Samsung Syncmaster 957DF

The Syncmaster 957DF uses Samsung's 19in Dynaflat tube, which is curved to improve beam focus and shape and colour convergence in the corners. This curvature is eliminated with some clever front glass optics, giving a visually flat picture that scored well in our focus and colour registration tests.

Samsung quotes a horizontal dot pitch of 0.20mm, which is a little misleading. The diagonal dot pitch is actually an impressive 0.24mm. The maximum resolution is 1,600 x 1,200 at a refresh rate of 76Hz, although 1,280 x 1,024 at 85Hz is more comfortable.

The styling is familiar, with a blue inlay running along the flat top. At the rear is a captive D-Sub cable, and the stand can accommodate a £35 USB hub. On the front are seven buttons that lead you to the usual range of geometry and colour OSD controls.

There are also two new features. The first, termed Highlight Zone, is accessed through a dedicated button on the fascia. This allows the user to boost the contrast, brightness, and sharpness of a selected rectangular area or the full screen, which is useful when playing games and watching movies.

The second is Mouscreen, a Windows-style software program designed so that you can use your mouse to adjust all the screen controls, rather than tapping the OSD buttons. For this, though, you'll need a spare USB port on your PC.

Our testing revealed stable power regulation and excellent resolution in both the horizontal and vertical planes. However, we were a little disappointed with the colour fading characteristics that aren't too consistent for a shadow-mask unit. There is evidence of mid-range streaking and slight ghosting, too. On the plus side, however, the 957DF displayed accurate geometry.

The 957DF could do with certain improvements but, at £330 including VAT, it is competitively priced, with a couple of interesting features to boot.

Contact: Samsung 0800 521 652 www.samsungelectronics.co.uk