Samsung SyncMaster 940MW

I bought this with the intention of using it as my PC monitor and as a television as I was short on space and I have not been disappointed. As a Pc monitor it is almost worth the price on its own as it is one of the best looking displays I have seen on an LCD. The picture is always clear and the backlighting does not add an unruly shine as with some inferior products which when coupled with an HD input can look very good .

It is also extremely connectable, there is the standard DVI PC connection as you would expect but also 1 scart, 1 composite, S-video, the HD component and one which I don't even know what it is. Clearly this allows a number of devices to be attached at once, e.g. I have had my PC, Video/DVD , Freeview, Xbox 360 plugged in and played slideshows from my iPod all at once. Which is handy.

I feel I must mention the High Definition capability as it is the major trend of the moment so.. from what I have seen using my Xbox HD input it really does worry you with how good it looks; one of my friends was actually talking about how single blades of grass appeared on it for two weeks after the event! A little worrying I know, but an indication of the quality.

I almost expected the TV function to be a little bit of an afterthought as I saw it's primary function as a monitor but I was pleasantly surprised. As it has an auto TV tuner, as soon as I turned it on for the first time, it had set itself up and I was watching Bargain Hunt in minutes. And the experience hasn't worsened since then. There are endless menus which can dictate the brightness or colour intensity or sound eq or screen width or anything you could possibly wish to custom. Of course the generic settings are perfectly acceptable in themselves.
But the main draw of this monitor must be in its Picture in Picture mode, where Tv and Pc displays are shown simultaneously. Quite how cool this is one can never grasp without seeing it for themselves, but its function, allowing work and and watching TV is also invaluable for me, especially as a student.

My only complaint would be relating to the sound. It can at times feel particularly thin and tinny but of course this is a problem with most flatscreen televisions and the audio can be run straight to separate speakers from a PC or through the headphone jack which would bypass the speakers.

Overall, I am extremely glad I purchased this monitor. Although it is slightly pricier than your average PC monitor. Its TV functions far outweigh the added costs and are well worth it; if only to plug everything expensive you own into it.