2008 September | LCD Monitor Repair

Monitors - Buying Guide

If you’re looking for a new computer monitor, this buying guide will help you sort through the different options available and decide what to look for.

Introduction to Buying a Monitor
CRTs
LCDs
Screen Size
Aspect Ratio
Resolution
Moonlight as a Television
Illumination
Controls
Connections
Budget
Additional Features
Environment
Monitor Brands (LCD)
Monitor Brands (CRT)
Top Monitor Searches
Useful Sites

Introduction to Buying a Monitor
Usually when buying a new computer the manufacturer will offer a specific monitor as part of the package, although the customer may be offered a choice of screen sizes. But with the recent advancements in monitor technology and the huge choice of models and sizes, one should able to find a suitable monitor without having to confine oneself to the packaged offer.

There are many factors that should influence the selection of a monitor. Budget limitations, space constraints, what the computer will be used for, aesthetics and environmental issues should all be taken into consideration.

The new kid on the block in the monitor neighborhood is the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). This technology is replacing the older Cathode Ray Tube (CRT), and has recently passed CRTs in sales. Like most other electronic products, LCDs are getting cheaper and better as time goes by, so it is definitely a buyers’ market.

In this guide we will discuss the difference between different monitor types and sizes, so by following the explanations of the technical terms you will be able to decide what is the best fit for you.

CRTs
Cathode Ray Tube technology has been around for over a hundred years. These displays have long been used in televisions, radar screens, medical equipment, and of course- computer monitors. The popular terms “tube” and “fishbowl” are derived from the large glass bubble which the picture is projected into, which makes these units quite large and heavy.

Even though CRTs are almost outdated, there are still three functions that they perform better than most LCDs. They produce a deep, color-rich picture, which is extremely important for graphic artists and video editors. They also provide a printer-accurate display, which means that the graphics displayed are exactly what will be printed (which is not always the case with LCDs). This feature is also critical for graphics work. Thirdly, CRTs update very quickly when displaying fast-moving action, which makes them ideal for serious video gamers.

If you’re thinking about getting a CRT monitor, go for a newer flat-screen model that won’t reflect glare as much. Look for a high refresh-rate as well, such as 75 Hertz (or higher), which will help reduce eyestrain.

LCDs
Over the last ten years the development of laptops, notebooks, PDA’s and flat-screen televisions has been made possible due to the perfection of LCD technology. These displays use liquid crystals sandwiched between two filters instead of electrons and a glass tube. This is what enables LCD screens to be extremely thin and much lighter than CRTs, while also using less electrical power. If a notebook PC had to power a CRT screen, it would need a battery the size of a briefcase.

So let’s look at some of the distinct advantages an LCD presents over a CRT:
• Smaller size- an LCD monitor is paper-thin in comparison to a CRT unit, so you can save valuable desk space or even hang the screen on the wall. Also note that a 15-inch LCD screen will have the same actual display area as a 17-inch CRT.
• Weight- with its lighter weight an LCD is cheaper to ship and easier to move from place to place.
• Reduced eyestrain- even though it is much too quick to notice, a CRT screen is flickering constantly. But an LCD doesn’t flicker at all, so you can use an LCD for hours without your eyes hurting.
• Landscape or portrait mode- some LCDs can pivot from horizontal to vertical mode, which can be useful for reading documents, as a whole page can fit on a vertical screen.
• Image geometry- LCD screens provide good display geometry and convergence of objects on the screen.
• Interference- they are also less prone to interference from cell phones, televisions and other devices. It is even possible to place two LCDs side-by-side without encountering any problems.
• Flat screens- the flat screen of an LCD reflects less glare than a curved CRT screen.
• Environmental concerns- which we will discuss separately.

Screen Size
The size of monitors (and televisions too) is the diagonal length of the screen in inches. A larger screen can display more information, but the quality of the picture is determined by its resolution rating.

