I personally like the clean lines, and sharp appeal of the Samsung 173P, and so long as its users connect it to their PCs via the digital DVI cable, those control buttons which should be on the front of the monitor are very easily forgotten. However, should the PC only have an analog connection, you will need to install MagicTune software and fiddle around in it for a few minutes to get the Samsung 173P ship shape, and looking its best.

MagicTune makes virtually all of the adjustments an LCD display would reasonably require, available through a WindowsXP-ish interface of quick wizards, and very user friendly adjustment consols. It is so user friendly, it will absolutely drive advanced users nuts - leading them to crave one screen with a slew of controls and dials, I suspect.

Regardless of this, MagicTune 2.0 does work, and in spite of the hassle of installing software to adjust an LCD, its guides and wizards will assist even the most novice user to achieve a properly adjusted screen. Though, I'd advise everyone to simply make use of the digital DVI connector, which simplifies the entire operation. With the DVI connection, one only has to worry about colour saturation, contrast, and brightness.

Samsung's MagicTune software has a few more options for PCs running with an analog video connection; including geometry, colour temperature, primary colours, and a few other settings we've already mentioned. Being that the Samsung 173P is equipped with both a DVI and Analog interface at the rear of its circular, aluminum encapsulated stand, DVI is certainly the recommend way to go.

There is one glaring shortcoming to MagicTune's software, and that rests with a dual monitor system. If you intend to span your desktop across two monitors, it is not guaranteed that MagicTune will be adept enough to discern which display needs its critical assistance, and in such cases it will rudely shrug its shoulders with an error window.

I found that in our tests, by unplugging the other monitor, and setting the videocard to function with a single display (the 173P alone), that this resolved the issue and allowed me to then make the necessary adjustments to the 173Ps display properties.

At the behest of convenience, the single power button does covertly offer users a means to turn the Samsung 173P on and off, or cycle it between its Analog and Digital connections.

When the Syncmaster 173P display is switched over to the analog connection for the first time, it will quickly run through its own Auto Calibration to ensure the picture is centered, the phase and clock are appropriate for the resolution. Since the native setting is 1280x1024 pixels, the visual quality will be best when the resolution matches.