Don't waste your money on a bad monitor. We tell you which specs to pay attention to and which to ignore when shopping for a new display.Rhoda Alexander has a healthy disrespect for monitor numbers even though she analyses 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.
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