While they`ve been the sweethearts of the ergonomic office space for some time, LCD monitors were classically held back from strong uptake in the high-end gaming and graphics manipulation markets because of their sluggish response times.
With Samsung`s release of sub-2ms response times in a select number of its new range of LCD monitors, that`s no longer the case. "LCD monitors finally offer superior performance to their CRT competitors," says Darryl Squara, Samsung business manager at Tarsus Technologies. "Add to this their smaller footprint, easy-on-the-eyes display methodology, as well as far more ergonomic design and buyers have the most compelling argument for choosing LCD over CRT than ever before."
Squara says the increase in performance is achieved through Samsung`s exclusive RTA (Response Time Accelerator) chip, which in a nutshell, reduces the time taken in switching between mid-level colours (grey-to-grey) in moving images. This new technology is available in a 17-inch through Samsung`s SyncMaster 740BF and a 19-inch through its SyncMaster 940BF.
Squara says generally speaking, the response time listed in monitor specifications refers to the time needed to switch between highest level and lowest level colours (white-to-black), which only appear in images with little movement, such as text or Web-surfing.
"As a result, the response time is not adequate to show the real improvements in drawing moving images for movies or games," he says. "Since this is proving to be one of the most used modes for a monitor, faster response times while displaying moving images is an absolute must.
"In some cases, it does make sense to compare apples to oranges, or in this case CRTs to LCDs - providing the metrics used for comparison are the same. Even with the highest-end CRT displays, which are capable of high refresh rates, it is recommended that users do not exceed 85Hz at their peak resolution.
"An 85Hz refresh rate translates to somewhere in the region of 13ms when it comes to response time. With 2ms response times now available on LCDs, the war has been won hands down," he enthuses.
Expounding on the tangible differences users can expect from these low-response time monitors, Squara says a reduction in `dragging` of moving images and flickering when using professional design programs such as CAD are the most prominent.
"Those who look at monitors for a long time, especially design professionals and multimedia users, will surely welcome these improvements," he opines.
"The improvements further ensure that no barrier apart from the slightly higher acquisition cost stands in the way of the entire market going with LCD. It makes price the only, and final frontier to cross," he concludes.
Share
With 20 years` experience in the ICT industry, Tarsus is the leading value-added distributor in South Africa, specialising in the supply of the world`s foremost PC and peripheral hardware brands to the local reseller channel.
Tarsus strives to meet the channel`s needs for credit funding, stock availability and efficient logistics, ensuring that resellers are able to deliver the highest quality service to their customers, focus on support and compiling the best overall solutions for their end-user customer base at the lowest possible cost.
The company prides itself on its flexibility, adaptability, knowledge, skills and successful track record combined with an industry-leading ability to manage large rollouts. These are the reasons Tarsus has consistently been rated as the top distributor in the country by international vendors, resellers and the IT media alike.
With its strong commitment to the South African channel, Tarsus is able to not only make the reseller channel more efficient, but more importantly, it plays a vital role in dramatically reducing the costs of doing business in the local ICT market.
Brands represented by the Tarsus stable include industry leaders like Acer, Cisco, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Oki, Samsung, TallyGenicom, Targus and Wyse Technology.
More information about Tarsus is available at http://www.tarsus.co.za.
Editorial contacts