Remember back in the dark ages of computing when so-called multimedia companies tried to convince us that our televisions could become the center of our entertainment universe?

Remember how poor the resolution was because of limitations of the picture tubes?

Well, welcome the new world of LCD TV.

The folks at the Syntax Groups Corp. have let me play with their new Olevia LT32HV Multimedia Display ($2,199), which can handle everything from standard analog television signals to digital input from your computer.

Its 32-inch wide-screen display handled everything I could pump through it. In fact, it has replaced my old 19-inch LCD computer monitor.

The only problem I had with it was when I tried to hook up my PC using the VGA output on my video card. I had to continually reset the resolution through Windows; either the computer or the monitor kept "forgetting" my settings.

I was able to resolve this by switching to the digital output on the card and using the DVI input on the back of the monitor.

Otherwise, it worked perfectly, adapting easily to analog, digital and HD TV signals, output from my DVD player and other tech toys I hooked up to it.

Among its key features:

• Super in-plane switching technology, which gives it the ability to produce sharp, clear images from any device.
• 178-degree expanded viewing angles. There's no deterioration of the image when you sit off to the side, which used to be the curse of old projection TVs.
• Dual built-in tuners, giving you picture-in-picture, split screen, POP3 and POP12 capabilities.
• 16:9 cinema-style widescreen aspect ratio.
• Two 15-watt surround speakers.
• A rear-panel AV lamp, so you can see the rear inputs.

Plus, it's only 5 inches deep, so you can easily mount it on a wall or even put it on a computer desk (which is what I did).

More information on this and other Syntax products can be found at www.syntaxgroups.com.

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