Types
of Monitors
CRTs
The most prevalent type of monitor today is the
cathode ray tube (CRT). Despite its rather sci-fi
sounding name, a CRT is the same as the picture tube
inside your TV. They work by firing beams of
electrons at phosphor dots on the inside of a glass
tube. The phosphors in a CRT are chemicals that emit
red, green or blue light when hit by electrons.
These monitors are capable of multiple resolutions,
give the best look to full-motion video and provide
better control over colour calibration for graphic
artists.
On the down side, they hog a lot of room and
weigh more than several sacks of potatoes. You can
get more compact CRTs called short-depth or
short-neck monitors which are a couple of inches
shallower than regular CRTs. Unless space is a
primary consideration, most people buy a CRT display
because they offer good performance at an affordable
price.
LCDs
In the opposing corner are flat panel displays or
LCDs (liquid crystal displays) commonly used in
laptops and fast becoming popular as desktop
monitors. Their major selling points are a slim
profile and light weight. A CRT can be deeper than
it is wide, whereas a LCD with a base is only about
a handspan deep. No heavy lifting required with a
LCD; they weigh less than half the average CRT. LCDs
require half the power of CRTs and emit much less
electromagnetic radiation which can interfere with
other electronic devices.
In the screen of a LCD monitor, each pixel is
produced by a tiny cell which contains a thin layer
of liquid crystals. These rod-shaped molecules bend
light in response to an electric current. It's the
same display technology that resides in your digital
watch but more sophisticated.
LCDs tend to be clearer than CRTs which can
suffer from convergence or focus difficulties. Their
improved clarity means that even small LCDs can
display higher resolutions than the corresponding
sized CRT. They also make small text easier to read.
Unlike CRTs, LCD monitors have only one optimal
resolution. At lower resolutions, the screen is
redrawn as a smaller area or all the pixels in the
image are blown-up to fill the screen. The latter
solution can make images look jagged and blocky so
be sure the resolution of the LCD is the resolution
you want to use.
Size
Regardless of what type of monitor you're
considering, size is a priority. A bigger monitor
offers easier to read text, better graphics and the
ability to have more and larger windows open on your
desktop. All monitor sizes are measured diagonally
across the screen, but that number isn't the true
viewable area. The plastic frame around the monitor
hides a certain amount of the screen so there is a
difference between the quoted size and the actual
viewable area. A monitor's viewable area should be
within an inch or so of the quoted size
Resolution
A factor for both CRTs and LCDs is resolution. The
number of pixels horizontally and vertically defines
a monitor's resolution in pixels or dots per inch (ppi
or dpi). The greater the resolution, the more
information or image you'll be able to view at once.
The average user will find a resolution of 1024x768
more than sufficient for everyday work. You can
achieve this resolution on CRT monitors 17 inches
and larger or LCDs 15 inches and larger. Keep in
mind that CRTs can display multiple resolutions, but
LCDs are optimized at only one resolution.
Power Conservation
To keep your utility bill down, you should look for
a monitor that is Energy Star compliant. Energy Star
is a program developed by the US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) to make energy-saving office
equipment like
The right
monitor should offer good image quality and a
sizable viewing area while comfortably fitting your
desktop space. Picking a monitor which combines
these traits means you'll want to learn the basics
about monitor features and technology. After a quick
lesson, it'll be easy to choose a monitor that makes
everything from spreadsheets to space aliens
eye-popping and easy to read.