SAMSUNG 2053BW 20in LCD Monitor Review
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Written To Better Inform Our Visitors Regarding These Deals: • SAMSUNG 2053BW 20in LCD Monitor MIR [MAIL IN REBATES] |
As consumers increasingly switch towards bigger and better monitors, the overall price has dropped considerably. Monitors that used to cost upwards of $500 are now about half that. However, not all are comparable when it comes to features and quality. Trying to find a 20 inch monitor is made more difficult by the sheer amount of availability. Is the Samsung 2053BW worth the money? Let’s take a hard look at it and see what it can do.
As with most peripherals these days, this model is glossy black. It looks a little clunky, and they maybe could have done a little more streamlining. It’s certainly not the ugliest monitor on the market, but it’s not the prettiest either. Granted, looks are secondary when it comes to overall performance, but for those that are interested in appearances, this monitor was a little disappointing.
Our main concern is the high gloss finish. Whenever something comes with a polishing cloth, you know it’s going to be high maintenance. This monitor is definitely a high maintenance unit and it attracts fingerprints like nobody’s business. You’ll want to keep that cloth in a safe place because you will be needing it and often.
We don’t recommend using commercial cleaners with this monitor, especially on the casing. The cloth should be enough to keep the casing clean and for the screen, you’re going to want to use a very gentle cleaner that is made specifically for LCD monitors. A lot of consumers scrimp on this and end up with a streaky monitor or even one that is damaged. Any more, it really pays to go with the higher end cleaners, if you want to extend the life of your display.
We will give them extra points for the base. It’s just about perfect and the monitor tips back just a little bit. That’s pretty much optimum viewing position for most, and the stand is not overly high. We would have loved to have the ability to adjust it a little more, but given the price, it’s pretty good. For those that are a little on the short side, you may want to move your chair up a bit to avoid craning your neck.
The controls for the display are located under a small plastic lip and it is more than a little difficult to mess with them. This could certainly use a redesign and hopefully with the newer models they will do away with the lip. If you’re fumbling for the controls, it’s pretty annoying to have to go under this lip.
Installing the monitor was a snap. Simply turn off your computer, plug it in and then restart. Our machine recognized the new monitor right away, but we still used the included drivers to make sure that everything was calibrated correctly. You can open these up, or use the on-monitor controls to get everything the way you would like it.
The display offers 16.7 million colors, and it is plug and play. We appreciated the fact that it was wall mountable and you can adjust it a little bit, although not as much as we would have liked, as mentioned above.
This monitor is Windows Vista certified, so if you’re looking to get a new monitor for a newer computer, you won’t have any problems. It also works well with older models still using XP Home or XP Professional. We did not test the unit on any machines with an older OS.
One of the best parts about the monitor is that it is Energy Star compliant. Few consumers realize just how much energy their monitors burn, and if you never turn them off, they can be quite a drain on your power bill. This monitor shouldn’t use much electricity at all, so it is perfect for those looking to conserve.
We found the performance of this model to be surprisingly good, given the price point. The image was very sharp and clear and it is perfect for applications that require a great display. If you’re a gamer, you’ll be thrilled with the quality and sharpness. We did notice one small flaw when you are watching a DVD. You may need to calibrate the unit a little better to avoid tearing on the screen.
Other than that small issue, which can be fixed, we found that the model performed well over our expectations when it came to quality and overall image sharpness. This monitor would be well suited to gamers, graphic professionals or video producers.
There is a three year parts and labor limited warranty, which we thought was pretty generous given the price. Most monitors in this range only offer a 1 year warranty, so this was definitely in Samsung’s favor. Dealing with the company is easy and we found them to friendly and helpful. Overall, you shouldn’t have much to worry about with this warranty.
Overall, given the price, the features and the quality of the display, we would highly recommend this monitor. It is suitable for those that need a little more graphics power, while still being entry-level affordable. It’s nice to see a monitor with this kind of warranty and the ease of installation is also in its favor. The kicker for us however was the Energy Star compliance and the price. You really can’t beat it when it comes to finding a similar monitor with this kind of quality.
By comparison shopping, you can bring this model down closer to $200, which means if you’re shopping by budget, you could get 3 more inches for the same money. For example, most 17 to 19 inch monitors are in this price range, so a 20 inch monitor for the same money is a pretty good deal.
