Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful, but beware the software-only OSD
Review: I recently purchased two of the 173P displays for use in a dual-monitor setup. They are truly gorgeous, with respect to both image quality and exterior fit and finish.Unfortunately, Samsung's choice of the MagicTune software instead of a true hardware-based On-Screen-Display can be problematic. In my case, I wanted to calibrate the displays using my EyeOne system. Now, the first step in any good color calibration process is to accurately set the white point. I expected to use MagicTune to accomplish this, but found it sorely lacking. First, on my DVI connection I got no white point control--there was just nothing to click, a blank spot in the interface! Portrait Displays, the vendor that makes Display Tune (the software OSD rebranded by Samsung as MagicTune) says on their support site that "[the white point] sub menu may not function if you are using the digital connection of your graphics card and monitor". Hmm, rats. OK, how about the analog VGA connection for my secondary monitor? No luck. I found the granularity of the RGB primary adjustments to be very large, such that it was absolutely impossible to get the white point where it needed to be. Either R, G, or B was constantly over or undershooting the target. Next, I tried using my video card driver's software RGB brightness controls to set the white point. It seemed OK at first, but failed after the profiling process. The white point was wacky on both monitors, and there were large inconsistencies in the color rendition between analog and digital that I couldn't live with. Any attempt to fine tune manually after profiling (again, using the video card controls) only made things worse. Granted, my particular video card setup is partly responsible, but having hardware color control in the monitor would have been REALLY nice at this point. Finally, I found a solution in a shareware utility called PowerStrip. Among many useful features, it lets you tweak your video card color output (with individual brightness/gamma/contrast/temp controls for all RGB primaries) directly at the hardware level. I set both white points, profiled the monitors, and cleaned up the analog/digital inconsistency post-profiling in just a few minutes. In spite of my minor ordeal, I really love the 173P and am very satisfied. All other aspects of the MagicTune software are a pleasure to work with--it's a bit odd that color control is so limited. At any rate, workarounds do exist for us color fanatics :) (NB: my system runs Windows XP w/ a Radeon 9600XT)
Rating:
Summary: Worth the money
Review: I wanted an LCD with top image quality for precise photo editing, as well as general use. The 173P was above average in price, but the image quality is outstanding. I use the DVI input at the native resolution of 1280x1024 and it looks great. In my opinion, the image quality is the best of any monitor I have seen. Contrast, color, and angle of view are all excellent. I was worried about color and tonal accuracy when editing my images because many serious photographers recommend against LCD monitors for photo editing. These "experts" must be behind the times because my images on the 173P come the closest I have experienced to looking at my original slides on a light table. I calibrated with an eye-one display calibrator, but even before calibration I would rate the color accuracy as excellent. I also use this monitor for text and gaming. Text looks great and is very readable, especially using ClearType on Windows XP. When gaming, I don't see any visible ghosting or other motion artifacts, so the response time must be adequate. As you can tell, I am extremely satisfied with this purchase. I'm a picky buyer and usually have some nits to pick with almost anything I buy, but after 2 months of use I am 100% satisfied with this monitor. Not only does the image on the screen look great, the monitor itself has a very elegant design. It looks clean and simple and has a great range of position and angle adjustments. My 173P doesn't have a single bad pixel. You can get a cheaper LCD if you only want to use it for text, but if you want the best, you won't be disappointed with this one.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the money
Review: I wanted an LCD with top image quality for precise photo editing, as well as general use. The 173P was above average in price, but the image quality is outstanding. I use the DVI input at the native resolution of 1280x1024 and it looks great. In my opinion, the image quality is the best of any monitor I have seen. Contrast, color, and angle of view are all excellent. I was worried about color and tonal accuracy when editing my images because many serious photographers recommend against LCD monitors for photo editing. These "experts" must be behind the times because my images on the 173P come the closest I have experienced to looking at my original slides on a light table. I calibrated with an eye-one display calibrator, but even before calibration I would rate the color accuracy as excellent. I also use this monitor for text and gaming. Text looks great and is very readable, especially using ClearType on Windows XP. When gaming, I don't see any visible ghosting or other motion artifacts, so the response time must be adequate. As you can tell, I am extremely satisfied with this purchase. I'm a picky buyer and usually have some nits to pick with almost anything I buy, but after 2 months of use I am 100% satisfied with this monitor. Not only does the image on the screen look great, the monitor itself has a very elegant design. It looks clean and simple and has a great range of position and angle adjustments. My 173P doesn't have a single bad pixel. You can get a cheaper LCD if you only want to use it for text, but if you want the best, you won't be disappointed with this one.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome LCD!
