History

Computer monitors have come a long way. In the Eighties, they were mostly used for text and numbers. Your choice was whether you wanted the display to be in green or amber. The nineties brought true color and images like photographs could finally be displayed. The technology inside the monitor was based on cathode ray tubes (CRT), just like televisions, though with higher resolution. Everyone likes a big image, but you paid a price, not only in dollars and backache, but in the amount of desk space you lost to a monster monitor.

The first "portable" computers of the Eighties used 5 inch monochrome CRT monitors and weighed 25 pounds. The real revolution in portability came with the change to Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) technology for the monitor. Its weight dropped, color was introduced, and people had a computer they really could carry around - a "laptop." The LCD displays were so appealing that within a few years, monitor companies started selling them separately to be used with a desktop computer despite their high expense.

Acer AL2216Wbd 22" LCD Monitor - Black

Rating:

(4.5)

Priced from: $329.99 $199.99

HP W2207H 22-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor

Rating:

(4.5)

Priced from: $408.00 $283.99

Samsung Touch Of Color T220HD 22-inch LCD HDTV Monitor

Rating:

(4.0)

Priced from: $679.00 $379.99

Acer AL1916WAB 19" Widescreen LCD Monitor

Rating:

(4.5)

Priced from: $229.99 $149.44

HP W2408H 24-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor

Rating:

(4.5)

Priced from: $569.00 $459.99

Today's LCD

Since then, the price for LCD's has dropped considerably and their quality has improved. Of course, CRT prices have dropped as well, so you still pay a price premium for an LCD. That premium buys you a number of advantages:

• LCD images are clearer and sharper; your eyes will love them.
• LCDs are thin and light, taking up only a fraction of the space of that old CRT.
• LCDs are safer to the user because they emit very little electromagnetic radiation.
• With CRTs, the screen geometry, or the outer shape of the displayed image area, is never perfectly rectangular. It bends and bows. With LCDs, screen geometry is perfect.
• LCDs use considerably less power.
• With age, the three color guns inside a CRT can not be made to line up perfectly. This results in fuzzy letters, headaches, and the realization that it is time to buy a new monitor.
• LCDs do not flicker.
• LCDs look much better in bright light with less reflections on the screen.

What to Look For

You have made the decision to go for an LCD. You can't wait to get the old giant CRT off your desk. What features are important to you?

Screen Size - Of course, you have to choose the right size. An important difference between LCDs and CRTs is how screen size is measured. Because a more realistic method is used to measure the screen size of an LCD, a 15" LCD will show as much picture as a 17" CRT.

Pixel Dimensions - LCD's are fixed-pixel displays. That means that they a native or built in pixel structure and should always be used at that resolution. Displays that are 14" or 15" have a native resolution of 1024 x 768. Displays that are 17" or 19" have a native resolution of 1280 x 1024. Therefore, by choosing a 17" instead of a 15" you will be able to display more information on the screen. Choose a 19" and it will display the same amount of information as the 17", but everything will be larger.

Brightness - Early LCD monitors were not very bright. Those made today are noticeably brighter. However, it is always good to have a measurement to compare one to another. Although manufacturers like to tout their contrast ratio, there is no standard way of measuring it, and, therefore, advertised measurements can be misleading. Instead look for measures of brightness either in nits or cd/m2. A number larger than 250 is good.

Response Time - Although not important for text, response time is of considerable interest for those who play games on their computer or watch movies. It reflects how quickly a particular pixel can change. Games and movies that have fast movement require LCD's with a fast response. Otherwise, moving images will appear smeared and not sharp and detailed. Response time is measured in milliseconds (ms) and for games and movies you need a measurement no greater than 16 ms (milliseconds).

Viewing Angle - One area in which LCD displays do not do as well as CRTs is referred to as viewing angle. This refers to how the picture will look when viewed off to the side rather than head on. Newer models have improved in this regard. If this is of import to you, go for something above 130 degrees.