It does have its flaws, but they were pretty minor. As long as you don’t mind polishing the case every day, or living with fingerprints, this shouldn’t keep you from purchasing this monitor.
First Impression
As with most peripherals these days, this model is glossy black. It looks a little clunky, and they maybe could have done a little more streamlining. It’s certainly not the ugliest monitor on the market, but it’s not the prettiest either. Granted, looks are secondary when it comes to overall performance, but for those that are interested in appearances, this monitor was a little disappointing.
Our main concern is the high gloss finish. Whenever something comes with a polishing cloth, you know it’s going to be high maintenance. This monitor is definitely a high maintenance unit and it attracts fingerprints like nobody’s business. You’ll want to keep that cloth in a safe place because you will be needing it and often.
We don’t recommend using commercial cleaners with this monitor, especially on the casing. The cloth should be enough to keep the casing clean and for the screen, you’re going to want to use a very gentle cleaner that is made specifically for LCD monitors. A lot of consumers scrimp on this and end up with a streaky monitor or even one that is damaged. Any more, it really pays to go with the higher end cleaners, if you want to extend the life of your display.
We will give them extra points for the base. It’s just about perfect and the monitor tips back just a little bit. That’s pretty much optimum viewing position for most, and the stand is not overly high. We would have loved to have the ability to adjust it a little more, but given the price, it’s pretty good. For those that are a little on the short side, you may want to move your chair up a bit to avoid craning your neck.
The controls for the display are located under a small plastic lip and it is more than a little difficult to mess with them. This could certainly use a redesign and hopefully with the newer models they will do away with the lip. If you’re fumbling for the controls, it’s pretty annoying to have to go under this lip.
Installation
Installing the monitor was a snap. Simply turn off your computer, plug it in and then restart. Our machine recognized the new monitor right away, but we still used the included drivers to make sure that everything was calibrated correctly. You can open these up, or use the on-monitor controls to get everything the way you would like it.
Features
The display offers 16.7 million colors, and it is plug and play. We appreciated the fact that it was wall mountable and you can adjust it a little bit, although not as much as we would have liked, as mentioned above.
This monitor is Windows Vista certified, so if you’re looking to get a new monitor for a newer computer, you won’t have any problems. It also works well with older models still using XP Home or XP Professional. We did not test the unit on any machines with an older OS.
One of the best parts about the monitor is that it is Energy Star compliant. Few consumers realize just how much energy their monitors burn, and if you never turn them off, they can be quite a drain on your power bill. This monitor shouldn’t use much electricity at all, so it is perfect for those looking to conserve.
Performance
We found the performance of this model to be surprisingly good, given the price point. The image was very sharp and clear and it is perfect for applications that require a great display. If you’re a gamer, you’ll be thrilled with the quality and sharpness. We did notice one small flaw when you are watching a DVD. You may need to calibrate the unit a little better to avoid tearing on the screen.
Other than that small issue, which can be fixed, we found that the model performed well over our expectations when it came to quality and overall image sharpness. This monitor would be well suited to gamers, graphic professionals or video producers.
Warranty
There is a three year parts and labor limited warranty, which we thought was pretty generous given the price. Most monitors in this range only offer a 1 year warranty, so this was definitely in Samsung’s favor. Dealing with the company is easy and we found them to friendly and helpful. Overall, you shouldn’t have much to worry about with this warranty.
Overall Opinion
Overall, given the price, the features and the quality of the display, we would highly recommend this monitor. It is suitable for those that need a little more graphics power, while still being entry-level affordable. It’s nice to see a monitor with this kind of warranty and the ease of installation is also in its favor. The kicker for us however was the Energy Star compliance and the price. You really can’t beat it when it comes to finding a similar monitor with this kind of quality.
By comparison shopping, you can bring this model down closer to $200, which means if you’re shopping by budget, you could get 3 more inches for the same money. For example, most 17 to 19 inch monitors are in this price range, so a 20 inch monitor for the same money is a pretty good deal.
It does have its flaws, but they were pretty minor. As long as you don’t mind polishing the case every day, or living with fingerprints, this shouldn’t keep you from purchasing this monitor.
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