Computer Monitors
From LoveToKnow Buy
Computer monitor design and technology has changed during the past several years. The monitor you buy will depend upon the software you use and how you‘ll use it. Desk space is an important factor. Ultimately your purchase will depend upon how much time you’ll spend in front of the computer monitor and what you do with it. Here's some information to use so you can make the best choice.
Computer Monitor Options
At one time 15-inch CRT models were the norm. No longer. Today 17-inch models have replaced them. Larger monitors up to 22-inches are also available. At one time the dot pitch factor was important in purchasing a CRT, but today’s models usually have a dot or stripe pitch measure of .28 or lower which will do for most applications. Differing levels are difficult to discern the difference with the naked eye. The best way to judge overall image quality is how the documents and pictures you work with everyday will look. Flat panel LCDs are another factor. They’re more expensive, but again the investment you make depends upon how good the monitor looks for you. Don’t get too hung up on technical specs. Use your eyes as the ultimate authority.
CRT Computer Monitors
CRT stands for Cathode Ray Tube. These computer monitors are big and hefty. The average 17-inch CRT monitor weighs nearly 40 pounds, so your desk needs to be sturdy to support it. The footprint, or amount of space the monitor uses sitting atop a desk, is usually larger than the screen size. So be sure to measure available desk space before you buy. Keep in mind that higher-resolution monitors shrink screen images, and higher resolutions lower the maximum refresh rate. The refresh rate is the number of times per second the screen image is redrawn. This refresh rate has to be a minimum of 70 Hz so your eyes won’t tire and can’t detect screen flickering. CRTs are good for general use and graphics, since they are able to accurately display colors and lines. The best overall CRT choice today is 19-inch screens which give you plenty of space to view detail and text comfortably. This is because CRT screen size is measured diagonally corner-to-corner, reducing the actually screen viewing area by about 1.5 inches.
LCD Computer Monitors
LCDs or Liquid Crystal Displays are different. An LCD uses a pixel matrix to display images, so it has a fixed or native resolution that looks best. Fifteen-inch LCDs have a native resolution of 1024 by 768, while most larger models have 1280 by 1024.
Pixels on LCDs don't have a pulsing quality like CRTs that can cause flicker. So LCDs operate at lower refresh rates between 60-70 Hz. But viewing angle becomes an important factor when buying. The better LCDs have displays that allow you to sit farther to the side, instead of being locked directly in front of the screen for best viewing angle without color brightness dimming or shifting. Resolutions of 1280 x 1024 is your best bet.
Test Drive Your Computer Monitor Before You Buy
Keep in mind that you’ll be staring at your monitor screen for the next couple of years, so use your eyes as the ultimate authority to determine which manufacturer and model offers the best image quality, resolution, and size. Buying online isn’t recommended because you’ll need a brick-and-mortar retail store’s return policy with no restocking fee because the lighting you r have at home or in your office swill be different than what’s offered in the stores. While shopping in a store and seeing how the monitor looks to you is OK, taking it home and test driving it for a few weeks will make all the difference.
Where to Buy Computer Monitors
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