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"Inexpensive 20" monitor with minor software issues" on by lawbell
Pros: Very good picture, low cost
Cons: rotation software problematic
Summary: My wife's office use 204T, same monitor in silver instead of black. This was lowest cost quality monitor in this size I found (prices as low as $399 and $419). The Magic Rotation software for this monitor was a disaster, however, and uninstalled after a couple of tries. Otherwise very bright and useable in a brightly lit office setting.
Don't know why the reviewers complained about price. The comparison shows other choices all higher priced. -
"VERY under rated monitor for price, quality, and features" on by p4l1ndr0m3
Pros: CHEAP 20" 1600x1200 monitor!
Cons: When I think of some I'll let you know
Summary: So far NO ghosting in games or DVDs. No dead pixels, GREAT monitor. It was a tough decision to finally replace my NEC LCD1735NXM. But, I'm extremely happy with this upgrade! Kudo to samsung for yet another great monitor. Also, I really like the menu and the buttons on this monitor.
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"best in class" on by BjornLo
Pros: color accuracy, display speed
Cons: higher than average price
Summary: This monitor is simply the best 20" LCD I have seen.
I looked at number of models from Viewsonic, Dell, LG, NEC, SONY and others.
Of those I looked at the Samsung had the best color and the best speed. I do alot of 3d work (including makeing textures in photoshop) and color accuracy was extremely important to me. I also enjoy the occasional video game. I wanted a monitor well suite to both.
I am extremely pleased with the Samsung. It has extremely good color. Very well suited to photoshop and other imaging work.
Plus it is very fast and does just great at video games with no observed ghosting.
I have used it now for 11 months, and remain completely satisified. Monitors last longer than PCs. And a good monitor is a good investment.
A high end LCD, such as this one, significantly reduces eyestrain over similar quality CRT monitors. -
"Not For Web Designers!" on by evergreen88
Pros: Bright Screen, Good Price, 4:3 aspect ratio
Cons: Vertical Viewing Angle Problems
Summary: If someone on here claims to be a web designer and says this is a great monitor for those who deal in graphics, they are lying about the monitor or lying about themselves.
This monitor has a serious vertical viewing problem that is noticeable on ALL units! The top is always darker than the bottom and it can not be fixed!
Of course, the casual user may not notice this or may not care. If you just want to make use of the 5ms response time to play games or surf the net and want to save some money, this may not be a bad choice.
To a graphic designer like myself though, the viewing angle problem is VERY noticeable. Get the monitor only if such things don't bother you. If you're meticulous about a consistant display or work in graphics, you will return this thing within the week. Guaranteed. -
"Warning: Only buy if you know how to solder" on by Sar_Castro
Pros: For the short time the product works, it's an absolutely beautiful product.
Cons: The monitor WILL die after a few months to maybe a year of use. Samsung switched to a cheap Chinese capacitor supplier (CapXom) who has terrible quality control and whose capacitor rupture over time.
Summary: Samsung's decision to save a few fractions of a cent to use cheaper capacitors is outrageous and expensive to us consumers.
I bought 4 of these monitors (1 at first, then 3 more to set up a dual display for both my and my wife's desk). The first is still working (it's the oldest, and pre-Samsung switching to CapXom). The other 3, newer, monitors all stopped functioning after a few months/a year+.
I did some research and found out that this is a VERY common issue with Samsung monitors (not just this model). After a short time, the CapXom capacitors become useless, stopping the LCD from being able to show an image.
Fortunately I know how to disassemble a LCD monitor and solder, so I ordered my 9 new capacitors (enough for my 3 broken monitors) for just a few dollars- total (the cheapest one was 9 cents, the most expensive was about 18 cents)! You can imagine how cheap these things are when bought by the millions- well under a penny each. So, Samsung saves a fraction of a cent per monitor, but we end up with a worthless monitor after a few months. Seems fair to me.
If you don't know how to disassemble a LCD screen and remove 3 leaking capacitors and resolder on matching spec'd ones, I HIGHLY recommend avoiding Samsung. Even if you do know how to solder, unless you enjoy that type of project, you'd be best server simply avoiding Samsung like the plague.
I fortunately stopped my father in time from buying Samsung for his beautiful new 3D HDTV. That was almost a $6000 mistake- I just won't ever trust Samsung again with anything LCD related.
Samsung SyncMaster 204B user reviews
