Samsung SyncMaster 173P 17" TFT LCD Flat Panel Display

Company: Samsung
Product: 173P Silver TFT LCD Display
Date Reviewed: March 17, 2004
Reviewed By: Rob Parks
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Conclusions:

The Samsung SyncMaster 173P 17" Color TFT LCD display is about as good an LCD as we have ever seen. The colors are great, gaming is near perfect and text readability is amazing.  The 173P really encompasses everything one could want in a LCD. The software controls are excellent though limiting for anyone that is not using a Windows®  based operating system.  The 173P is an excellent multi use display.  It functioned very well in all of our tests. While it is not a prefect display for gamers, the 173P will not disappoint.  Samsung is well known for creating an excellent flat panel LCD displays and the 173P definitely lived up to those expectations. While sporting a nice 17" viewable area and less than one inch deep the Samsung  SyncMaster 173P definitely fits in the space saver category. The ability to mount this display directly onto a wall will be a sure plus for some.

There is no comparing the 173P to a CRT in terms of clarity or color, even compared to the previous models we have tested, the 173P comes out on top.  Text is crisp.  Colors are rich and bold, and black is black.  Not grey or washed out faded black.  All and all an excellent product by Samsung. The MagicTune software may cause some apprehension from more advanced users, but it works very well.  We found that it was as or more effective than the standard front panel controls.

Price is always a concern with consumers and the SyncMaster 173P comes with a hefty tag. Priced at around $630 this monitor is the most expensive 17" unit tested thus far.  While this may seem high, we have to remember that the quality, size and power consumption of this monitor is far better than a CRT.  LCD displays are also perfectly flat and square.  For the budget minded, a CRT is still the way to go.

The Good:
 - Excellent colors
 - Great DVD Playback
 - 700:1 Contrast Ratio
 - 270 cd/m2 Brightness
 - 1280x1024 Native Resolution
 - 75Hz Refresh rate
 - VGA and DVI connectors
 - DVI Cable Included
 - 3yr warranty
 - Front digital controls

The Bad:
 - More expensive than some other 17" flat panels
 - Mild Ghosting