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How to Buy an LCD Monitor
Whether you're looking for a cheap LCD monitor or a high-end display, we walk you through the latest market trends and help you find your perfect display.
The monitor you are using right now probably came bundled with your desktop PC, or maybe you bought it back when 1,240 by 1,024 was considered high resolution. Since you spend a huge part of everyday looking at it, however, it pays to be picky when choosing a LCD monitor. Price ranges vary widely, as do the quality of the panels. So how can you make an informed choice? Well, that's where we come in. We will walk you through the latest trends in the display market, as well as the specific features to look for when buying an LCD monitor.
THE BASICS
Regardless of what kind of monitor you're in the market for, there are some general factors to consider:
Price: Monitor prices depend on the type, size, and features of the display. For example, a no-frills model that uses a 22-inch TN panel will probably costs around $150. Budget monitors usually lack niceties such as USB ports and a height-adjustable stand, but they do use LED backlighting, require very little power, and are very bright. Performance is adequate for most entertainment purposes or for viewing business and productivity apps, but not well suited for tasks where color and grayscale accuracy are key. At the other end of the spectrum are your high-end models that are geared towards graphics professionals and photographers. These monitors might use huge 30-inch screens with IPS panel technology and offer features such as a highly adjustable stand, USB ports, a built in KVM switch, and a wealth of advanced image settings. Expect to pay over $2000 for a fully loaded, high performance monitor. . Bottom line: Be prepared to pay for extras but don't overspend on features you will never use.
Size: LCD monitors generally run anywhere from 15 inches up to 30 inches. The size of the panel is measured diagonally. While it's always nice to have a big viewing area, it may not be practical given desktop space constraints. Plus, the bigger the screen the more you can expect to pay. Monitors in the 22 to 24inch range are popular as they offer enough screen real estate to view multipage documents or watch movies without taking up too much room. Still, there's nothing like watching a movie or playing a game on a large screen, so if you have room on your desktop, 27-inch monitors offer a big screen experience for a reasonable price.
Pixel Response Rate: Measured in milliseconds, the time it takes for a pixel to change from black to white (b-w) or to transition from one shade of gray to another shade of gray (g-g). The faster the pixel response rate, the better the monitor is at displaying video without displaying artifacts such as ghosting or blurring of moving images. Monitors with a fast pixel response, say 2-milliseconds (black-to-white) or 5 milliseconds (gray-to-gray) are very good for gaming, but even those monitors with a higher pixel response (7 to 12-ms) can display games without much blurring or ghosting. The fact is, most users won't notice things like lag, which is the time it takes for the display to react to a command, but hard core gamers consider this a key factor when choosing a monitor and typically seek out the fastest monitors available.
Resolution: This is the amount of pixels a monitor can display, both horizontally and vertically. For example, a monitor with a 1,920 by 1,080 resolution can display 1920 pixels across the width of the screen and 1080 pixels from top to bottom. The higher the resolution, the more information can be displayed on the screen. These days, most monitors in the 22 to 27 inch range have a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and are referred to as full HD monitors. Bigger displays,(30-inches and up) can display at a resolution of 2560 x 1600, making them ideal for viewing highly detailed images or viewing multiple pages in a tiled or side by side format.
Extra Features: If you have to share a monitor with a co-worker or family members, consider a model with an ergonomic stand that lets you position the screen for your most comfortable viewing angle. Most stands offer tilt adjustability but swivel and height adjustments give you more flexibility. If you transfer lots of data back and forth between USB devices, look for a monitor with built-in USB ports, as it's much easier to plug one into your display than to have to constantly reach around the back of your PC (side-mounted USB ports rule). Embedded Webcams are fun for video chats and e-mailing photos, but don't expect stellar image quality as they are typically low-resolution cameras. Most monitors come with built-in speakers that are adequate for everyday use but usually lack the volume and bass response that music aficionados and gamers crave. If audio output is important, look for speakers with a minimum rating of 2-watts per speaker. As a general rule, the higher the power rating the more volume you can expect. A monitor with a built-in card reader makes it easy to view photos and play music without having to reach under your desk to plug in a media card. Finally, glossy screens can provide very bright, crisp colors but may also be too reflective for some users. If possible, compare a glossy screen to a matte screen before you buy to decide which works best for you.http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2362047,00.asp
Whether you're looking for a cheap LCD monitor or a high-end display, we walk you through the latest market trends and help you find your perfect display.
