Friday, January 30, 2009

Samsung SyncMaster 2263DX - Two Monitors in One

By Matt Ryan

Many people, both personally and professionally use dual monitors when computing. This concept has been around since the 90s and is becoming more commonly used. There is; however, a new approach to this concept that could make some lives easier or at least less cluttered.

Samsung has released a dual monitor set that has a 22" monitor along with an attachable 7" monitor - the SyncMaster 2263DX. This is a great setup for those who like the concept of dual monitoring. It is especially beneficial for individuals whom have limited desk space, and cannot fit two full sized monitors on their desk. The 7" monitor is perfect for secondary applications like instant messaging, while the 22" monitor is ideal for running your standard applications.

The primary monitor, 22-inch, has a resolution of 1680 x 1050, a response time of 5mx, and a contrast ration of 1000:1. If you know your monitors, you know this is an average monitor. The big difference with this monitor, from single units, is the fact that you must connect it with a USB port along with a DVI, HDMI, or VGA cable.

The 7" monitor is not quite as glorified as the 22", but that is to be expected considering it is considerably smaller. This monitor has a 400:1 contrast ration, 800 x 480 resolution, and a response time of 30ms. Considering major applications will not run on this monitor, these numbers should be sufficient.

Through the use of a swivel arm, the smaller monitor is attached to the larger one on either the left or right side, or even on the top. The smaller unit is flexible in its position as users can rotate the unit to their desired position. The unit can also be manipulated to stay in either landscape or portrait layout.

An added bonus, to this setup, is the fact that the 7-inch monitor can be used as a standalone unit. This counteracts the purpose of the design, but could be useful in some situations. For example, it can be used as a secondary laptop monitor. For those who travel or need portability, this is a great-added benefit.

The Samsung SyncMaster 2263DX offers telecommunications benefits as well as dual monitoring. There is a 3.0M webcam, 1.5W down firing speakers, and a microphone integrated directly into the larger monitor. It is the perfect set up for videoconferencing.

The SyncMaster 2263DX can usually be found for around $550. This is a bit pricey for a 22" monitor, most of which can be purchased for around $200. You could easily buy two 22" monitors for less than you could purchase the new 2263DX. However, the 2263DX offers spacious efficiency.

Purchasing Samsungs SyncMaster 2263DX all comes down to personal preference, space, and budget. The system offers some great functionality, along with convenience and efficiency. If you are going for dual monitoring only, two monitors would be the cheaper option. If you are looking for new and convenient with an added bonus of technology, then the SyncMaster 2263DX is the answer.

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