The SyncMaster 971P has a lot of fantastic features going for it, including 178-degree viewing angles and a fairly high 1500:1 contrast ratio. But it's not without its faults either:

The Samsung SyncMaster 971P TFT-LCD monitor offers some exceptional picture quality and viewing angles that are second to none. The colors jump out at you with their utter vibrancy and the contrast is fantastic with the darkest blacks and the whitest whites. The refresh rate was equally impressive. I can also appreciate the physical aesthetics of this monitor, as the high gloss finish is a real head-turner, as is the blue-glowing, touch-sensitive power "button."

Sadly, there are a few things that need some improvements, the most noticeable of which is the aspect ratio. Most people want widescreens, so why go for an even squarer aspect than the conventional 4:3 (this LCD is 5:4)? The stiff hinge was also frustrating, as was the recessed DVI port in the rear that didn't allow any room for DVI-to-VGA adapters, should you have an older graphics card (or many entry- to mid-range laptops). The two USB ports are a bonus, but there could have been more if that's something they wanted to include.