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Samsung 971P


Date
: 09/27/06 – 02:13:30 AM

Author
:

Category
: Monitors

Page 1 : Index

Manufacturer:
Samsung Canada

Price:
$380.00 USD (CompUSA.com)

Every couple of months Samsung likes to send me a monitor to get my opinion on how it functions and works. Perhaps some insight into the design is anticipated as well. The last monitor I looked at was the fluid 970p and my only complaint was the hinge system needed work. So what did Samsung do? What they always do…they made it better and came right back with an answer for me.

Samsung is no stranger to anyone buying a computer monitor, whether it be a CRT or LCD. They are an industry leader in performance, design, and quality so when I saw the announcement for the 971p I was not surprised. Samsung is not a company that will be happy with the comment of "very nice but…" when it comes to their products. The 971p is intended to remove those "buts" from that earlier quote.

Designed very much like the 970p, the Samsung 971p appears to have tweaked the hinge system they used on the 970p. From initial photos I have seen, I also think they have managed to make it look even better if it was possible. The specifications look good and the monitor looks good, so lets get to work and see just how good the 971p gets.

Page 2 : Package

I have become accustomed to the white boxes with minimal design input from Samsung on the esthetically pleasing monitors they produce. The 971p certainly is something to look at and of course comes packed neatly in a typical Samsung white package.

Again, the design won't overpower you but it also won't scare you away. I like the simple design theme to a package like this. It lets the beauty of the monitor speak for itself in the photos and doesn't rely on graphics to sell the package.

Much like the Samsung 970p I reviewed a few months ago, the 971p is based on a hinge system for infinite positional possibilities. The biggest thing for me in this review will be to see if the 971p improved upon the faults of the 970p hinge.

Of course, the 971p is a 19" panel and despite the images showing a white monitor, I was told my sample should be a black model. White is always nice, but black is so much better so I am pleased with the option of either color with the 971p.

It isn't a monitor box if it doesn't have a handle on top. Samsung doesn't forget about us with arms too small to wrap around the box, a 6 year old could carry this package.

Here is a sneak preview of the black version that I will be reviewing today. We can also see a number of logos which define features or specifications of the monitor. If you don't recognize them, don't worry. I will be going over all of that type of stuff next in the specifications section.

Page 3 : Specifications

I have noticed lately that many 19" monitors carry a very similar specification sheet. The 971p doesn't stray far from the norm for the most part but there are a couple of exceptions. 1280×1024 is the standard resolution at this size and the 971p is no different but the 6MS response time is up from the usual 8 ms we see at this resolution. Here are the rest of the specifications:

The highlights are the Contrast ratio of 1500:1 and the 6ms response time (Grey to Grey). Samsung builds quality panels and these specifications we just looked at are painting a picture of a very nice screen to use. Samsung also has a whole suite of programs that add to the performance of the monitor, I borrowed a few images from the Samsung.ca web site that describe a couple of these Magic features:

Here is the list of all the Magic features that Samsung has for their monitors to customize the output.

• MagicBright
• MagicTune
• MagicColor
• MagicRotation
• MagicSpeed

  I will be going through the setup of some of these programs during the installation section. Until then, it is time for some eye candy of this beautiful looking monitor.

  
  Page 4 : Contents
  

  There will be no surprise when I open the package. I expect to see a large styrofoam piece on each side of the monitor with the base folded into itself.

  

  When you get it right so many times, why bother changing it. This packing method is the only way anyone does it and it is because there is virtually no chance of damage to the unit with proper handling.

  

  The accessories are not so much accessories as they are the cables we need to use the monitor. Samsung has included both DVI and VGA cables for connecting the monitor to my computer as well as the standard manual and CD with the Magic software and driver.

  

  The monitor is wrapped in a protective bag and then squished in-between two molded pieces of styrofoam. Like I said, there is no way the monitor can get damaged unless the box is dropped a fair distance or punctured completely through. Either of which are not acceptable handling practices.

  

  I assumed the base to be tucked under the actual panel like the 970p and with the styrofoam taken off the base springs to life.

  
  The key feature to this monitor aside from a quality Samsung LCD panel, is the Flexible hinge.
  

