The MultiSync LCD2170's ergonomics are decidedly mixed. The round base is mounted on a smooth swivel so you can turn the screen 360 degrees with a finger. The front/back tilt range is generous, and the monitor's neck has a five-inch vertical adjustment, making it easy to put the screen center at eye level.
The power and control buttons are a bit unusual. Instead of being built into the bezel (as is usual), they hang slightly below it. The buttons have a soft touch and no click for feedback, which may bother some folks. On the other hand, the display uses a mini-joystick to let you control menu navigation and adjust settings with one finger an elegant solution. Top this off with two USB ports mounted on the left hand of the bezel, and the LCD2170 debuts as a well-integrated package. The only thing missing is the ability to rotate to portrait mode.
Setup for the LCD2170 was simple. Downloading and installing the NaviSet control software from the NEC Web site was easy enough, but a CD would have been welcome. That said, the software installed easily and it automatically installed the correct monitor driver; a welcome change from many wonky automatic or tedious manual driver installations. NaviSet integrates into the Display control panel under the Advanced tab: a good conservative option eliminating excess desktop taskbar icons.
I did hit some problems with the display after some initial video tweaks, the software, which depends on DDC/CI communication with the monitor, ceased working. A well-done Help Guide let me know what to check, but only a reinstallation of my ATI video card's Catalyst Control Center set things right. As I noted in the 19-inch LCD roundup, ATI software may not get along with additional graphics control packages.
The NaviSet software mimics the functions of the hardware buttons and adds some extras, including helpful calibration patterns similar to the ones in DisplayMate. The software also shows you the monitor serial number and manufacture date (which could come in handy for any tech support issues). When using a digital interface, only brightness and contrast settings are available; but if you use analog RGB inputs there are sliders for color balance and sharpness. There is also a button that resets the LCD to factory settings.
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
Maintaining existing network infrastructures often incurs huge technical debt before newer technologies are adopted over time.
Amid ongoing regional uncertainties, telecom infrastructure in the Middle East has expand to include terrestrial low-latency network infrastructure, which offers resilience and agility in navigating political complexities without relying solely on undersea networks.
