Monitors

Thinking about replacing your computer screen or monitor? Or perhaps considering purchasing a new computer and wondering which monitor type to go for?



If your present monitor is a couple of years old it probably looks a bit like a television, 10-12 inches deep, bulky and awkward to move. This type of monitor is called a CRT monitor (cathode-ray tube). These work along the same lines as older television screens, where lines are drawn by an electron beam to fill the screen with a series of dots.

Newer flat-panel displays make use of TFT (thin film translator) and LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, which work by producing pixels to create the image you see on your screen. LCD displays are typically used in digital watches and laptops, while TFT screens are all the rage with wide screen televisions. Plasma displays, which are another type of flat-panel screen, are becoming more popular, too, and can be as thin as four inches deep.

The advantage with these types of screens is in their size. They tend to be much thinner and lighter than conventional monitors, which makes them easier to manoeuvre and means they take up very little space on your desk. If you feel so inclined, these screens are thin enough to enable you to mount them on your office or study wall.

These newer technologies are capable of producing clear, high quality images in screen sizes ranging from the standard 15 inches up to an incredible 40 inches. In terms of price, CRT displays are still the cheapest option. TFT screens produce the best resolution of all the flat-panel displays, but are also the most expensive. As a general rule, the larger the monitor, the more you pay for it.

Keep in mind that screen sizes are measured from corner to corner, not from top to bottom. That is why you will see monitor sizes quoted as, for example, 15 inches, but with an ‘actual viewing area’ of, say 13.5 inches.

Remember as well that if you want to update your system from a CRT monitor to one of the newer flat-panel TFT screens, be sure to check that your system supports these new technologies and that you have the required sockets or ports to connect them. It’s a fact of life that not all new devices are backward-compatible, meaning they might not work with older machines or your present computer system.

Should you wish to read more about LCD monitors then see UK LCD Monitors which has lots of content about LCD monitors.

© UK Shop Online.co.uk 2002 - 2008