Review: Samsung SyncMaster 2263DX

We all need a little extra screen real estate from time to time. So when widgets, windows and various other digital ephemera start to metastasize, there are generally two common fixes: Upgrade to a more spacious 24 or 30-inch monitor, or shell out a little extra scrilla for a second screen to complement the first.

Samsung's latest solution is a bit more, um, freakish.

The SyncMaster 2263DX may in fact be the first documented case of craniopagus parasiticus in an LCD unit, and is actually two monitors in one - a dominant 22-inch screen with a not-quite-fully-developed 7-inch (parasitic) monitor protruding from its backside. Admittedly, it's a nifty idea, especially for those with limited desk space. But a combination of high price and, well, second-rate performance cripple this intriguing two-headed experiment.

Aesthetically, the primary monitor actually shares a lot in common with its distant one-headed cousin, the SyncMaster 226BW...which is a good thing. The LCD is coated in an attractive black glossy plastic and has a sleek, no frills exterior. Despite its comely appearance, the unit's specs do nothing to get the blood pumping to the pleasure centers of the brain. With a 1680 x 1050 native resolution, a 5 ms response time, and the requisite DVI, HDMI, VGA inputs, the 2263DX is solid, yet completely ordinary, as far as 22-inch LCDs go.

As for the twin UbiSync 7 mini-me monitor, this little guy attaches to the main unit via USB and can be repositioned around the larger unit with a special rotating swing arm in both landscape and portrait modes. If the arm freaks you out, the monitor can also be set up as a kind of stand-alone digital screen directly on your desk.

While the UbiSync 7's native resolution is only 800 x 480, it has a pleasingly detailed picture. We were also able to cram a surprising amount of information on the small screen, too, from IM chats to other pixelated garbage we inevitably amassed during the day.

Make no mistake, Samsung is on to something here, and there are definitely a handful of compelling scenarios where a small, dedicated screen can come in handy. Hard-core Photoshoppers will no doubt appreciate a separate dedicated space to dump their various tools and view unsullied photos in their full screen glory on the unit's main screen. At the end of the day, we're still talking about a 7-inch monitor though. And when you factor in the cost of the 2263DX - $550 - and the fact that you can actually buy and pair two decent 20-inch monitors for about $100 less, the 2263DX is probably best described as a cool novelty act and not the main attraction in this LCD sideshow.