How to buy the best monitor on the market
Rhoda Alexander has a healthy disrespect for monitor numbers
even though she analyzes them for a living. As director of research for Stanford
Resources/iSuppli, the leading display research firm, she realizes that
certain monitor specs objectively describe better hardware. But there's no
accounting for taste when it comes to something as personal as a screen that
will sit in front of your face many hours a day. "Put the spec sheet aside," she
says, "and look at the monitor."
Unfortunately, that's easier said
than done. Unlike Ms. Alexander, few of us have the luxury of a controlled
environment where we can compare monitors properly. In a computer store, you'll
often see monitors stacked on a rack and connected to a signal splitter that
degrades image quality (with the cheapest monitors on top catching the most
glare). Or you'll find monitors scattered throughout the store, subjected to a
variety of lighting conditions that may have dramatic effects on viewability.
More to the point, many savvy buyers shop online exclusively, which obviously
makes it impossible to look before you buy.
Fortunately, if you're a smart shopper, monitor specifications
really can help you choose the right model. Just keep in mind that some specs
are more useful than others, and they can vary in importance depending on the
type of user you are. We've done our best to sharpen the focus in this fuzzy
area, squinting at dozens of monitors and poring over the fine print of product
literature to highlight the specs worth considering--and to alert you to those
that mislead.
Let's start with the numbers that will help answer the
first question you come to when buying a monitor: should you buy a flat,
liquid-crystal display (LCD) monitor or an
old-fashioned cathode ray tube (CRT)
monitor?
Chic flat-panel vs. CRT workhorse
Is your money better spent
on a CRT, or should you pony up for an LCD?
Reading between the lines on CRTs
Learn how to decipher the
many specs that CRT monitor makers throw at you.
The lowdown on LCD monitors
Find out which specs tell the
true tale of a flat-panel display.
Terms you should know
Decipher the language of CRTs and LCDs
Eric Knorr is an award-winning freelance writer and consultant who frequently works with e-business consultancy Envivid Solutions in San Francisco. He is the founding editor of CNET's Computers.com and a CNET Tech Trends contributor.
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