LCD Monitor

What to look for when buying a Computer Monitor

So you're looking at buying a new monitor. The classic computer monitor uses CRT to project the image onto the display screen. CRT monitors have traditionally been deep and bulky, eating up valuable desk space. Liquid crystal display (LCD) screens on the other hand are efficient, stylish and the most popular models today. This slim monitor has a small footprint and is less tiring for your eyes. Most LCD displays now use a Thin Film Transistor (TFT) screen. TFT provides excellent image quality, colour and sharpness, along with a wide viewing angle, so the image is still viewable even if you're not right in front of the screen.

LCD monitors can cost anywhere from $150 to around $3000. The average LCD monitor will cost around $350. Some of the most common brands for monitors are HP, LG, NEC, BenQ and Samsung.

The key features to consider when purchasing an LCD monitor are screen size, aspect ratio, user controls and maximum resolution. Monitors come in different sizes ranging from 15 inch to over 24 inch. The average LCD monitor these days is 19 inch (measured diagonally). Some common aspect ratios are 16:10, 5:4, 16:9, 4:3, 14:9, 16:9 and 14:9.

There are many types of user controls available including contrast, brightness, position, colour and size. The more user controls the monitor has the more control you have over the display settings.

Other considerations would be the monitor type such as flat panel LCD TFT (active matrix), widescreen LCD or widescreen TFT, exterior colour such as black, silver, grey and supported resolution which can range from 640x480 to 2560x1600.