Samsung SyncMaster 305T 30-inch LCD Monitor

List Price: $2,449.99 Discount Price: $1,125.78

Features:

• 30-inch monitor offers a 178-degree vertical and horizontal viewing angle
• Millions of colors deliver a clearer, brighter image
• 1000:1 contrast ratio and 0.270-millimeter pixel pitch produce crisp, easy-to-view images
• Samsung MagicContrast processes high-contrast ratios to guarantee an abundant palette of color
• Connectivity features a Dual DVI digital link input video signal

Customer Reviews:

Works fine under Fedora-9 Linux [Posted on 2008-09-13]
First of all, Linux and BSD folks don't need to sit this one out. You too can use this wonderful monitor. It works just fine, both in ascii terminal mode (eg. boot messages show up with no problems) and it works flawlessly under the current Xorg.

The one thing that takes a bit of getting used to is that iconifying or maximizing a window is almost always a mistake. There is usually no need to iconify anything when you are done using it. Just tile all your windows and leave them there. There is also no real reason to make anything full screen. Windows are just too darn wide to use that way. It took me almost 4 weeks of slapping myself on the forehead to stop hitting the iconify keystroke when I was done with a window.

One minor pain in the neck with this monitor is that it is dual-link. That means one needs to find a dual-link capable frame buffer. I got a passively cooled ATI Radeon HD 3450 and that works just fine under Xorg.

The energy star rating on this is a bit of a joke. Who are they kidding? This thing takes 130 Watts, that is more than my old CRT monitors used to take. Still, I have no problem paying a bit more in electricity over a 24" monitor to get this much added real estate. It really is the same 100dpi as the 24" 1200x1920 monitors, just with a few more usable pixels tacked on horizontally and vertically. Once you get spoiled using this monitor, you'll never enjoy using a 24" one again.

There is one minor bug with this monitor. There is a minor video instability that one only sees with solid backgrounds. One can see bands of slightly brighter horizontal lines moving up the screen rapidly. It is almost like the back lighting isn't filtered enough against the 60hz/120hz power supply ripple and the ~60 hz refresh of the lcd are beating a bit. It is quite noticeable to me on the blueish fedora-9 login screen.

All in all, even with the minor quibbles I'm still smiling from ear to ear. This is a great toy. Highly recommended.

added 2008-09-25:
Actual power usage as measured by a "KILL A WATT" power meter:

124-127 Watts Samsung 305T (on, highest intensity)
(note, power usage cycles, hence the two numbers)

72-77 Watts Samsung 305T (on, med intensity, cyclic also)

52 Watts Samsung 305T (on, lowest intensity)

0 Watts Samsung 305T (DPMS induced off, blanked, backlight off)
(note, no power used, there is a transient state
of 4 watts for a few seconds as it is powering down.)

0 Wattts Samsung 305T (soft-off via front panel button)
(also no power used)

(sorry, the lame Amazon formatting software breaks the nice columns I attempted to make. -wsr)

crisp and easy [Posted on 2008-10-09]
Bought this a few weeks ago. Easy to install, amazingly crisp and clear. It was a cheaper alternative to an Apple 30" screen and it has filled the bill beautifully.

Could not get one to work! [Posted on 2008-11-01]
I was going to buy the Apple 30" but after reading the reviews I chose the Samsung 30". The first one I received did not work out of the box, I called Samsung they said it was a defective monitor, send back. I returned it back to Amazon and Amazon sent me a new one. The second one doesn't work either. I called Samsung again and again they said it was a defective monitor. Sorry Samgsung I won't be buying your products again.

Great - while it lasts... [Posted on 2008-11-14]
A fine monitor, but...

Mine stopped working after 9 months. Waited 2 months for a replacement, only to be told that they had no replacement units in stock. That's right: Samsung don't have any more of these. Still waiting for a refund and determined never to buy from Samsung again.

So, a great deal while it works. If anything goes wrong, expect to waste a lot of time and energy dealing with their customer service and don't expect them to replace your unit.

Very pleased with my newest Samsung 30" LCD [Posted on 2008-11-25]
I recently purchased a new 30" Samsung monitor, and I'm very pleased. There were no dead pixels on my unit and the image is crisp. Best of all, Samsung hasn't jumped on the glossy screen bandwagon. The most annoying and brain-dead thing a monitor manufacturer could do is make a glossy screen where you can see your reflection, or a glossy case that shows dust and fingerprints. This unit is neither. I have had two Samsungs monitors in the past, the first in 2004, and they both still work great in 2008.

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