| General Considerations Color quality: | | | | to eyestrain and headaches. Some cards |
| Notice how accurately the monitor | | | | support refresh rates of up to 120Hz; if |
| reproduces colors. The weight given to | | | | you need this kind of rate to provide an |
| this factor depends on the purpose for | | | | extremely clear and stable image, make |
| which the monitor is being used. If it | | | | sure that your monitor can support it. |
| is primarily used for word processing or | | | | Before you rush to the store to buy a |
| similar functions, this factor may be | | | | graphics accelerator card, look |
| relatively unimportant; if it is used | | | | carefully at your current system and how |
| primarily for graphic design, this | | | | you use it. |
| factor may be relatively important. | | | | Consider your color depth and resolution |
| Image quality: Observe whether the image | | | | requirements. If you have a 14- or |
| displayed on the monitor appears well | | | | 15-inch monitor, you'll probably use |
| focused. A distortion-free image is very | | | | 800x600 resolution; the preferred |
| important. | | | | resolution for a 17-inch monitor is |
| Ergonomics: Adjustment controls (such as | | | | 1024x768. Power users with a 21-inch |
| the brightness and contrast buttons) | | | | display will want 1280x1024. The higher |
| should well-placed and easy to use. The | | | | the resolution you want, the more video |
| monitor should have a range of motion | | | | memory you'll need. |
| that permits relatively effortless | | | | When choosing a monitor, also make sure |
| tilting and swiveling. Make sure that | | | | that it supports the same refresh rates |
| there is sufficient room within your | | | | as your video card. If your video card |
| workspace to accommodate the monitor and | | | | supports DPMS (Device Power Management |
| its base. | | | | Standard), look for a DPMS-compliant |
| Power conservation: With the rising | | | | monitor (most monitors that meet the |
| costs of electricity, it is worth | | | | EPA's Energy Star guidelines are |
| investigating how much power the unit | | | | DPMS-compliant.) When paired, the two |
| consumes. | | | | will power down after a period of |
| Size Cost, desk space, and type of use | | | | inactivity. |
| are the most important factors in | | | | Color and Display: If possible, don't |
| determining which size is best for you. | | | | buy a monitor sight unseen. Find a store |
| Your choices for monitor size are | | | | where you can test and compare a number |
| generally 14, 15, 17, or 21-inch. Bigger | | | | of models. Check for margins of black |
| screens come in bigger boxes, so make | | | | around the screen edges. Ideally, the |
| sure you've got the desk space to | | | | image should fill the screen from top to |
| accommodate the size you choose. Another | | | | bottom and left to right, and should be |
| point to remember: while a monitor may | | | | adjustable. Also keep an eye out for |
| be labeled a 15- or 17-inch unit, the | | | | bowed and pinched edges-see if you can |
| actual image size ("viewable area") may | | | | fix the problem by using the |
| be an inch or two smaller. | | | | "pincushion" or "barrel" controls. Check |
| Make sure to note the "viewable screen | | | | for color distortion and poor |
| area" measurement (which is the distance | | | | convergence on the edges of the screen, |
| from the top left corner to the bottom | | | | and see if the controls improve what you |
| right corner of the screen). | | | | see. |
| Fourteen-inch monitors were the standard | | | | You might try this little test: Fill the |
| a few years ago but the technology has | | | | entire screen with many letter "E's." |
| advanced (and the price has declined) so | | | | Check to see that the image covers the |
| that your minimum purchase should | | | | entire area, including the corners. Now |
| probably be a 15-inch monitor. If you | | | | make sure that the letters in the |
| spend most of your time working at | | | | corners are as focused and bright as the |
| resolutions no higher than 800x600, a | | | | ones in the center. Also, put up a white |
| 15-inch monitor should provide you with | | | | background on each monitor and adjust |
| enough room for applications such as | | | | the brightness and contrast. This will |
| word processing and database entry. If | | | | help you judge each screens overall |
| you work at resolutions of 1024x768 or | | | | brightness. Pick one or two basic images |
| higher, you're probably better off with | | | | and put the same picture up on each |
| a 17-inch monitor. A monitor of this | | | | monitor. Compare the color contrast, the |
| size also offers advantages at lower | | | | brightness intensity, and the picture |
| resolutions-the extra screen real estate | | | | crispness and quality. Finally, put up |
| gives you more room to work with | | | | white text on a dark screen from the C: |
| multiple windows, applications minimized | | | | prompt. Look at the text closely to make |
| to icons, and large spreadsheets. If you | | | | sure that the convergence (when red, |
| use desktop publishing, graphics or CAD | | | | blue and green rays come together to |
| applications, a top-of-the-line 17-inch | | | | create white) is good and that no colors |
| model offers a viable alternative to a | | | | are bleeding out at the characters' |
| 21-inch model. Also, working on a 21 | | | | edges. |
| inch monitor at 1280x1024 will require a | | | | Flat Panel Displays Today, the LCD |
| minimum of 75Hz. | | | | (Liquid Crystal Display) flat-panel |
| Display Quality Refresh rates: High | | | | display is gaining in popularity, though |
| refresh rates help eliminate screen | | | | the traditional, CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) |
| flicker. For most people, a rate of 72Hz | | | | display is still the most popular. |
| to 75Hz is enough to achieve the desired | | | | Although there are several advantages to |
| results; a rate less than 70Hz will | | | | the LCD of display, there are also some |
| result in obvious flicker and can lead | | | | drawbacks. |