Samsung Syncmaster 173P 17-inch LCD Display Review

As I look at the Samsung 173P 17" LCD screen sitting next to my trusty old ADI Microscan CRT monitor, it is now most certainly "the age of the LCD." Samsung have mastered the art of the high contrast screen, and the Samsung 173P we are testing today certainly makes the CRT screen next to it appear old and gray by comparison.

Looking at the Samsung 173P, whites are bright and vibrant, and blacks almost seem to absorb every photon of light that passes by... all of which adds up to gorgeous screen characteristics that will make working on the 173P a pleasure. But what about gaming, or watching a few DVDs?

The compact little 17" screen of the Samsung Syncmaster 173P boasts a resolution of 1280x1024 pixels, and an industry standard dot pitch of 0.264mm that makes for a crisper image than current 19" LCDs can muster. While the 173P does retail a bit higher than the average 17" LCD, priced a little over $600USD, it does offer up a contrast ratio of 700:1 and brightness value of 270 cd/m2.

Its pixel refresh time is pretty standard at 25ms, but its viewing angles break the barrier at 178 degrees (horizontal/vertical). I'm not sure what person would expect to work on a screen from an angle of 2 degrees, but at least you have the option open to you. ;-)

Samsung 173P LCD Display Includes: Manual, digital video cable, analog video cable, power cable and AC adaptor, software, VESA mounting bracket. SPECIFICATIONS: Screen size: 17" Brightness: 270 cd/m2 Contrast Ratio: 700:1 Viewing Angle: 178°/178° Inerface: Analog/DVI Resolution: 1280x1024 Pixel Pitch: 0.264mm Response Time: 25ms Power Draw: 40W Dimensions: 15x15.6x1.8"

As we go over the Samsung 173P, I'd first like to draw your attention to the 20mm-wide aluminum bezel on the front of the display (the bezel is the thin strip surrounding the screen on all four sides). Do you notice a peculiar lack of buttons?

In keeping with the industrial design element of the Samsung "P-series," the Syncmaster 173P only has one button - a power button flanked by a subtle blue LED status indicator.

The power button is touch sensitive. Touch and hold it for a few seconds to set the 173P to cycle between the Analog and Digital video connections.

As LCD displays have quickly been transformed into functional works of art, a trend initiated by Apple's iMac, Tier1 manufacturers like Samsung have been striving to differentiate their products on the aesthetics front more and more. The 173P display is brother to the Porsche designed 171P, but it is not a blood relative.

In keeping with high style etiquette, the rear of the 173P is glossy white plastic (again, a tribute to just how pervasive iMac design is), and the front is button-less, its control features replaced entirely by a software program called MagicTune 2.0 (WinXP, 2K, ME) which we'll look into next.