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Prices
are dropping for larger CRT monitors and flat-panel LCD displays,
meaning that a roomier screen--or more space on your desktop--is
now within reach.
Deciding whether to buy a flat-panel
LCD or a standard, fairly fat CRT monitor comes down to this:
Do you need more space on the surface of your desk or on the screen?
If freeing up space on your desk is the priority, an LCD is the
clear choice. But since LCDs are costly, you might still opt for
a CRT. Despite price drops for both types, the typical 17-inch
LCD costs more than $500, more than twice the cost of a CRT whose
screen is an inch larger.
Desktop computers and monitors
are often sold as a package. Still, some people buying a new desktop
decide to hold on to their old monitor. Others choose to buy a
new monitor for their existing computer.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Apple, Dell, eMachines (which merged
with Gateway in 2004), Gateway, Hewlett-Packard (which merged
with Compaq in 2002), IBM, and Sony all market their own brands
of monitors for their computers. Other brands of monitors, such
as CTX, Envision, Mitsubishi, NEC, Philips, Samsung, and ViewSonic
are sold separately. Many brands are manufactured on an outsource
basis.
CRT monitors.
These typically range from 17 to 21 inches. To reduce glare, some
CRTs have flattened, squared-off screens (not to be confused with
flat-panel LCD screens). The nominal image size--the screen size
touted in ads--is generally based on the diagonal measurement
of the picture tube. The image you see, called the viewable image
size (VIS), is usually an inch smaller. Thus a 17-inch CRT has
a 16-inch VIS. As a result of a class-action lawsuit, ads must
state a CRT's VIS as well as its nominal image, but you may have
to squint at the fine print to find it.
Generally the bigger the screen,
the more room a CRT takes up on your desk, with depth roughly
matching nominal screen size. "Short-depth" models shave an inch
or more off the depth. A 17-inch monitor, the most frequent choice
these days, has almost one-third more viewable area than the 15-inch
version now vanishing from the market. The larger size is especially
useful when you're using the Internet, playing video games, watching
DVD movies, editing photos, or working in several windows.
If you regularly work with graphics
or sprawling spreadsheets, consider a 19-inch monitor. Its viewable
area is one-fourth larger than a 17-inch model's. A short-depth
19-inch model doesn't take up much more desktop space than a standard
17-inch. Aimed at graphics professionals, 21- and 22-inch models
provide ample viewing area but gobble up desktop space.
Price range: $100 to $300 (17-inch);
$200 to $400 (19-inch); $500 to $1,000 (21- to 22-inch).
Flat-panel LCD monitors.
These began to outsell CRT monitors in 2003. Because these monitors
have a liquid-crystal display rather than a TV-style picture tube,
they take up much less desktop space than CRTs. They operate with
analog or digital input, or both. Unlike a CRT, the nominal and
the viewable image sizes of a flat-panel LCD are the same. Desktop
models typically measure 15 inches diagonally and just a few inches
deep, and weigh around 15 pounds, compared with 30- to 50 pounds
for a CRT. LCDs with a screen 17 inches or larger are available,
but they are still somewhat pricey. Wide-screen LCDs with a 17-inch
VIS, specially designed for watching wide-format videos, are also
available. These screens have an aspect ratio of 16:9, like those
found on most digital TVs, and they're also fairly pricey.
Flat-panel displays deliver a very
clear image, but they have some inherent quirks. Their range of
color is a bit narrower than that of CRT monitors. And you have
to view a flat-panel screen straight on; except for wide-screen
models, the picture loses contrast as you move off-center. Fine
lines may appear grainy. In analog mode, you have to tweak the
controls to get the best picture.
Price range: $300 to $450 (15-inch);
$400 and up (17- to 18-inch).
IMPORTANT FEATURES
A monitor's resolution
refers to the number of picture elements, or pixels, that make
up an image. More pixels mean finer detail. Most monitors can
display at several resolutions, generally ranging from 640x480
to 1,600x1,200, depending on the monitor and the graphics card.
An LCD usually displays a sharper image than a CRT of comparable
size when both are viewed at identical resolutions. But that's
only if the LCD is set to its "native" resolution--1,024x768 pixels
for a 15-inch screen; 1,280x1,024 or 1,400x1,050 for a 17-, 18-,
or 19-inch model. On both types of monitor, the higher the resolution,
the smaller the text and images, so more content fits on the screen.
Bigger CRT screens can handle higher resolutions and display more
information.
Dot pitch, measured
in millimeters, refers to the spacing between a CRT's pixels.
All else being equal, a smaller dot pitch produces a more detailed
image, though that's no guarantee of an excellent picture. In
general, avoid models with a dot pitch higher than 0.28 mm.
A CRT requires a high refresh
rate (the number of times per second the image is redrawn
on the screen) to avoid annoying image flicker. In general, you'll
be more comfortable with a 17-inch monitor set at a refresh rate
of at least 75 hertz (Hz) at the resolution you want. With a 19-inch
monitor, you may need an 85-Hz rate to avoid eyestrain, especially
at higher resolutions. While the refresh rate of a flat panel
display is 60 or 75 Hz, its native resolution is 1,024x768 unless
otherwise specified. Refresh rate isn't an issue with flat-panel
displays.
Monitors have controls for brightness
and contrast. Most of them also have controls
for color balance (usually called color temperature),
distortion, and such. Buttons activate onscreen
controls and menus.
Bigger CRTs use a considerable
amount of juice: about 80 watts for a typical 19-inch model, between
65 to 70 watts for a 17-inch model, and about 20 watts for a 15-inch
flat-panel LCD, for example. Most monitors have a sleep
mode that uses less than 3 watts when the computer is
on but not in use.
CRTs can be designed with either
a shadow mask or an aperture grille, and each has
a distinctive look. A shadow mask, a perforated metal sheet, directs
the beam emitted by electron guns arranged in a triangle so colors
are composed of little dots of red, green, and blue. An aperture
grille is a shadow mask in a CRT with the electron guns arranged
in a horizontal row, which results in colors that are made up
of little lines. View both types to see which you prefer.
Some monitors include a microphone,
integrated or separate speakers, or composite-video
inputs for viewing the output of a VCR or camcorder.
Plug-and-play capability
makes it relatively simple to add a new monitor to an existing
computer.
HOW TO CHOOSE
Decide between LCD and
CRT monitors. If your computer's monitor is hogging the
top of your desk, you can reclaim much of that space by replacing
it with an LCD. But doing so will cost you about $200 to $300
more than if you bought a new CRT monitor. And LCD screens have
an inherent shortcoming: The image appears to fade as you move
left, right, up, or down. However, most LCD monitors in our recent
tests had a wider viewing angle than we've seen in the past. If
space isn't an issue but budget is, a CRT monitor is a good choice.
Settle on size.
For most people, a 15-inch LCD monitor or a 17-inch CRT is big
enough. Larger monitors are best suited for people who need to
show photo enlargements or who regularly display multiple windows
on the screen.
Consider helpful features.
A monitor you can raise or lower can compensate for a desk that's
too high or low. It's a feature found on some LCD monitors, but
not on CRTs because they're so heavy. Some monitors can be rotated
90 degrees, from a landscape to portrait orientation, with the
image automatically adjusting itself. That can be handy for viewing
photos and Web pages. Look for a long warranty. Many monitors,
both LCDs and CRTs, come with a three-year warranty on parts and
labor. A warranty that long is worth looking for, especially when
purchasing a more expensive model.
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