Samsung SyncMaster 305T

The SyncMaster 305T performed well in our image quality tests, showing sharp text and nuanced color. Jurors were impressed with the 305T's rendering of text in a Microsoft Word document, as well as in a screen of repeating E's and M's.

The 305T showed a couple of photos in which colors appeared a bit muted in comparison with the other displays in the test group, but color representation seemed good overall.

This SyncMaster has a smooth black bezel and a circular stand. It tilts and swivels smoothly, though it is not height-adjustable, and it does not pivot. It is wall-mountable.

The only control it has to adjust the screen is one for brightness--buttons on the front of the bezel increase and decrease the brightness of the display, and that's it. Currently no on-screen components are available to support the 305T's high resolution of 2560 by 1600, but Samsung states that future versions of this model should include an on-screen display for adjustments.

Two downstream USB ports reside on the back of the display. Samsung also includes a power-saver mode--this switches the monitor to a low-power status when it has not been in use for some time.

At $1800, this SyncMaster is certainly pricey, but it falls well within the range of what other 30-inch LCDs cost. If you seek a monitor on which to spread out and see lots of documents at once, the 305T would be a fine choice.

Kalpana Ettenson