Samsung LN-R238WA 23-Inch Widescreen HDTV-Ready Flat-Panel LCD TV
Huge Difference Between LN-R238WA and LN-R238W
The WA model is newer and is apparently being manufactured for those who really will not use their sets as a PC Monitor.  The \\"W\\" model is a bit older, and I'm not certain of its current manufacturing status, but there is an enormous difference between the two when using them with a PC.     If you intend to use the monitor for a PC, be sure to only get the \\"W\\" model, not the \\"WA\\".  Pay attention to the labeling from the manufacturer on the box (and not the retailer's labels).  The \\"WA\\" and \\"W\\" clearly have different labels and they are indicated as such on the boxes.  Don't take the retailer's word for what they are selling either, because most sales people at the stores have no idea there is a difference.     I first bought what I thought was a an LN-R238W (which turned out really to be the \\"WA\\" model instead) from a local Best Buy.     Upon unpacking it and setting it up, I was very pleased with picture quality with both my HDTV set top box (Adelphia Los Angeles with a Moxie DVR).  The quality using the component inputs was outstanding for all the HDTV channels, and the quality was also excellent using a Samsung DVD player with the HDMI input (both the DVD player and the LN-R238W and WA have HDMI input).      I encountered a problem however, when trying to use the VGA input from my computer. The native resolution for PC on the WA is 1280 x 728, which produced barely passable results with blurring of text and color pushing and bleeding around the edges.  Also the gamma and brightness were unacceptable as well.      I was curious about why the PC monitor wasn't working as I had anticipated, but then I noticed that manual indicated there were two versions of the 23\\" Samsung, i.e., the \\"W\\" and the \\"WA\\".   I had always assumed that there was only one model, and that I had purchased the \\"W\\" because that's how Best Buy was advertising it.     The manual indicated that the resolution for the PC monitor with the \\"W\\" was 1360 x 768, which obviously is a slightly bigger bitof screen real estate than the resolution for the WA.  Not a lot, but different.  In fact, upon reading the manual a bit more carefully, it appeared that the only real true PC resolution for the WA model was 1024 x 768, which was way smaller than the \\"W\\" model's resolution.     I tried the 1024 x 768 on the WA, and it was passable, but just barely and didn't display enough of the screen to be truly useful for me. Also, the text was still too blurry to be satisfying, and I was unable to correct the blurring and bleeding enough to satisfy me.   I also tried various other resolutions with the WA set, and could actually get it to go to 1360 x 768 using the NVIDIA drivers, but I just couldn't get the text to display acceptably without blurring and color bleeding.    I then started to read the reviews here, at CNet, at Circuit City's site, at AVSForums.com, and anywhere else I could find reviews, and discovered that others had the same problem, and that there was really a difference between the \\"W\\" model (which I didn't have but wanted) and the WA model which I had been supplied with by Best Buy (even though they were passing it off as the \\"W\\").     So, I decided I wanted to see if there really was a difference between the WA and the W models in real life.   I knew that Best Buy wasn't to be trusted, so I thought of other stores I could check to see if they had a true \\"W\\" model I could buy.  I figured if the W was really better, I'd keep it and return the WA to Best Buy (which has a 30-day return policy for TV's with no restocking charge).  So, I called a local Circuit City and verified they had a true \\"W\\" in stock (not \\"WA\\") and bought it, hooked it up and immediately noticed a stunning difference.     Don't let anyone tell you that there is no difference between the W and the WA when it comes to using the set as a PC Monitor, because there is, and it's huge.     The W is simply stunning, with bright, clear text, correct color and gamma, and that was without doing any calibration or adjustment, right out of the box.     It is likely the case that there is no difference for use with broadcast HDTV signals or with DVD playback.  But if you plan to use the set with a PC, be absolutely sure you get the \\"W\\" and not the \\"WA\\" set.     Now that I've got the correct model, I have to say I'd recommend it (the true \\"W\\" model) to anyone who wants to get a larger monitor to use with their PC as well as a solid LCD HD display for HDTV, DVD's and even SDTV.     Of course, if you're not interested in the PC monitor function, then you can settle for the WA model and you won't be any worse for wear.     A couple of other notes:   Don't even think of using the HDMI input for your PC display.  The VGA input uses true 1x1 pixel mapping (which is why the display on the W is so good at 1360 x 768), but like all LCD HDTV's the set employs a good deal of overscan with the HDMI (as well as component) inputs used to display HDTV.  This is acceptable for watching broadcast TV and DVD playback, but it doesn't work with PC displays.  Various people have tried to get it to work using Powerstrip (a very useful utility which allows one to design their own custom monitor timings for their PC to be able to use various HDTV's with either DVI inputs or HDMI) or the NVIDIA drivers.  It really doesn't work well, so unless you've got a lot of time and patience, don't even think about it.  You've got to use the VGA input which works very well.    In my case, I have a dual display NVIDIA card and I use the Samsung as a 2nd monitor, to extend my desktop...But it's so cool to see the desktop really large, that I sometimes find myself using it as my primary monitor...     Anyway, just be careful which model number you get if you decide to buy the 23\\" Samsung LCD HDTV.