Dump that low-resolution, energy-inefficient CRT screen and upgrade to an LCD monitor. Here are the key features to consider when shopping for an LCD monitor for your computer system.
Today’s LCD monitors are slim, stylish, and energy efficient. And they’re affordable, too. Older, bulky cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors are obsolete, and—although they may seem like a bargain—they not only cost more to operate, but may also lack the resolution and connectivity to hook up to current and future computer systems.
Before you choose an LCD monitor, consider what you’ll be doing with it. For simple surfing, e-mail, and everyday tasks, a low-end monitor will do just fine. If you’re looking for something that doubles as a home entertainment screen for gaming or watching high-definition (HD) movies, you may want to look for a more robust feature set. Finally, if you’re into photography, graphic design, or video production, look to a professional-grade monitor for extensive control and the highest possible image quality.
Screen Size
The first thing to consider is size. Monitors are measured diagonally, starting at about 19 inches for basic desktop models and going up to 46 inches for wall-mounted presentation screens. Desktop monitors max out at 30 inches, but make sure you have enough room for one of the bigger models. Ideally, you should be sitting three feet (roughly arm’s length) from your monitor. If your desk is too shallow to permit this distance, stick to a smaller model.
Aspect Ratio
Monitors come in two shapes, or aspect ratios. The 4:3 and 5:4 ratios that comply with the older standard are roughly the same shape as traditional televisions and are slightly wider than they are tall. Newer widescreen monitors feature 16:9 or 16:10 ratios, like HD televisions, and are much wider than they are tall. Widescreen monitors are better for watching movies, viewing more documents simultaneously or several open windows at a time. However, 4:3 ratio monitors require less vertical scrolling when you’re working with a single document or window.
Resolution
A monitor creates images using thousands of tiny dots called pixels. Its resolution is the number of pixels it can display, and is measured as width × height. The higher the resolution, the more can fit on the screen, but individual elements (such as text, icons, and images) will be smaller. Most monitors have multiple resolutions you can choose according to your specific needs. However, the number of physical pixels or native resolution stays the same, and image quality may suffer when you set higher or lower ratios. When choosing a 4:3 ratio monitor, select a native resolution of at least 1280 × 1084. If you’re looking for a widescreen monitor to display true HD video, choose a native resolution of 1920 × 1080.
Response Time
Response time refers to how quickly a monitor can display moving images, and is crucial when choosing a monitor for HD video and gaming. The lower a monitor’s response time, the faster it can redraw the contents of the screen. This leads to smoother video with less motion blur, smoother transitions, and fewer visible artifacts such as jaggies. Choose a monitor with a response time of 8 milliseconds (ms) or less. Today’s monitors feature response times as low as 1 or 2 ms.
Contrast Ratio
The contrast ratio is the difference between the brightest white and the darkest black. It determines the richness of colors displayed. Choose a contrast ratio of 400:1 or better; otherwise, on-screen colors may look dull, and your monitor may suffer from poor image detail in dark areas. Adequate contrast is especially important if you’re working with graphics or video.
Viewing Angle
The viewing angle is expressed in degrees, and determines how well you can see a screen when you move from side to side or above and below it. Choose a viewing angle of 160° or more, especially if you’ll be using your monitor to make presentations or for home entertainment purposes.
Inputs and Outputs
Choose a monitor with DVI (digital) and VGA (analog) inputs even if your current computer only has VGA outputs. This way, you won’t have to buy another monitor if you purchase a new system or graphics card. If you’re planning to use your monitor with other electronic peripherals such as gaming consoles, HD cable boxes, personal video recorders (PVRs), Blu-ray players, and still or video cameras, make sure it also has a High-definition Multimedia Input (HDMI) port.
If you’re using a current Mac or certain high-end graphics cards, you may need a monitor with a DisplayPort input. Although it is possible to connect the DisplayPort output on your computer to a VGA or DVI input on a monitor with the proper adapter, you cannot connect VGA or DVI outputs to DisplayPort inputs. Nice-to-have options include built-in speakers and audio inputs, webcams, USB ports, and memory card slots.
The Monitor That’s Best for You
If you’re looking for a basic VGA monitor, you can’t go wrong with the Hewlett Packard HP L1910 (above). With its 5:4 aspect ratio and 1280 × 1024 resolution, this 19-inch flat panel is ideal for tasks like e-mail and word processing. With a 5 ms refresh time, it’s no slouch when it comes to watching video and gaming. It’s a great choice for a second monitor and an affordable entry into the world of flat-panel displays if you’re looking to free up some desk space by getting rid of a cumbersome CRT.
Up the stakes with the Samsung 2693HM (above), a powerhouse monitor that doubles as a home entertainment display. With its 26-inch widescreen panel and its 1920 × 1200 resolution, you get HD video and plenty of space for multitasking. Built-in HDMI connectivity and stereo speakers let you hook up a game console, Blu-ray player, or other HD source with a single cable for outstanding video and sound, all in addition to the DVI input for your computer.
If you’re a graphic designer, photographer, or filmmaker, accurate colors are a must, and even the best consumer-grade monitors fall short in this respect. But you’ll pay a premium for the privilege. The LaCie 526 is a 25.5-inch widescreen monitor with 1920 × 1200 resolution. This professional-grade display features advanced hardware and software that allows you to calibrate your monitor so that what you see on the screen is exactly what you’ll get when you output your final product to the medium of your choice (for example, printer, Web page, DVD). It includes a hood that isolates the monitor from ambient light that may affect color accuracy and a colorimeter, which is a small device that measures the color output of your screen, providing feedback for extremely precise calibration. The LaCie 526 also pivots into portrait mode, so it’s taller than it is wide, making it perfect for working on long documents and complex layouts.
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