Samsung XL2370

According to the bumpf, the Samsung's XL2370 has got 'Mega DynamicContrast', a 'Finger Slim Design' and '2ms Response Time (typical)' .It's almost a new language; one designed to entice consumers intobuying products that aren't actually all that different to others onthe market.

Let's break Samsung's claims down one at a time.'Mega Dynamic Contrast' would mean that the contrast ratio is dynamicand, hopefully, 'Mega', resulting in a higher difference between blacksand whites.

Samsung claims a contrast ratio of 5 million toone, which seems like a huge, impossible amount. The blacks were very,very good, but we had trouble counting the 5 million steps betweenblack and white. No, really, we did.

The 'Finger Slim Design'has to win an award for most hogwash phrase put together by amarketing department, ever. How do you define finger slim? What if youhave incredibly fat fingers?

Admittedly, the XL2370 is slimmerthan Kate Moss's skeleton – as well as every other monitor we've seen –but that only goes for the top two thirds. It smoothly sinks intofatness at the bottom end, like a balloon. A balloon full of lard.

Andwhat of the '2ms Response Time'? This is the amount of time it takesfor a pixel to turn from black to white, and while 5ms has become thenorm, you won't notice anything less than 8ms. Unless you're a fly.

Aslower response time results in smears across the screen, but we can'tsay we've noticed these on any flatscreen monitor in the past couple ofyears.

Ignorance is bliss

Ignore thegrand claims, though, and Samsung's monitor is really rather spiffing.It's just the right size: large enough for gaming, but not so massivethat it feels like you're sitting in the front row of an IMAX cinema.

The16:9 aspect ratio means that it's wide enough to get all of your gameon it. And, in spite of it being a tad wobbly, its translucent stand,shiny bezel and touch-sensitive controls combine to make its looksresoundingly impressive.

A while ago, Dave looked at Hanns.G's£184 24-inch behemoth and loved it, despite the black gradients beingnot all that special (something easily forgiven at that price).Samsung's offering lies at the other end of the monitor see-saw: a moreexpensive, smaller screen but with a stronger image.

So if you're a gamer who wants masses of screen real estate for a lowprice, we suggest you go for the Hanns.G. But if you're after a lushpicture and use your PC for occasional photo editing or web design,then look no further than the Samsung option. Just ignore the blurb.

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