Installation:
One thing you need to know about USB displays is that you can not use them as the primary display on any system. Since they're run through USB and not a graphics card, they need their driver to be installed and operational before anything will show up on the display. Therefore, if you plan on running the LD190 as a primary display on your net-top or desktop then you will need to use the VGA cable. For secondary display use on a laptop, desktop, or virtually any computer, you will be just fine to use it in USB mode if you wish.

Installation of either method is quick and easy using the included driver CD, or if you're like me then you might go online to get the latest driver version before installing. The latest VGA driver is always found on the Samsung site, and the USB driver can be downloaded through the DisplayLink website.

Testing:
Don't mistake these new USB monitors for something "cheaper" or of lesser quality than a traditional LCD monitor. The LD190 is in every way a Samsung LCD monitor as all of their much larger desktop displays are. The panel quality was excellent and it actually reminded me of my old 2232GW with it's gloss front - a favored Samsung display of mine a year ago when it came out. I was starting to get a little worried that Samsung had ditched the gloss screen idea all together, but they clearly haven't. The non-reflective gloss coating that Samsung puts on their monitors really helps to "hype" up the contrast ratio a bit and give the display amazing, vivid colours. Ever since owning my old 2232GW, I haven't gone back to a matte display since.

Overall performance of the display did leave me very happy. It made an excellent companion for my notebook when docking it at home and would be a great addition to a desk at work too. When playing around with it as a primary display on my computer, I realized that 18.5" really isn't a bad size for casual computer users - it provides ample screen space to comfortably do your work while not cluttering up your desk either. Pair it up with a net-top PC and you've got a perfect, compact web browsing system!