Computer Monitors

The monitor is by far the most important output device for any computer system; although it's possible to build a system without a monitor, the alternatives are laughable; for example you could use a TV set instead, but TVs have far worse picture sharpness than monitors; you'll find reading small text extremely difficult. So, you'll need to decide among the vast array of computer monitors available. There are two major types of monitors on the market: CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display).

CRT Monitors

CRT monitors are the traditional and most popular type of computer display, and they use essentially the same technology as your TV set to produce red, green and blue light. The difference is that the images produced are much sharper due to the higher resolution. CRT monitors come in various sizes; 15-inch monitors used to be the smallest standard, but nowadays you probably won't find many monitors under 17 inches. The size of monitor you decide upon is up to you; it's completely personal preference, but in general, the larger the better. However, the larger you go, the quicker the increase in price; 19-inch monitors aren't much more expensive than 17-inch ones, but once you go up to 21 inches you're paying a lot more for the extra two inches; not worth it in our opinion.

CRT monitors generally support a number of different screen resolutions. The resolution refers to the size of each individual pixel, and is referred to by two numbers representing the number of pixels fitting on the screen horizontally and then vertically. For example, I am currently working at a resolution of 1600x1200 pixels giving me a larger viewing area but also displaying everything at a smaller size. Decide which resolution you like best and make sure the monitor you choose supports that resolution.

LCD Monitors

LCD is a relatively new technology at first used mainly in laptop computers, but there are now a huge number of desktop LCD displays available on the market. LCD displays tend to be sharper than their CRT counterparts making it easier to read small text and usually resulting in a more eye-pleasing picture. The other huge advantage of an LCD monitor is their much smaller mass; while CRT monitors are heavy and deep, taking up a lot of space, LCD monitors are only a few inches deep and are a good choice if you have limited desktop space. Unlike CRT, LCD monitors are intended to display only one particular resolution optimally so it's much more important to determine your favorite resolution and buy a monitor made to display that resolution.

Although LCD monitors are newer technology and becoming extremely popular, there are several major disadvantages of which you should be aware. First of all, and perhaps most importantly, LCD monitors are much more expensive. Secondly, they are far less durable; if you have kids and they tend to be rambunctious you should probably go with a CRT display as they can take much more abuse. Thirdly, although LCD technology is getting better, the refresh rate is still slower than CRT; computer gamers and video editors in particular will want to stay with CRT until the LCD technology improves.

We have outlined some of the differences between LCD and CRT monitors; it's up to you to decide which option best meets your needs as a computer user.