Samsung SyncMaster LD190 in Monitors

The idea of connecting extra monitors to your PC or laptop via USB has been around for a while now - we've reviewed a number of DisplayLink adapters that allow you to convert your old screens. Buying a full-sized monitor solely for connection over USB is a new one for us, but Samsung's LD190 is just such a thing.

It's a stylish affair - all curves and black, glossy plastic - and it boasts an unusual design too. Instead of a common-or-garden monitor stand, the 19in LD190 is supported by a sturdy spring-mounted leg that swings out at the rear. This has rollers on its end that allow you to tilt the screen to any angle you wish, but there's no scope for adjusting the screen up and down.

On the rear is a D-SUB input and the expected USB port - simply connect to a spare socket on your netbook, laptop or PC, install the driver software and you're up-and-running. And the image quality you get from its 16:9 1,366 x 768 panel is commendably good, with bright punchy colours and deep blacks courtesy of a high gloss finish. You can even play HD video on it, as long as you're careful about keeping the bitrate of the file you're using low. That's impressive but there are problems.

We're not keen on the touch-sensitive controls next to the power button - they're far too sensitive and occasionally get confused and stuck in an endless loop. There's no contrast control, which means that colours at the upper end of the intensity scale tend to bleach out. You don't get speakers, and the claimed Blu-ray playback is unfounded - we couldn't get Blu-ray discs to display at all.

For all that, though, we like this screen, and that's largely due to its surprisingly low price of just £93 exc VAT; very cheap when you consider that some DisplayLink adapters alone cost this much. Its odd stand, limited adjustment options and annoying menu controls mean it's not a screen we'd recommend using as a main display, but if you're in need of extra desktop space and haven't any video outputs to spare it's an extremely good deal.

Author: Jonathan Bray