, 2003
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Rating:
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The Samsung SyncMaster 211MP TFT-LCD Monitor includes a stylish wireless silver coloured remote control
that requires two AAA batteries for power. The remote control adds the same level of functionality as
the adjustable touch sensitive buttons on the base of the monitor. The layout of the buttons is good and
very easy to manipulate when placed on the palm of your hand. The top portion of the remove handles the
switching of the different display modes along with channel and volume control. The bottom portion is
dedicated to controlling TV Tuner functions and works just like a regular TV remote control.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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As previously mentioned, consumers have two options for attaching the included 5 watt speakers when
setting up the SyncMaster 211MP. In order to conserve space, I opted to attach the speakers to the left
and right hand sides of the monitor using the magnetized double sided screws. One point that should be
made about a product of this nature is that you need to have the necessary free desk space required to
accommodate the size of this monitor as evidenced when I placed it next to my gaming rig. If desk space
is not available, Samsung provides an option for wall mounting the SyncMaster 211MP if necessary.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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Once powered up, by pressing the menu button on the base of the monitor brings up the On Screen Display.
The colourful menu system for the 211MP is well designed, easy to navigate and covers all the basic
settings such as language selection, channel selection, source toggling, vertical and horizontal
positioning, image size, volume adjustment, Picture-In-Picture (PIP), Picture-By-Picture (PBP),
auto tuning, V-Chip channel protection as well as brightness and contrast settings. In PC mode the PIP
and PBP options are great for watching television while working on your desktop in the background.
TV Tuner playback was excellent with clear sharp images and good resolution when viewed at close range
for a few feet away from the 211MP. The sound generated by the 5 watt speakers was also good and very
complimentary to make this product a full featured package. I did find that the feature set on the TV
Tuner module is quite limited and lacks some of the more robust options found on third party add-on TV
Tuner cards. There is no Guide Plus interactive TV guide which is a great feature for TV program viewing.
Consumers also do not have any TIVO or Time Shifting type functions for recording and scheduling their
favourite TV programs.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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DVD and video game playback was exceptionally smooth and the display quality was excellent. I set the
max resolution and played a few rounds of Serious Sam - The Second Encounter on both my MSI GF4 TI 4200
and Radeon 9700 Pro video cards. I also watched the famous light cycle scene from Disney's 1982 movie
"Tron". There was no major performance or ghosting issues noted and the large 21" display area really
makes multimedia applications come to life.
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Conclusion:
The Samsung SyncMaster 211MP is a feature rich product that raises the bar when it comes to high-end
PC components. Samsung Canada has done an amazing job in incorporating an abundance of useful and
easy to use features into one product. The 21" display area really enhances the multimedia experience
by balancing good PC performance with HDTV and TV capabilities. Consumers will appreciate the sleek
silver design and easy to navigate On Screen Display menu options. This product is good for everyday
use with normal desktop applications as well as the perfect system as a home theatre add-on. The
multitude of usable ports on the rear of this unit allows you to easily connect this product to any
component source or set top box. The add-on TV Tuner module includes a basic set of TV viewing options,
although it would be nice to see the addition of Guide Plus and recording options. The inclusion of 5 watt
speakers is a nice touch and eliminates the need for additional speakers if desk space is limited.
Finally, the light weight remote control is very handy for everyday use and has a nice non-complicated
button layout. After using the Samsung SyncMaster 211MP for the past two weeks, I can honestly state that
it will be very hard to go back to my 17" Albatron TFT-LCD. One aspect that will certainly keep the
average consumer from purchasing this product is the associated price tag. Most consumers would rather
spend $3200 CDN on high quality parts which makes this monitor cater only to a selected group of
individuals. Overall, I am really impressed with the Samsung Syncmaster 211MP and award this
product MTB's Seal of Approval and a final rating of 9.5 out of 10.
If you have any questions regarding this review be sure to visit the Samsung Canada
website for more information or discuss them in our forums.
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Pros:
- Huge 21" display area
- Excellent picture quality and sharp display
- Three year warranty support
- Aesthetically pleasing design
- Excellent for multimedia applications
- Easy to navigate on screen display menu
- Multitude of usable ports
- Integrated stereo speakers
- Includes wireless remote control and TV Tuner Module
- Picture-in-Picture and Picture-By-Picture
- HDTV ready
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Cons:
- Price
- TV Tuner lacks robust Guide Plus and TIVO/Time Shifting options
- Requires a sizeable mount of desk space once installed
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