Many people, both personally and professionally use dual monitors when computing. This concept has been around since the 90s and is becoming more commonly used. There is; however, a new approach to this concept that could make some lives easier or at least less cluttered.

Samsung is known for their high quality and variety of monitors. They have recently added, to their already popular product line, a brand new concept – a dual monitor setup in one. This system consists of a 22-inch and 7-inch monitor that takes up the space of only one 22″ unit. This new concept is to provide the same efficiency that two full sized monitors offer. The idea behind it is to use the 7-inch monitor for secondary applications like instant messaging, and the 22-inch monitor for your primary applications.

The primary monitor, 22-inch, has a resolution of 1680 x 1050, a response time of 5mx, and a contrast ration of 1000:1. If you know your monitors, you know this is an average monitor. The big difference with this monitor, from single units, is the fact that you must connect it with a USB port along with a DVI, HDMI, or VGA cable.

The smaller monitor, expectedly, has a much lower resolution and contrast ration along with a slower response time. (Res: 800 x 480, Con: 400:1, RT: 30ms) For a secondary monitor that supports secondary applications, these numbers are definitely sufficient for productivity.

Through the use of a swivel arm, the smaller monitor is attached to the larger one on either the left or right side, or even on the top. The smaller unit is flexible in its position as users can rotate the unit to their desired position. The unit can also be manipulated to stay in either landscape or portrait layout.

The secondary 7-inch monitor can function as more than just an attachment to the 22-inch monitor. The smaller of the two can also be used as a standalone monitor or even a digital picture frame. This smaller monitor was also designed to be used as a secondary monitor for laptops – if desired.

The Samsung SyncMaster 2263DX offers telecommunications benefits as well as dual monitoring. There is a 3.0M webcam, 1.5W down firing speakers, and a microphone integrated directly into the larger monitor. It is the perfect set up for videoconferencing.

This unit sells for around $550. While this is a bit pricey compared to a standard 22-inch monitor, there is additional functionality and convenience in the SyncMaster 2263DX.

Purchasing Samsungs SyncMaster 2263DX all comes down to personal preference, space, and budget. The system offers some great functionality, along with convenience and efficiency. If you are going for dual monitoring only, two monitors would be the cheaper option. If you are looking for new and convenient with an added bonus of technology, then the SyncMaster 2263DX is the answer.