Date: May 18th, 2002
Article by: Nathan Glentworth (Head Editor & Hardware Reviewer)
Product was donated by: Samsung Canada
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PRODUCT SETUP

In this section, I will show you how this large TFT will dress up your workspace along with displaying the difference in size between the 17inch TFT reviewed today and just how much bigger it is than the 15 inch TFT I reviewed earlier.

First, I think the size comparison would be a good start off point...

In my own mindset, I thought 2 inches of viewable area was not a substantial increase. But as you can see by the comparison, it definitely is! The maximum resolution increase from 1024x768 to 1280x1024 really opens up your computer desktop workspace.

Now, how will this monitor dress up your workstation? Here is a good comparison on how much it cleaned up my tiny workspace.

With such a small workstation (I know, sad isn't it =( ), you can see that a 17inch CRT monitor really takes up allot of space.

With the installation of this 17inch LCD, I have gained ~1 inch in viewable area and opened up my workstation significantly. Not a bad tradeoff in my mind.

CONCLUSIONS & AFTERTHOUGHTS

The question burning in most people's minds is "Is a TFT LCD right for me?" and/or "Do I really need a large TFT, or would the smaller models be right for me?" Well, if you can see beyond the initial purchase price and have some foresight into the power savings you will be having in the future, the answer is definitely YES! The monitor will pay for itself. Now add in the features like contrast, vibrant colours and reduced eyestrain, and I think the decision is easy. But, it is true that not everyone can afford the initial cost of an LCD and that will be something that will decrease with time and the reduction of production costs.

If you are in the market for a superior TFT LCD, I think Samsung would be the right way to go. They back the whole unit with a comforting 3 year warranty which should set some minds at ease due to the delicate nature of these monitors. Now, if you are the proud parent of a child that is getting into computing at a very young age, there are some advantages and disadvantages to this monitor. The advantages would be the reduction in radiation and therefore the reduction of radiation exposure that your child would be subjected to. The disadvantages are that with a small child, they are accustomed to hands on learning and unfortunately, one good poke from a child's finger would severely damage this monitor and void your warranty and ruin a good investment. But if you have the capital, and the foresight, the 17 inch model is for you. But, if the price is a little steep, the 15 inch model will do the job perfectly.

Pro's

- Great Quality
- Good Looks
- Low Power Consumption
- Low workspace Footprint
- Vibrant colours and Contrast
- Low Radiation
- Low Eyestrain
- Exceptional Warranty

Con's

- Initial Price (US$700)is a little steep for some people.