ASUS outs webcam-equipped MK computer LCDs

ASUS has catered to both frequent video chatters and gamers with the launch of two new displays. Both the 22-inch MK221H and the 24-inch MK241H sport swiveling 1.3-megapixel cameras with microphone arrays, giving users of any OS with USB webcam support the ability to join video chats without extra hardware or software drivers. HDMI is equally standard on the screens and allows them to double as a TV equivalent for outside sources, such as Microsoft's Xbox 360 or a dedicated Blu-ray player. Chin-mounted 2W stereo speakers provide sound for users without the space for separate audio.

Beyond size, both LCDs are dictated by performance. The smaller MK221H generates 300cd/m2 of brightness and uses dynamic lighting to muster a 5,000:1 contrast ratio, while the larger MK241H drops the contrast to 3,000:1 in exchange for a brighter 450cd/m2 panel. Either screen is fast with a 2ms pixel response time and also includes DVI and VGA outputs for conventional PC input. Availability is not listed, though ASUS ships displays worldwide and notes that a stripped-down display, the MK221S, is also available without the HDMI and DVI inputs of the MK221H.