LED Backlighting or Good Old LCD: Which is Best?

I had the chance last week to match up an Apple Cinema Display LED backlighted monitor against Samsung SyncMaster 2493HM high-end 24-inch Kilimanjaro in a bare-kuckle backlighting brawl. And here's a short report on how the two monitor fared with each other. When it comes to tech battles, it seldom gets more exciting than this, but who'll have their lights punched out?

Apple has stuffed its new 24-inch Cinema Display full of LEDs, tossing out old-fashioned fluorescent lamps in favor of the fast-acting, eco-friendly, light-emitting diodes it claims are the future of display technology. Standard backlit LCD monitors aren't throwing in the towel yet, though Samsung believes, correctly it seems, that they're cheaper and, tahnks to years of R&D, perform brilliantly in their own right.



Apple LED Cinema Display

Price: $899

Features: This links to all the new MacBooks via a triple cable that turns the screen into desktop with USB ports and stereo speakers. Non-Apple inputs? Forget it pal.

Picture Quality: Apple makes more fanfare over LED's green credentials and start-up speed than it does its effect on picture quality, and you can see why - it's not a vast imrpovement over LCD.

Value for Money: There are wiser investment out there - 900-bucks for a 24-inch is mad - but the tasty design and MacBook integration make it worthwhile for Apple acolytes.

Love: Styling and build quality. It's a three-way USB hub as well. Easy Macbook integration.

Hate: No non-Apple video inputs. Pricey.

The Verdict: Looks good with your Apple MacBook, but the use of LEDs hasn't boosted image quality to the extent that it has in, say. Philips' 42PFL9803 LED-backlit TV.

Specs: 24 inches; 1920x1200 pixels, 14ms quoted response time, 1x Mini DisplayPort, 1x MagSafe (power), 3x USB 2.0



Samsung SyncMaster 2493HM Kilimanjaro

Price: $410

Features: A straightforward computer monitor, the Samsung comes with a full range of video inputs, so unlike the Apple display, you can connect almost any video source you like.

Picture Quality: The black levels aren't up to Apple standard, but clean colors and a speedy 5ms response time make it every bit as impressive for gaming and movie viewing.

Value for Money: Even at almost half the price of Apple's Cinema Display, it's still not cheap. It may not be as beautiful, but it works with a much wider range of multimedia gear.

Love: Wide range of connections. Excellent black levels and good response time.

Hate: Plasticky, flimsy feel. No built-in speakers.

The Verdict: Only slightly behind the Apple LED display in terms of performance and with better connectivity. The Samsung Kilimanjaro show that LCD still has plenty to offer.

Specs: 24-inches; 1920x1200 pixels; 5ms quoted response time; 1x DVI, 1x VGA, 1x HDMI, 2x USB 2.0