Samsung releases three HDTVs disguised as monitors

Eric Franklin | Aug 07, 2008

The T260: the other two look just like it, only smaller.

The line between HDTVs and computer displays is continually blurring. The latest case (or cases) in point are three new computer displays from Samsung.

In late July, the company released three new computer displays that might as well be HDTVs: The 25.5-inch T260HD, the 24-inch T240HD, and the 22-inch T220HD. All three have the same basic design, with the only difference in appearance between them being their relative size.

The T220HD does not have a screen rotation feature, though this is included in the other two. All three models inherit Samsung's Touch of Color (TOC) design detail, which we discuss in our review of the T220. While TOC succeeds in enhancing the aesthetics of each display, it's the ATSC/QAM tuner that makes these stand out. The tuner turns these three computer displays into full-fledged HDTVs able to receive over-the-air and cable HD signals.

Each display also include the following features:

1920x1200 native resolution (the T220HD tops out at 1680x1050)
2 HDMI ports (one in the back and one on the left side)
Component ports
DVI
VGA
Headphone jack
Optical digital audio out
Dolby Digital Surround speakers

According to Samsung, each display uses half the normal power of other displays by reducing the number of backlight lamps and keeping them confined along the edges. Samsung says they compensate for the reduced backlights by focusing the light that is there and increasing the overall efficiency of the display. We at CNET Labs should probably start looking into power consumption testing for computer displays, since this issue is cropping up more and more. Hmmm, we'll get back to you on when that'll be.

All three displays are available now from e-tailers and will be in brick and mortars by the end of August.

The displays are currently available for the MSRPs of:

T220HD: US$429
T240HD: US$549
T260HD: US$599

Via CNET Crave

Filed under: PC & Peripherals
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