Review: I'm an average computer user - mainly MS Office apps, photoediting, and Internet, but the switch from CRT for these simple computing tasks is amazing. The color and clarity are unbelievable. But my favorite feature is the pivot function. WOW! Why didn't someone think of that a long time ago? I LOVE being able to read my email, Word docs, and web sites on one screen, with little to no scrolling. And I was able to plug and play. I've read some reviews about PivotPro not working correctly, but I haven't had any problems whatsoever (I use WinXP Pro), including leaving it in portrait view when I turn it off and back on. One more thing - and this may be picky - but I didn't want a black monitor. My office is light and bright, and this monitor is very aesthetically pleasing plus super thin. I also haven't made any adjustments, except for setting it to 1280x1024 res. I bought this product sight unseen based on reviews, and I couldn't be happier. I haven't needed the DVI capability yet, but wanted to have a digital-capable product for future needs. This LCD IS kinda pricey, but I'll have it for years. Great investment.
Rating: 
Summary: Software must improve
Review: It's a great monitor except for the software that replaces the usual buttons for brightness, contrast etc. The idea of replacing the buttons with SW may make some sense but Samsung has made a poor implementation. Every time I log in, the Samsung SW will put an hour-glass in the middle of the screen for up to 30 seconds while it communicates with the monitor over DVI. I really don't know what it is doing, because it does not even restore the view settings I last used, they are always set to the default values. Hopefully this will be resolved in a SW update sometime. Except for the problems mentioned above it is a great monitor. It has a little ghosting when playing fast action games, but not too severe. The package includes a DVI cable and using that the picture is crystal clear with very nice colors.
Rating:
Summary: Rotating feature is the super!
Review: Not much to say! The best 17" LCD monitor on the market. I used many of them including NEC, Dell, and others. This one looks the best and works the best. Sharp picture, great text! I found extremely usefull to rotate monitor 90 when browsing internet! I love it! Was delivered from Amazon on the second day when I choose "free super saver" shipping option. Bought for $609.
Rating: 
Summary: Samsung 173P is amazing!!!!
Review: Samsung has been an active topic of LCD display reviews on Bytesector in the past. Today we bring you a review on one of Samsungs' latest LCD monitors, the 173P. This display brings many key features to the table and delivers them in a great device. First of all, this is sort of the 171P the continuation in the "17 inch P series". This display comes with the highest contrast ratio I have seen in an LCD display yet; with a 700:1 ratio, they are no mistaking greys for whites or blacks. The back of this monitor is a nice pure white which leads us to believe that there was a bit of an Apple influence in the design of this display! Read on to find out what we think of this display. (full review available @ bytesector.com)
Rating:
Summary: Very Pleased
Review: This is my first desktop LCD monitor. I was looking for something very good, 17 inch, maybe around $500. My search at that price was not successful. Enter this Samsung 173P. Altho more expensive, I am extremely pleased. Very bright, very clear, and easy to use. Height & tilt adjustment, and 90 degree rotation are very simple.
I used the 173P first with an analog input, which was satisfactory. Now I am using digital input (DVI) and the results are even better.
Bottom line - pricey but great.
Rating:
Summary: Great Looking Display!
Review: This LCD monitor is pricey, but it's also light, stylish and produces exceptional images. I purchased this as a gift for my wife who is a photographer and spends lots of time editing photos in Photoshop. The pivot feature is awesome as it allows her to view full size 8x10 photos with no problem and the viewing angle at almost 180 deg. rivals crt monitors. The included monitor calibration software is also easily to use and allows you to adjust all the key screen characteristics as well as calibrate the monitor with the printer. Definitely worth the price if you're a media or graphics professional.
Rating:
Summary: Excelent design and image
Review: This monitor pleases your eyes in two ways. The image is excelent! The design is very cool.
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