Samsung shows off USB-powered monitor

Samsung has shown off a low-power monitor that draws all the energy it needs via USB.

Unveiled at the SID 2010 conference, the 18.5in monitor is powered entirely by the computer. As it needs as little as 6.3W of power, it doesn't need to be connected directly to the mains. It does require two USB ports, however, and manages that with a split cable.

Samsung managed to cut the power used by improving the panel's transmittance to about 7% and by using LED edge lighting.

Samsung told the Tech-On website that it planned to have the monitors on shelves by 2011. The prototype on display featured a widescreen resolution of 1,366 x 768, brightness level of 250cd/m2, and a contrast ratio of 1000:1.

While the power savings are impressive, a monitor of that size is likely to live on the desktop anyway, where access to standard power connections isn't likely to be a problem.