During my
tenure at TechSpot, I have reviewed many peripherals from
DVD drives to video cards, and everything in-between. Having
that said, I have never reviewed something of this
magnitude. The LG Flatron L2320A is perhaps the most
impressive piece of computer hardware I have ever laid my
hands on. Calling this a monitor would not be justifiably
correct. This is a multi-media workstation, and a very good
one.
So you are probably asking yourself
whats all the hype about, is this a monitor that would fit
your needs? Is this workstation worth the money? Is this
thing practical? Hopefully you will be able to answer those
and many other questions by the time you end reading this
article.
A Little Company
Background
LG is an innovative electronics company
that dates back to 1958, when they established Goldstar in
Korea. They created the first radio, television,
refrigerator, air conditioner and telephone in Korea over a
ten year span. Goldstar was the first in the electronics
industry to reach export of $100 million to the United
States, and created their sales subsidiary in the U.S. in
1978.
In 1995, Goldstar changed their name to
LG, which is what they currently use today. After acquiring
Zenith and participating in a joint venture with Philips,
LG. Philips Displays was produced. LG currently employees
over 55,000 people, and focuses on Digital TV, CD/DVD
drives, PCs, monitors, and mobile headsets.
In the Box
Included in the (very large) box are the
LG Flatron monitor, media controller, and remote control.
Vertical stand speakers can also be part of the package at
an additional cost. Cables include 15-pin D-sub signal
cable, DVI-D signal cable, power cord, RCA cable, S-Video
cable, audio PC cable, and USB cable. Also included are the
instruction manual, easy-setup guide, and a CD with drivers.
The LG Flatron
Monitor
The LG Flatron consists of a 23"
widescreen LCD color monitor, and a multi-media station. The
monitor has a sleek profile with a brilliant active matrix
TFT display. Along with an incredibly sexy look, the unit
offers a max resolution of 1920 x 1200 with a 400:1 contrast
ratio. The monitor is in widescreen format, at an aspect
ratio of 16:10.
The outline of the monitor is flat
black, with a silver lining on the bottom. The power button
is illuminated in blue when the monitor is being utilized.
The base of the monitor is fully adjustable for height, and
is colored in chrome which matches the power button. On the
back of the monitor, there is a headphone input and 2 USB
downstream ports.
Other features include:
PIP/POP mode this is a picture in
picture feature, which can be controlled by the remote
utilizing the swap button
Spectacle This function is used
for TV or motion pictures, in which it provides a varied
ratio on different areas of the screen to obtain a 4:3
aspect ratio
Sleep timer You can set a period
of time where the AV/DVD/HDTV should switch itself to
standby
BBE Function improves clarity and
distinction of audio quality
VESA Compatible This monitor
accepts a VESA-compliant mounting interface pad for wall
mounting
Kensington Security Slot This unit
can be connected with a locking cable sold separately