THE BASICS
Regardless of what kind of monitor you're in the market for, there are some general factors to consider:
Price: Monitor prices depend on the type, size, and features of the display. For example, a no-frills model that uses a 22-inch TN panel will probably costs around $150. Budget monitors usually lack niceties such as USB ports and a height-adjustable stand, but they do use LED backlighting, require very little power, and are very bright. Performance is adequate for most entertainment purposes or for viewing business and productivity apps, but not well suited for tasks where color and grayscale accuracy are key. At the other end of the spectrum are your high-end models that are geared towards graphics professionals and photographers. These monitors might use huge 30-inch screens with IPS panel technology and offer features such as a highly adjustable stand, USB ports, a built in KVM switch, and a wealth of advanced image settings. Expect to pay over $2000 for a fully loaded, high performance monitor. . Bottom line: Be prepared to pay for extras but don't overspend on features you will never use.
Size: LCD monitors generally run anywhere from 15 inches up to 30 inches. The size of the panel is measured diagonally. While it's always nice to have a big viewing area, it may not be practical given desktop space constraints. Plus, the bigger the screen the more you can expect to pay. Monitors in the 22 to 24inch range are popular as they offer enough screen real estate to view multipage documents or watch movies without taking up too much room. Still, there's nothing like watching a movie or playing a game on a large screen, so if you have room on your desktop, 27-inch monitors offer a big screen experience for a reasonable price.
Pixel Response Rate: Measured in milliseconds, the time it takes for a pixel to change from black to white (b-w) or to transition from one shade of gray to another shade of gray (g-g). The faster the pixel response rate, the better the monitor is at displaying video without displaying artifacts such as ghosting or blurring of moving images. Monitors with a fast pixel response, say 2-milliseconds (black-to-white) or 5 milliseconds (gray-to-gray) are very good for gaming, but even those monitors with a higher pixel response (7 to 12-ms) can display games without much blurring or ghosting. The fact is, most users won't notice things like lag, which is the time it takes for the display to react to a command, but hard core gamers consider this a key factor when choosing a monitor and typically seek out the fastest monitors available.
Resolution: This is the amount of pixels a monitor can display, both horizontally and vertically. For example, a monitor with a 1,920 by 1,080 resolution can display 1920 pixels across the width of the screen and 1080 pixels from top to bottom. The higher the resolution, the more information can be displayed on the screen. These days, most monitors in the 22 to 27 inch range have a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and are referred to as full HD monitors. Bigger displays,(30-inches and up) can display at a resolution of 2560 x 1600, making them ideal for viewing highly detailed images or viewing multiple pages in a tiled or side by side format.
Extra Features: If you have to share a monitor with a co-worker or family members, consider a model with an ergonomic stand that lets you position the screen for your most comfortable viewing angle. Most stands offer tilt adjustability but swivel and height adjustments give you more flexibility. If you transfer lots of data back and forth between USB devices, look for a monitor with built-in USB ports, as it's much easier to plug one into your display than to have to constantly reach around the back of your PC (side-mounted USB ports rule). Embedded Webcams are fun for video chats and e-mailing photos, but don't expect stellar image quality as they are typically low-resolution cameras. Most monitors come with built-in speakers that are adequate for everyday use but usually lack the volume and bass response that music aficionados and gamers crave. If audio output is important, look for speakers with a minimum rating of 2-watts per speaker. As a general rule, the higher the power rating the more volume you can expect. A monitor with a built-in card reader makes it easy to view photos and play music without having to reach under your desk to plug in a media card. Finally, glossy screens can provide very bright, crisp colors but may also be too reflective for some users. If possible, compare a glossy screen to a matte screen before you buy to decide which works best for you.http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2362047,00.asp