A 15-inch screen is a decent size for most applications, and is the standard for most notebook computers. More programs can be viewed simultaneously on a 17-inch model, which will also be more comfortable to use. Anything in the 19-inch-or-higher range can display more than one document at a time, making desktop publishing easier.

Note that Windows supports multiple graphics adaptors, so it’s possible to connect more than one monitor at a time. Using two smaller monitors as opposed to one large one can produce a better picture and even be a lot cheaper, as monitor prices increase disproportionately for larger models.

Aspect Ratio
Every screen’s dimensions match a specific ratio. Most televisions and computer monitors have a 4:3 ratio, which means that the screen is 4/3 as wide as it is tall. Movie screens follow a 16:9 ratio, which is why rental videos have to be formatted to fit television screens.

However the LCD technology provides such an improvement in display-flexibility that manufacturers are producing widescreen televisions and monitors, with the 16:9 ratio being the most common. This ratio allows a better view of television programs, movies and information on a computer screen.

These widescreen monitors allow people who need to work on different documents or programs simultaneously to do so easily without having to reduce their size.

Resolution
Aside from the actual screen size, the most important factor in determining picture quality is its resolution. Different monitors have different resolution ratings which they are optimized for, though CRTs are generally better at displaying images not in their native resolution than LCDs are.

Resolution is determined by the number of pixels used to display the picture on the screen. This number is usually established by how many pixels are in each row or column. For instance, 640×480 means that there are 640 pixels in every row and 480 in every column, and the aspect ratio is 4:3.

A higher pixel count means the monitor offers better resolution. Today the most common LCD display resolutions are 1024×768 (XGA/XVGA, eXtended), 1280×1024 (SXGA, Super eXtended Graphics Array), and 1600×1200 resolution (UXGA, Ultra-eXtended). The UXGA is useful for graphic artists and serious video-gamers if they have the required equipment, while the SXGA is the standard for 19-inch monitors.

When choosing a new monitor, go for the highest resolution your budget and screen size allow. The rated resolution is the LCD’s ‘native resolution’ which it displays best. But monitors can also display other resolutions, which can cause the picture to be distorted. The ‘native’ resolution for each monitor is the one listed alongside the screen size, while the other resolutions it supports are usually listed among the product’s details.

Moonlight as a Television
Some newer LCD screens can display video as well as computer data. There are different ways to hook up a monitor to a video signal; some models have a special video port for a video or S-video cable. Others use a built-in tuner to connect to television or cable signals.

Also check for picture-in-picture or picture-on-picture features that make it possible to view video while working on other things. Some monitors even have RGB support for HDTV. Keep in mind that instead of paying for built-in video and audio processing devices, it may be cheaper to add a graphics adapter or other hardware bought separately.

Illumination
The heart of the LCD is the backlight that illuminates the display. This is the only part of the LCD that can wear out over time, so check its warranty (which may be different than the warranty of the monitor itself).

Besides a backlight malfunction there can also be pixel defects, or ‘dead pixels’. These are pixels that are stuck on or off, and produce a black dot on the screen. Look for ISO regulatory approval for pixel defects listed among the monitor’s details.

Controls
Monitors have controls to adjust the brightness and contrast of the display. Many LCDs have on-screen menus for adjustments in addition to the traditional manual controls on the front of the unit. Models that can also be used as televisions should have a remote control where these features can be adjusted.

Connections
There are 3 different types of cable connections for monitors. The standard one for many years has been the VGA cable, which uses an analog format. The computer generates digital display commands, which are then converted to analog for the cable. After the data passes through the cable and reaches the screen it is transformed back to digital, making this an overcomplicated process. But most LCD monitors have good automatic analog-to-digital converters, so using a VGA cable hardly affects performance.

A new cable technology was developed in 1999 for digital computer-monitor connection. It’s called Digital-Video-Interface, or DVI, and is found today on most computers and monitors, in addition to VGA ports. This cable produces a better connection and smoother data-transfer, which can come in handy when running high-speed programs.