  The only other stickers or markings on the monitor is this small plastic piece that outlines the Magic features of the monitor. It simply peels off and there is no residue left behind.

  

  Pulling the camera back reveals our first full look at the monitor and right away I notice how much smaller and compact the base appears on the 971p compared with the 970p.

  

  From behind I can count two hinges already and I would imagine a third is present at the connection to the actual panel. The rear corner of the slim base is also where the multiple connections are located.

  

  Two USB 2.0 ports are located on the right with the power and USB up-link on the left. I under stand the addition of these ports but with such a clean base I would hope no one leaves anything plugged into the base without special cable management. At this point I am just going to let the camera do the talking, I could have taken photos all day long of this wonderful monitor.

  
  
  
  The monitor makes the photographs look like a piece of art when it isn't the photograph that is captivating, it is the monitor itself.
  

  It looks awkward but there are instances when this adjustment could come into play. Looking down at a monitor from a standing position could come in handy in a number of situations I can think of, especially the retail environment.

  

  Through the magical use of a tri-pod and photo editing software, I have shown the maximum tilt of the display when in the standard viewing position. The range of motion should be plenty for any user.

  

  With MagicRotate showing up in the specifications, I knew already that we had the ability to rotate to a vertical position. This is my favorite format and makes web-browsing a whole new experience.

  

  My favorite position that I could manipulate the FlexibleHinge system, is this one above. With the monitor rotated back to its natural position I like to lower the panel right down. It almost looks like a CRT monitor from certain angles but obviously isn't.

  
  Page 5 : Setup & Installation
  

  The installation section will begin with actual physical setup and finish with some screenshots and description of the software side of things. I won't get into the software much as the Samsung software suite hasn't change since our last Samsung monitor reviews.

  

  I will be placing the screen in this position on my desk for the duration of the review period as it will be fighting bright side-lighting from the large window exit stage right. This should be a good test of the contrast and brightness levels of the monitor while fighting the sun for my eyes attention.

  

  I have been provided with both DVI and VGA cables to connect the monitor and since I have an open DVI port on the video card in the machine I am running this monitor on, DVI it will be.

  

  At first when I saw how the cable attached to the base I thought it was pretty cool, then I realized it will be a very awkward squeeze to get that DVI-IN connected. That is until I noticed the connector swiveled out. You can't really see it in this photo but the whole metal connection assembly can rock in and out of this socket for easy cable connection.

  

  With the one end connected and the cable routed through the bottom of the base, the Samsung 971P should be ready to roll. Notice how I laid the monitor on its face in the packaging in order to get at the base, this is almost a necessity as it is a bit difficult to get at the bottom without a second set of hands…which, by the way, I ordered from the "Second Set of Hands" store a long time ago but they still haven't shown up.

  

  The slight difficulty in getting the DVI cable connected pays off when you have the monitor setup and all that sticks out are these two small cables that can be easily routed. This is obviously a stylish design for an LCD panel and Samsung has gone out of the way to design a way to keep cable clutter to a minimum in order to maintain that high level of style.

  

  Installation of the software brings up the familiar Samsung installation software via a web browser and basic HTML pages. I show this screen to emphasize just how many languages are included in the installation and setup guide.

  

  The installation process is straight forward and just a matter of clicking on the appropriate links. With the software installs there is also access to an extremely helpful manual that covers every aspect of use with the Samsung 971p.

  

  There are instructions on manual installation and driver updates should you need to take that route. Basically, Samsung explains everything one could want to know about the monitor and software included with it.

  

  The one drawback to the Samsung installation process is that Internet Explorer is required in order to have a fully automated installation. Naturally no one in their right mind uses Internet Explorer (ducks and hides) so it would be nice to see Samsung add Firefox to the list of compatible browsers for automatic installation of software. This could also be a by-product of the fact that Internet Explorer is a security vulnerability and allows scripts to run that Firefox would not, so it may be out of Samsungs hands.

  
  With all the software installed and ready to go I turned to Natural Color Pro to setup a color profile for the Samsung 971p.
  

  Within a few minutes I had my custom profile and was ready to start putting this beautiful piece of hardware through its paces.

