Upgrading the Monitor: Seeing is Believing

At the end of the day your computer monitor is the main interface between you and your computer. Pretty much everything your computer does is delivered through the screen. So it seems a bit strange that some people remain content with their outdated Cathode Ray (CRT) monitors when they take up a lot more room as well as giving you a headache. Of course then there is the radiation output! Without the excuse of the technology being too expensive anymore, today's advanced LCD monitor range provides consumers with plenty of exciting options. They provide crisper, superior images that are easy on the eye as well as take up a fraction of the room on your desk.

Before getting too excited let's look at a couple of areas for consideration. Ideally you want a screen with a digital input (DVI). The PC generates graphics digitally. With the older analogue CRT monitors, the graphical infomation had to be converted from a digital to analogue format. In the process some infomation is lost, thus compromising visual integrity. However given LCD's reproduce digital data, the conversion is not required. Therefore less distortion occurs, leading to the crisper images.

One big advantage with the LCD apart from their superior image clarity, is that they don't 'flicker' like CRT screens. CRT screens need to refresh the image constantly as the phosphors on the screen lose their charge. This causes the headaches after prolonged use. Higher refresh rates will reduce the apparent flicker a bit, but headaches will still be a problem. Given the LCD's image is updated differently and almost instantaneously, flicker is not a problem and the graphics are a lot easier on the eyes. I couldn't believe the difference when I first swapped over!

One difference to remember with LCD's as opposed to their older CRT counterparts, is that they are designed with a native resolution. Each screen has a fixed pixel grid, meaning the screen produces one 'ideal' resolution. Whilst CRT screens can display a number of resolutions by altering the scanning of its electron gun, an LCD screen will only produce it's optimal crisp picture at one resolution.

So what screen do you choose? The larger LCD screens can produce higher resolutions, yet price does increase exponentially, especially when you go above the 19 inch models. Standard 4:3 ratio 17 and 19 inch screens are the more affordable options, with 17 inch screens tending to have resolution around 1024 by 1024 pixels. 19 inch screens have the same resolution, but with a larger viewing screen, the image is a bit easier on the eyes and more immersable. Also given they have come down greatly in price, 19 inch LCD's would seem a prime option. They are about the same price now as the older 17 inch CRT monitors used to be about 4 years ago! Wide screen LCD's are becoming increasingly popular given the preferred DVD viewing format and increased quantity of data representation due to the higher resolution. Some LCD's even have inbuilt TV tuners! What ever you choose to buy, you will not regret the visual candy your eyes can feed on!

Buy an LCD monitor at Mr.Gadget Today!