Samsung Syncmaster 171MP LCD - HDTV Review

One of the hardest aspects of reviewing technology is constantly having to sidestep previous iterations of a monitor, video card, or processor to something which is now tenfold better, and that makes your previous judgements now seem obsolete. It's also one of the best parts of this process because we are constantly being surprise by what the industrial designers are coming up with. To put it another way, "we have the technology, we can build them better, faster, stronger!"

While this isn't quite a re-run of the the six million dollar man, the very new, and very cool Samsung 171MP is something that has caught our attention.

In fact, before we even go one paragraph further, consider this anecdote. One of the guys in the office just got himself X-Box and brought it in to play "test". With no TV in the office, his first option was to hook it up to a Geforce 2 with TV-in.

Not the best way to go about things, but luckily we also had the 171MP on hand which has a built-in Video input (along with stereo sound no less). Thus we connected the X-Box right up to the display itself. A much simpler system and one which gave us him the flexibility to instantaneously switch back to the computers desktop (from the game input) when he, ummm, needed to look like he was working. :)

A versatile LCD display

What first appears to be just a very smart looking 17" TFT LCD manages to pack in HDTV compatibility an optional TV tuner for cable Television and if that weren't enough by itself, the 171MP also sports built-in speakers, RCA video and S-Video inputs. This LCD TV quite capable in the home, office, or multimedia studio. Stereo audio via RCA input and a mini-head phone jack are also cared for if headphones are you method of choice.

Oh, and did we mention that the whole display measures 2.3" thick?

With convergence as the driving force behind LCD designers who are determined to differentiate their products to consumers, the 171MP comes very well equipped. With the mass of features on board the 171MP we kind of wonder why anyone would even consider another LCD display in its price range?

Samsung SyncMaster 171MP Display:
	Major LCD Specs: Screen Size: 17" Diagonal Resolution: 1280x1024 pixel Pixel Pitch: 0.264" Luminosity: 240cd/m Contrast Ratio: 400:1 Viewable Angle: 80/80/80/80 Pixel Response: 35ms Power Draw: 52W Approx. Retail Price: $1200 USD Manufacturer: Samsung Inputs: Component Ouput for HDTV, Analog Video, S-VHS, RCA.

lcd display comparisons
display	pixel pitch	luminance	contrast	viewing angle	screen size	max resolution	price range
AOC LM-500	0.270 mm	200 cd/m2	150:1	50/50/40/40	15"	1024 x 768	$350
Hitachi CML153XW	0.297 mm	200 cd/m2	300:1	45/45/60/60	15"	1024 x 768	$400
Hitachi CML151XW	0.297 mm	200 cd/m2	350:1	45/55/60/60	15"	1024 x 768	$420
Samsung 150MP	0.297 mm	200 cd/m2	300:1	70/70/60/60	15"	1024 x 768	$650
Samsung 150T	0.297 mm	200 cd/m2	300:1	60/60/55/55	15"	1024 x 768	$600
Samsung 570S	0.297 mm	200 cd/m2	250:1	60/60/55/55	15"	1024 x 768	$500
Samsung 570V	0.297 mm	200 cd/m2	250:1	60/60/55/55	15"	1024 x 768	$400
Samsung 170MP	0.264 mm	170 cd/m2	220:1	80/80/80/80	17"	1280 x 1024	$1000
Samsung 171MP	0.264 mm	240 cd/m2	400:1	80/80/80/80	17"	1280 x 1024	$1250
Samsung 170T	0.281 mm	220 cd/m2	350:1	80/80/80/80	17"	1280 x 1024	$900
Samsung 180T	0.280 mm	220 cd/m2	350:1	80/80/80/80	18.1"	1280 x 1024	$1600
Samsung 800TFT	0.2805 mm	170 cd/m2	220:1	80/80/80/80	18.1"	1280 x 1024	$2500
				up/down/left/right			(USD)

The Syncmaster 171MP display comes in at about 5.0kg and even has its own folding carrying handle/removeable base. The monitor itself measures a scant 2.3" deep and has VESA mounting points on the back for an adjustable armature (100mm hole spacing).