If you've spent even an hour staring at a computer screen, you'll know that choosing a sharp, clear monitor that is easy on your eyes is a very worthwhile investment. The following guide will help you make the right choice for your environment and your budget.
What kinds of computer monitors are available?
CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) are the two basic types of technology used for computer monitors. If you've used a television set or an ATM machine, you're already familiar with each of these types of technology.
CRT Monitors CRT technology has proven to be a very reliable and high quality standard. Television screens have been using this technology for a very long time with great success. The process works by moving an electron beam across the back of the screen, lighting up phosphor points on the inside of the large glass tube, resulting in a sharp, clear image.
Pros: CRTs are reliable, affordable and provide a great picture.
Cons: CRT monitors require lots of desk space, tend to be very heavy and give off a considerable amount of heat while in use. They have a curved screen which can catch a lot of glare depending on your lighting situation.
Flat CRT Monitors Flat CRTs are designed to reduce the glare and distortion created by conventional CRT monitors. The flat tube increases image clarity while reducing glare from light sources within the room.
Pros: A flat CRT monitor combines the benefits of a flat screen monitor with the benefits of a CRT monitor.
Cons: CRT flat screens are bulkier than LCD monitors.
LCD Monitors LCD monitors are most commonly used for laptop screens but are becoming increasingly popular and more affordable for desktop users. There are two distinct types of LCD technology available today: active matrix and passive matrix. The preferred format is the active matrix, which uses a TFT (thin film transmitter) to produce a more secure picture with a relatively wide angle of view. TFT provides the best resolution of all of the flat panel technologies, but it's also the most expensive.
Passive matrix technology is slowly being phased out by manufacturers due to its slow response time and overall lackluster performance.
Pros: Flat panel LCD monitors require minimal desk space, consume less power and produce less heat than CRT monitors. They have a long lifespan and work well in bright lighting conditions without virtually no glare, which greatly reduces eye strain.
Cons: Image clarity and color can be compromised when viewing an LCD monitor from different angles.
It's also important to note that CRT monitors are measured differently than LCD monitors. For an LCD monitor, screen size measures only the viewable area of the screen diagonally, from the bottom left corner to the top right corner of the screen. A CRT monitor's size is measured diagonally from the outside corners of the casing's edges. So a 17" LCD monitor will have a larger viewable area than a 17" CRT monitor.
How will you be using your computer monitor?
We've broken this section into three categories to help you decide which type of computer monitor will work best for you and how much you can expect to pay. If you are a Mac user, be sure to check the operating system compatibility for your new monitor, many models are not Mac-friendly or will require additional software.
Home Office User When buying a computer monitor for your home, consider where it will be placed. If desk space is an issue you'll want to choose an LCD display with a small footprint that will easily leave enough room on your desk for a keyboard and mouse pad. Like to watch DVD movies? You can save space in your home by watching them on your computer monitor instead of on a TV. If this interests you be sure to buy the largest-sized screen you can afford.
Here are a few requirements to look for while shopping for your new computer monitor:
Screen Type: LCD
Diagonal Screen Size: 15 to 18 inches, consider upgrading to 19-21 inches if you'll be using this monitor for watching movies
Resolution: 1280 X 1024 Pixels
Weight: 13 lbs to 15 lbs
Warranty: 3 Years, some manufacturers offer a quick exchange program which provides you with a replacement monitor to use while you are waiting for yours to get serviced or replaced.
Price Range: $169 to over $500, depending on size
Graphic Artist or Photographer If you're a graphic artist or photographer, you'll need to have a bright, flicker-free display screen with perfect geometry and consistent, accurate color from top to bottom. Sharp focus and crisp text will also be important to you for rendering brilliant, precise images.
Here are a few requirements to look for while shopping for your new computer monitor:
Screen Type: Flat CRT
Diagonal Screen Size: 21 to 23 inches
Resolution: 1600 x 1440 up to 2048 x 1536
Weight: 65 to 75 lbs, the weight of the monitor increases with the size of the screen
Warranty: 90 days to 1 year
Price Range: $249 to over $600, depending on size
Older or Visually Impaired Viewer Are you an older or visually impaired computer user? If so, you'll want a monitor that has very high resolution with acute contrast controls. This will allow you to set font sizes very large without distortion or fuzzy edges. If you'll be using a screen-reader program, which uses a synthesized voice to read the contents of the screen aloud, you may want to buy a monitor with built in speakers.
Screen Type: CRT
Diagonal Screen Size: 21 to 23 inches
Resolution: 1600 x 1440
Weight: 65 to 75 lbs, the weight of the monitor increases with the size of the screen
Warranty: 90 days to 1 year
Price: $265 to over $1000, depending on size
Important terms
Aspect ratio Aspect ratio is the width of your computer monitor vs. the height of your monitor. The traditional computer monitor has an aspect ratio of 4:3, and some widescreen monitors have an aspect ratio of 16:9 (sometimes 15:9 or 16:10).
Dot Pitch A computer monitor displays an image made up of millions of pixels, or "dots". "Dot pitch" refers to the distance between each pixel. The lower the dot pitch, the less distance between pixels and the sharper the image.
Resolution Resolution is determined based on the amount of individual pixels on a screen, measured horizontally by vertically. Resolution of a screen remains the same no matter the screen size, so a 17" screen with a 1024 x 768 resolution will show a clearer picture than a 23" screen with a 1024 x 768 resolution, due to having a lower dot pitch.
| Common Standards | Resolution |
| XGA (Extended Graphics Array) | 1024x768 |
| SXGA (Super) | 1280x1024 |
| UXGA (Ultra) | 1600x1200 |
| QXGA (Quad) | 2048x1536 |
| WXGA (Wide) | 1280x800 |
| WSXGA+ (Wide SXGA plus) | 1680x1050 |
| WUXGA (Wide Ultra) | 1920x1200 |
Bandwidth Bandwidth determines how quickly a screen can refresh its image, based on how much data it can process. Lower bandwidth means the screen can refresh less frequently, which will increase the amount of flicker you see.
Refresh Rate Refresh rate is how many times per second a screen can redraw itself, or "refresh". To avoid flickering, a screen must have a refresh rate of at least 72 Hz.
Convergence A monitor's convergence refers to the sharpness and clarity of each pixel.
