CRT Or LCD Monitor?
The
classic computer monitor uses cathode ray tubes (CRT)(shown on the
right) to project the image onto the display screen. CRT monitors have
traditionally been deep and bulky, resembling a TV set, eating up
valuable desk space and standing out like a sore thumb. Still, they
take up an awful lot of desk space. Because of the way the screen
refreshes, if you spend a lot of time looking at the monitor, your eyes
will start to feel fatigued by the CRT flicker
Efficient,
stylish liquid crystal display (LCD) screens are the most popular
models today, shown on the left. This slim monitor has a small
footprint and is less tiring for your eyes. LCD displays use LCD
pockets embedded in the screen and colour filters to display images.
Light shines through the crystal pockets, which open more or less
depending on the image. Most LCD displays now use a Thin Film
Transistor (TFT) screen. TFT provides excellent image quality, colour
and sharpness, along with a wide viewing angle, so the image is still
viewable even if you're not right in front of the screen. Finally, LCD
displays are much cooler and more energy efficient than CRT. If you
insist on a CRT display, consider a flat screen model. This should not
be confused with a flat panel monitor, like an LCD. Flat screen CRTs
are still CRT displays, but the screen is flat instead of curved,
reducing image distortion and reflection.
Monitor Uses
General home use - You want to keep an eye on the bottom
line, but also want a monitor that can keep up with whatever you need
to do. TFT LCD screens are becoming less expensive all the time, and
performance is improving, particularly for video and games. You may
want to consider monitors with DVI (Digital Visual Interface) inputs,
audio/video inputs and even speakers, in case your monitor is used for
other purposes, like DVD playback.
Work - If you use your computer for work, look for a monitor
that can be adjusted for viewing comfort and is easy on the eyes, like
an LCD. A large screen is also a good idea, in case you need to look at
multiple files at once, or want to examine an entire spreadsheet.
In the classroom - Students usually find themselves lacking
in two areas: space and money. A good display can be found in all price
ranges, but consider a thin LCD with a small footprint, so you still
have room to open your textbooks on your desk. A monitor that displays
games well is also a good idea, because school life in not all about
hard work.
Photography - Photographers need accurate colours and high
resolution. CRT displays still do well in these areas, but new
technologies are being introduced to TFT LCD displays that improve
their performance as well. If you do a lot of image editing, a larger
display will come in handy when you enlarge your images.
Video and games - Image quality and fast motion response time
are key here. Many newer advances in LCD technology have made huge
improvements in the screens' ability to display motion smoothly. Look
for a fast response time and a large screen to bring you deeper into
the action, for a more vivid gaming experience.
Adjustability - Many monitors can be tilted and swivelled for
comfortable viewing. A few LCD models can even switch between landscape
and portrait modes. If you want to get your LCD off your desk entirely,
look for a model that can be mounted on the wall.
Audio - Some monitors have built-in speakers or headphone
jacks. The headphone option is smart, but the built-in speakers often
deliver fairly poor sound quality.
Widescreen displays - If you tend to work on documents side
by side, or want to watch DVDs in their full, widescreen splendour,
look for a 16:9 aspect ratio monitor so the widescreen video image
isn't "letterboxed" and shrunken to fit a narrow screen.
Connections - Some monitors have USB connections so you can
plug your keyboard or mouse straight in, to cut down on the tangle of
cords behind your computer. Other models now include wireless
connections, so you can get rid of the cables completely when using a
compatible PC. Monitors with a DVI input can take advantage of enhanced
graphic cards, and let you keep a pure digital signal from your
computer through to your screen, avoiding quality issues that can
sometimes arise in converting from digital to analog and vice versa.
Monitor Sizes
Monitors range from 15 inches to 30 inches or more and come in
standard and widescreen formats. LCD screens are very thin and light,
ideal for offices where space is at a premium, while CRT displays need
a pretty significant body to house the inner workings. For a wider
screen, that can mean a depth of two feet or more. Thin LCD monitors
are also well suited for multiple monitor set-ups. These are great if
you have to run a number of applications or files at once and need to
be able to see everything. Your PC's video card will have to be able to
use multiple monitors for this to work.
Specifications
When you're looking over the spec sheet on a monitor you're thinking of buying, some points are more important than others.
Response time - This refers to how quickly the monitor's
display technology can react to a change in the image being displayed.
The faster the response time, the better, especially for gaming and
video. A good response time is in the range of 4 to 25 milliseconds.
Aspect ratio - This number tells you how the screen is laid
out. A 4:3 aspect ratio means the screen has a width to height
relationship of four to three, like a regular TV set or CRT monitor. A
widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio is wider, like a movie screen.
Brightness - Brightness, sometimes called luminance, can mean
the difference between a good viewing experience and great one.
Brightness is measured in candelas per meter squared (cd/m2), sometimes
called nits. Look for brightness above 150 cd/m2 for CRT and above 200
cd/m2 for LCD.
Inputs and outputs - Many monitors have a choice of either
digital or analog inputs. These come in handy when you want to connect
other equipment, like game systems, or watch video on your computer.
Digital connections like DVI can carry more data than analog. Remember
that LCD monitors are digital devices, so an analog input would require
converting the digital signal from the computer or other source into
analog, then back.
Contrast ratio - Contrast is the difference between the
levels of the brightest whites and the darkest blacks. A contrast ratio
of at least 300:1 is needed to display colours and shades of grey well,
although some monitors have ratios of up to 1000:1.
Resolution - Resolution is the amount of detail you can see
on the screen. The screen is made up of tiny squares called pixels, and
the more pixels on the screen, the better the resolution. A higher
resolution will make edges of text and images appear smoother. If you
can see individual pixels, you're either sitting too close or you need
a higher resolution monitor. Aim for a resolution of at least 1280 x
1024 pixels.
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