Samsung SyncMaster 193P Silver 19

Newer monitors have caught up with the Samsung SyncMaster 193P since we reviewed it in the August 2004 issue of PC World--and many have passed it. This time it earned a Very Good rating for text quality, whereas last time we rated its text Outstanding. The 193P's crisp representation of letters on a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, though remarkable when first reviewed, now looks average. Our jurors found the Microsoft Word test screen dim. A few jurors noted a cold, blue-green cast on most screens, but our photo of people had good detail and pleasing color balance. Overall, we rated the 193P Good for graphics quality. The 193P's overall image quality ranks in the bottom third of the current crop of recently tested monitors.

The 193P lets you make all four physical adjustments. Its tilt function is unusually flexible: You can tilt the screen so far back that it's parallel with the work surface, making it easier to share images with someone across a table. The monitor's height, pivot, and tilt functions require only a light touch--in fact, some users may find these features overly sensitive--but they stay put once you set them. Pivot software is included. The CD-based documentation includes screen shots, making it an especially useful manual.

Upshot: The Samsung SyncMaster 193P's full range of adjustability features make the monitor a comfortable fit for general use, though its image quality isn't tops.

Laura Blackwell