Sharp's new 23 inch IT-TV does both PC and TV

By Bernard Cole
iApplianceWeb
(11/08/04, 3:52:42 PM GMT)

Huntington Beach, Ca. – Further blurring the boundary between what is a desktop PC and a home TV, Sharp Systems of America has just introduced the IT-23M1U the company calls the “IT-TV.” 

A 23-inch, wide aspect screem system that functions as both a PC monitor and a digital, HDTV-compatible LCD TV it includes a remote control capability that allows its use without having to start up the PC. 

According to Terry Hanly, product marketing manager at Sharp Systems of America, it’s wide aspect ratio allows users to comfortably view TV and other video while working on their PC.

For professional use, he said, the IT-23M1U could be used by day-traders who desire to keep abreast on the latest news reports while using the expansive screen space to monitor various market indicators. 

The dual use monitor comes complete with picture-in-picture functionality, superior image reproduction technology, a high brightness, and display functions to support a variety of image types and applications. 

With a high contrast ratio of 550:1 and high brightness of 500 nits, Hanly said the IT-23M1U display provides users with a large, high definition screen capable of viewing the most detailed computer-aided design images. 

With a response time under 16ms, the IT-23M1U provides high performance for sharp delineation of quickly moving, and/or high data images without latent images or ghosting. 

Among the technologies available for high picture quality reproduction of high-definition TV images, it with color and luminance improvement technology, which corrects waveform distortions that give pictures a washed-out look.  

Using this corrective technology, said Hanly, the IT-23M1U displays vivid and clear reproductions of detailed parts of images. The system can switch between different screen modes suited to the type of input, including analog, DVD, and other types of video.

Included in these display modes is 'normal mode' (which reproduces video with a 4:3 aspect ratio), 'wide mode' (which stretches out the 4:3 aspect video horizontally to fit the entire screen), 'cinema mode' (which displays video containing bands at the top and bottom by enlarging it to fit the entire screen), and 'full mode' (which takes advantage of full resolution of the monitor by displaying video from 16:9 to 4:3 over the entire screen without stretching). 

It also comes equipped with built-in 10-watt stereo speakers as well as Virtual Dolby Surround (Pro Logic II) technology for 3-dimensional sound effects. Its  inputs include analog mini D-sub 15 pin and a DVI-D 24 pin for PC accessibility.

For video, the monitor is equipped to handle RCA (component) inputs, S-Video, and high definition component for HDTV compatibility. The unit can also accept antenna RF input for local broadcast signals. 

Available now in 17 and 14 inch formats, the monitor is priced at $1,499. To learn more, go to www.sharpsystems.com.

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