  
  Page 6 : Performance & Testing
  

  There will be no benchmarks ran because, well, because there is no such thing as a monitor benchmark. We here at Overclockers Online.com use what is called the "constant use" testing method. This method involves using this monitor constantly for a month playing all kinds of games and watching handfuls of movies…that is my kind of testing.

  

  The first part of testing with this monitor involves having a look at the endless amount of positions the 971p can pose in. The first thing I noticed from this model to the 970p was that the hinge system is a lot better. The loose, wobbly feel to the 970p is gone. Auto rotate works like a champ and with the flick of a wrist I am reading entire web pages without using a scroll wheel.

  

  One of the positions I really like is with the monitor edge touching down on the desk. This position is perfect for someone looking at a monitor while standing up or at a higher position than the monitor.

  

  My other favorite position has the monitor back to the standard orientation and again lowered almost to the desk. It makes the monitor feel more like a CRT monitor but without the huge backside.

  
  Naturally, low isn't the only way to go with this monitor. It can stand up and be counted as well.
  

  Now this is how most people will be using this monitor and that is fine. It holds its position extremely well and like I said, bumps to the desk do not rattle the screen. The hinge system is about as good as I could expect it to be and I have absolutely no complaints about the hinge on the Samsung 971p.

  

  Samsung has taken the magic tune settings one step further on this monitor making it unbelievably easy to switch between the various modes that are offered. The button located here dances through the modes in an instant.

  

  The bottom left corner is our menu of options and it pops up with the button push and consecutive pushes of the button cycle through the modes. You can go from Internet to Movie in about 1.8 seconds. Below is an image I put together of the various options, each section is labeled by the mode it is in.

  

  This isn't exactly my best photography work but it almost gets the point across. We can see brightness increases going from Text mode to Internet to Game mode. When switching to Sport, the temperature of the screen cools introducing a slight blue tint to the color. In comparison the Movie mode warms up the colors giving off a bit more of a yellow tint to the colors. The image above doesn't do the changes justice but they certainly are there when viewing the different modes in person.

  

  Next up on my agenda was hours and hours of game play. That meant plenty of Far Cry as these images show. The performance was amazing throughout the length of late nights and long days sitting in front of the Samsung 971p. No ghosting, or smearing of the image occurred and the color representation was impeccable.

  

  The brightness and contrast of the screen come to life in the jungle under heavy tree cover allowing the user to see everything the game had to show.

  

  I don't play many games other than Far Cry so that is all the images I have but will say that BF2 and F.E.A.R. perform just as well as Far Cry does. The last of the features I want to show you about this monitor is the available viewing angle.

  

  If you recall on the specifications page, the viewing angle is claimed to be 178 Degrees by Samsung. Now this image isn't at exactly 178 degrees of an angle but I can say without a doubt that you can clearly view this monitor from any position in the room.

  
  Page 7 : Conclusion
  

  The Samsung 971p has done everything short of drive me to work for the time that I have had it. Dinner was always on the table when I got home and the house hasn't been dirty since it showed up. Oh, and the display is simply amazing doing its native job of being an LCD panel. Everything about this monitor dictates class and sophistication, right down to the touch sensitive power button.

  

  The hinge system that the screen hangs from has been improved upon immensely from the previous version of this system on the 970p. Unlike the 970p, the Samsung 971p is rock solid and very sturdy even when the panel is extended to its limits. Table bumps and adjustments don't leave the screen shaking for a few seconds afterwards and the position of the hinge seems to lock in place where you want.

  Aside from the esthetics of the 971p, like every Samsung LCD panel, the screen is stunning. The brightness and contrast make images and colors jump off the page and slap you in the face. The preset options that can be quickly cycled through are perfect for all situations and one couldn't ask for more adjustments through software that is included in the box. The Samsung 971p has just thrown for an 80 yard touchdown on opening weekend late in the 4th quarter to win the game and gets my fantasy start next week regardless of who it is playing.

  

  Advantages:

  Much improved and almost perfect hinge system
  Contrast and brightness improved provide amazing color
  Touch sensitive power button is too cool

  Disadvantages:

  The price is at the higher end of the 19" market
  People will try to steal the monitor from you…trust me, it will happen

  Overclockers Online would like to thank Samsung for providing this sample for review.