Samsung SyncMaster 755 DF review: Samsung SyncMaster 755 DF

Samsung's SyncMaster 755DF fits our ideal of a good product for a good price. Home and office users alike will appreciate its sharp picture and affordable price. Samsung's SyncMaster 755DF fits our ideal of a good product for a good price. Home and office users alike will appreciate its sharp picture and affordable price.

Eye can see
High-quality monitors are a welcome sight. The 17-inch, flat-screen SyncMaster 755DF, which uses Samsung's proprietary DynaFlat tube technology, produced excellent results in CNET Labs' tests. In fact, the $234 SyncMaster 755DF placed second only to Eizo's FlexScan F520 in display quality, even though the Eizo costs nearly twice as much. Aside from a slight bowing at the top of the screen (which is typical for CRTs in this class), the SyncMaster 755DF delivered a virtually distortion-free picture. The focus was even across the screen, and fonts were legible down to 6 points. In our Photoshop test document, the monitor reproduced rich tones and varying shades with ease.

When purchasing a monitor, image is everything. The SyncMaster 755DF's picture was crisp and flicker-free at 1,024 by 768 resolution (with an 85Hz refresh rate), and its picture remained stable when pushed to 1,152 by 864 (75Hz refresh rate).

The display's OSD (onscreen display) was easy to use. Four front-mounted buttons adjust settings such as Contrast, Halftone, V-Linearity, and Color Temperature. The OSD also lets you lock the control settings so they can't be inadvertently changed.

The SyncMaster 755DF's one noticeable compromise is in connectivity. While it is USB capable, you can connect the SyncMaster only with an optional USB hub ($35 from Samsung).

If you have problems with the product, Samsung's three-year warranty covers parts and labor, and the company offers 24/7, toll-free tech support, as well. Samsung's in-depth support Web site includes driver downloads, installation guides, a configuration example for Linux, as well as a FAQ and a list of service contacts.

The Samsung SyncMaster 755DF is a low-cost monitor that you can feel good about buying. It offers a high-quality display at a budget-minded price, with solid support to back it up.