Sharp Unveils 23-Inch ‘IT-TV’ HDTV Monitor

Dubbed by Sharp as an "IT-TV," the IT-23M1U is a 23-inch, wide aspect ratio display that functions as both a PC monitor and a digital, HDTV-compatible LCD TV.

“Both consumers and professionals are going to love the performance and flexibility of the Sharp IT-23M1U,” said Terry Hanly, product marketing manager at Sharp Systems of America. “From spreadsheets and video editing, to computer aided design and other CAD/CAM function, down to DVD & TV viewing and game console playing, the IT-23M1U is an advanced display that offers something for everyone.”

With a high contrast ratio of 550:1 and high brightness of 500 nits, 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.

Complete with HDTV functionality, the IT-23M1U offers an array of technologies for high picture quality reproduction of high-definition TV images. Included in these technologies is a movement adaptive digital noise reduction function, which improves the reproduction and sharpness of pictures with rapid movement to reduce the ’signal noise’ at the edges of moving objects. Additionally, the monitor comes with color and luminance improvement technology, which corrects waveform distortions that give pictures a washed-out look. Using this corrective technology, the IT-23M1U displays vivid and clear reproductions of detailed parts of images, with irresistibly brighter whites and crisper, darker blacks. Pixel by pixel, the IT-23M1U provides precision and performance for high-quality PC and TV images.

The IT-23M1U comes with an array of display functions to support a variety of image types and applications. 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).

Enhancing the experience of the IT-23M1U, the unit comes equipped with built-in 10-watt stereo speakers to provide an enhanced audio experience. Using Virtual Dolby Surround (Pro Logic II) technology for 3-dimensional sound effects, the IT-23M1U reproduces theatre surround with “like you are there” presence.

The IT-23M1U 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 immediately the Sharp IT-23M1U ‘IT-TV’ monitor sells for an estimated street price of $1,499.