Buying a Computer Monitor

Computer monitors have come a long way in the past few years. They used to be fifteen inch cathode ray tubes, great heavy television like contraptions, but are now frequently much larger LCD flat panels. As your monitor is something you will be staring at for hours each day, it is important to pick a good one.

First, a word about the different types of computer monitors. As I said, monitors fall into two general categories, cathode ray tubes (CRTs) and liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Although the old cathode ray tube monitors are mostly gone by now, a newer generation of flat screen CRTs has been developed, which has gained some popularity. Rather than having the rounded screen of the older CRTs, these have flat screens, like LCD monitors. They tend to be cheaper than LCDs, and some say they display color better. Consider them for these reasons, but realize that even they are rare these days. CRTs of any kind, despite the good qualities they may have, have several major drawbacks. First, they are big and bulky. Unlike LCD monitors, they will take up a lot of space on your desk. When you want to get rid of them, you may also have a problem, as they contain several pounds of lead, and thus are illegal to throw out in many places. CRT monitors have the added disadvantage of flickering under the wrong conditions, and causing eyestrain. Some studies have also shown that people who use a CRT monitor for more than an hour a day are at a higher risk of brain cancer than they would otherwise be. It is probably in your best interests to avoid getting one of these.

LCD monitors, which use the same basic technology that is used on calculator displays, have come down in price greatly, and have recently become rather popular. It is not unreasonable these days to get a 17" LCD flat panel, and in fact, these are probably the most common monitors at this point. With their sharp picture, lack of flicker, and fast response, these make an excellent option.

You will most likely wind up buying an LCD, so the real consideration will be size. As I said, 17" is more or less the standard, but you could also get a 15", saving a few bucks, or get a 22" for not too much more. Think about screen size, but remember that bigger is not always better. Windows that fit cozily onto smaller screens get lost on bigger ones, and don't have the same visual appeal. On the other hand, if you tend to have lots of windows open at once, you should aim for all the screen space you can get. Eyesight is also a consideration. Don't like small text? There's no need to deal with it. Remember that screen sizes are measured diagonally, so each inch is actually an exponential increase in area.

One last consideration is whether or not to get a widescreen. Widescreen monitors have caught on recently, becoming especially popular on laptops. These are great if you like to have multiple windows open side by side, or if you watch a lot of DVDs on your computer.

Remember, as you consider these factors, that your eyes should be the ultimate judge. Since monitors are essentially objects to be looked at, looking at them is the best way to judge them.

Good luck in your search.