Today there is another new connection technology on the market, called HDMI. This is a very small connector capable of transferring audio and video data at high speed without having to compress it. But this connection is still more common on PDAs and DVD players than on monitors, so you probably won’t find many models that can use it.

Budget
LCD prices are constantly dropping due to the improvement in technology and the increased competition. A CRT will still be cheaper than an LCD of the same size, but the distinct advantages the latter presents should make the extra investment worthwhile.

Generally speaking, it is probably a good idea to purchase the biggest monitor your budget and space allow you. It is also recommended to go for well-known brands, as this would help ensure the monitor is reliable and the picture-quality is satisfactory.

Note that some LCD televisions can also be used as monitors, so if you’re looking to buy a monitor over 21 inches in size, you might want to consider buying a TV instead.

LCD prices range from about $150-$4000, as the prices rise steeply for the bigger models. Today $200 could even get you a decent-quality 19-inch LCD, albeit with less features than a similarly-priced 17-inch model. Widescreen monitors will obviously be pricier than the same-sized 4:3 ratio monitor, while higher-resolution will cost more as well.

Additional Features
Listed below are several features that can be found on monitors (often only on LCDs):
• Speakers – some monitors come with built-in speakers, but they are usually not high-quality sound devices. However, on monitors that also double as TVs you can expect the speakers to be of good quality.
• USB ports- more USB ports can be useful, especially if the ports on the computer are not easily accessible. This is not a particularly important option, however, as it does not add anything new to the computer system.
• Pivoting display- as was mentioned previously, some LCD screens (especially widescreens) can pivot from the horizontal to the vertical position, which makes it possible to view an entire page lengthwise. This transition requires some special software usually provided as part of the LCD package, but if it’s not it can be found online.
• Multiple computer ports- if you have more than one computer to hook up to a monitor yet only have space for a single screen, look for a monitor which can handle multiple computer inputs. The way the monitor switches between them will often be by the flip of a switch on the front of the unit, which makes the operation quite simple.
• Mounting options- one of the bigger advantages an LCD offers is its smaller size, which allows it to be attached to a wall-mounted or table-mounted arm. This is useful because it helps save space around the computer work-area.
• Viewing angle- LCD screens used to be impossible to view from anywhere off the center axis. But today this has been remedied, with most screens visible up to 80 degrees from off of the center. Check the viewing-angle specified for your monitor to make sure it will suit your purposes.
• Locks- as LCDs are increasingly lightweight and relatively small, it might be a good idea to buy one with a lock option. Kensington Locks are a popular lock mechanism for both monitors and notebook computers.

Environment
It is worth mentioning the environmental aspects of different monitors. LCDs are much more friendly to the environment than CRTs, and this is for a number of reasons. They emit fewer low-frequency electro-magnetic pulses, and, even thought there is no conclusive evidence yet if these are health hazards, this probably makes the LCD a safer choice.

In addition, LCD monitors are made out of fewer hazardous materials than most CRTs, making them much easier to recycle. They also use less power and produce less heat than CRTs. It is also possible to look for a monitor with an Energy Star rating, which ensures that the monitor meets strict international energy efficiency standards.

Monitor Brands (CRT)
ViewSonic http://www.cubalaya.com/OP-ViewSonic-CRT-monitor
Hewlett Packard http://www.cubalaya.com/OP-HP-CRT-monitor
NEC http://www.cubalaya.com/OP-NEC-CRT-monitor
Philips http://www.cubalaya.com/OP-Philips-CRT-monitor
IBM http://www.cubalaya.com/OP-IBM-CRT-monitor
Sony http://www.cubalaya.com/OP-Sony-CRT-monitor
Samsung http://www.cubalaya.com/OP-Samsung-CRT-monitor

Useful Sites
Monitors Review Page http://reviews.cnet.com
PC Magazine Monitors Guide http://www.pcmag.com
NEC Monitors Page www.nec.com
Dell Monitors Page www.dell.com
Acer Monitors Page www.acer.com
BenQ Monitors Page www.benq.com
LCD Monitor Repair http://lcdrepair.warnetnews.com/