LG display has identity crisis

The last monitor with an identity crisis I reviewed was the Samsung SyncMaster T240HD. I cleverly called it the "TV disguised as a monitor," or was it the "monitor disguised as a TV"? Hmmm, I don't remember and really, does it really matter? I think not.

This week I got in the LG Flatron M237WD. This is a Full HD 1920x1080 resolution 23-incher that also has an identity crisis. It acts as a monitor with its VGA and DVI connections, but it also includes some extras that makes one wonder about its true identity.

Plenty of juicy connection options. Well, not really juicy as that would be disgusting and probably dangerous.

(Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET)

Some of those extras include composite, component, and S-video connections, plus an extra HDMI port, optical audio port, a digital TV tuner and a remote control.

I'm going to take this bad boy to the lab over the next few days and see if I can find out just what the meaning behind all this is. In the meantime check out the shots I snagged below and look for a review early next week.

LG Flatron M237WD -- pictures

[jlt0x]

Aren't all flat panel TVs just simple display monitors with channel tuners? Remove the TV tuner, and all you have is a flat screen display.

I'm glad to see that more TVs are being offered with DVI & VGA inputs. Some people may want to be able to connect a PC or laptop to their TV to utilize a larger display for whatever reason.

For example, I want to connect my Acer desktop (w/ wireless mouse & keyboard) to my 42" Panasonic plasma flat-screen so I can go online using the flat panel display in the living room. Or sometimes I have downloaded on my laptop that I want to display on larger screens. I can just connect to one of the monitor inputs and play.

[imop45]

Yeah that's what I've been thinking for some time. It used to be the difference between a computer monitor and a tv was the resolutions. For example, if you could find a way to connect your comp to an older tv, it would be very hard to read. But it seems like those lines are blurring. Question is, will companies allow that?