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