Samsung LN-R238W

Summary: This monitor has to be the best 23" 16:9 LCD available today.

Loads of inputs and a well laid out rear jack area make this unit a snap to hook up. With all the inputs space is a bit tight. HDMI and Component inputs highlight the high quality ports that are available. Would have been nice to see a DVI port. Cable management works as well as can be expected.

The standard base is cheap and does not allow any adjustments. The poor quality of the base stands in contrast to the rest of this fine monitor. Samsung must be betting that most buyers will opt to wall mount.

Picture quality from high def DirecTV (DTV) via HDMI is crystal clear, very detailed, and has a nice color balance. I found the picture via component from DTV to be very good also. Standard def from DTV also looks quite good. Blacks are reproduced better than most LCD's, but still not as good as a traditional CRT. The LCD responds quickly to fast moving video but you still see some very minor ghosting. Best results for SD material comes at 4:3 with the 'pillbox' effect. Those of you with a strong analog cable signal will be surprised at the quality of that image, again better at 4:3 compared to 16:9.

As with every 16:9 HD monitor I've seen, this unit produces awful 16:9 video from 4:3 SD stuff.

Sound quality is not the best here. While fine for the bedroom or kitchen, you may want to add a HT sound system to enjoy this screen to the fullest.

The remote is typical for Samsung. Basic, cheap feeling but usable and well laid out.

I have not used the monitor with a PC yet.

Overall this set produces one of the finest HD images I've seen on an LCD.

Compared to the Sony, Sharp, Panasonic and Toshiba 23" models at this price point ($999.00) this Samsung wins hands down.