Samsung Syncmaster 172X LCD Monitor Review
They say
thin is beautiful, and if that is indeed the case the newly announced Samsung
172X is absolutely gorgeous. The 172X's thin silver screen measures a scant
10.8mm thick, giving it a profile that is actually starting to close
in on the realm of the notebook screen. Part of the beauty of the
Samsung 172X is that it also comes packaged with all that you need to mount
it on a wall; including a bracket, screws, etc.
Retailing
for a little under $580USD, the Samsung Syncmaster 172X is a 17" LCD (a-si
TFT/TN) that maintains a 1280x1024 resolution with 0.294mm pixel pitch. A quick
pixel response of just 12ms (note; the manufacturers timings represent the total time, not just rise) ensures that 'persistance' is kept to a absolute minimum. Wide viewing angles of 160 degrees horizontal and 140 degrees vertical keep the
picture looking as it should from all angles.
To improve visual display quality for different tasks quickly, a special button
allows you to cycle through the "MagicBright" menu. This essentially sets the brightness
level for optimal text, internet, or multimedia applications. As you probably already know, the brightness and contrast ratings are
among the most important specs that describe the visual quality of an
LCD monitor. Samsung's 172X ranks in very well with a 500:1 contrast level, but
comes in a little conservative with a luminosity of 270cd/m2.
On top of
all that we've mentioned, the 172X uses
a dual-hinged stand which completely covers all of the cables to the screen, so there is
no wiring mess. The screen collapses back to a thickness of about 26mm (1") which makes it ideal
for wall or arm mounting with the included VESA 75mm bracket. Additionally, the entire monitor weights just
3.7Kg.
The power
conscious will be happy to know that the Samsung 172X consumes just 40W of
power, thanks in part to the external AC adaptor and Digital Power
Management System (DPMS).
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