Forget new gadgets! See how far we've come in just 7 years, especially price-wise!

The Samsung SyncMaster 172MP 17” LCD flat screen monitor came into the marketplace in April, 2003. It was a big deal in high tech monitors and one of the first that included a TV tuner card. It offered pic in pic so you could use your computer while watching your favorite TV show in any corner the screen you wanted. CNET reviewed it in July, 2003 and concluded: “The SyncMaster 172MP is pricey, but its built-in TV and video-input capabilities make it a good option for multitaskers, students, and anyone with limited space.” And the price? Sit down and let that CNET review tell you! “For less than $800, this cleverly designed, Mac- and PC-compatible multifunction display doubles as an HDTV-ready television--once you attach the included TV tuner. The 172MP offers only an analog connection and ships with the necessary cable. You can also hook up a VCR, a DVD player, or a camcorder via the composite, component, and S-Video jacks on the back panel. The SyncMaster 172MP goes beyond the functionality of a typical LCD, but it costs more and sacrifices adjustability.” Imagine what you can get today for half that $800 price! Heck, you can get a decent monitor for a quarter of that price from just seven years ago. But the Samsung Monitor did serve me well and friends did come by to see when I first got it. I used as a TV and computer monitor for almost seven years. It had decent sound too for its size. But it wasn’t wide screen, and it was getting a little long in the tooth, so it was time to retire it to (echo) Dick’s Gadget Warehouse-e-e-e! 

SEE or hear this Netcast: www.twit.tv/dgw1160