Choices of monitors. Whats best for you..

What to look for when buying a monitor.

Size is an obvious and simple start. With monitors size is measured diagonally and in inches, and ‘the bigger the better' is probably a good rule to go by.

LCDs are bigger than CRTs with the same measurement as CRTs have larger frames that obscure some of the screen. A 21-inch CRT will show about the same area of screen as a 19-inch LCD.

Larger monitors are easier on your eyes, just like larger text in a book is - and they also support higher resolutions. Resolution is the number of pixels displayed on the screen (a pixel is a single point in an image). Make sure the resolution you go for suits the screen size - it's no good going for high resolution on a screen that's too small as the pixels have to be crammed in to fit - making for difficult reading.

LCD monitors have a set number of pixels - called "native resolution". As a general rule, it's best to go with the native resolution you're comfortable with. If you run a LCD at any resolution other than its native resolution, the display can become fuzzy or blurred. The resolution you see is also dependent the capability of your graphics card or video card - the part of your computer hardware that generates and outputs images to your screen.

If you buy a brand new monitor with the latest features but have a PC that's been around for while, your graphics card may need to be upgraded to get the best picture possible. Graphics cards also come as separate devices that can be plugged into your computer.

If you're going to watch movies and particularly if you're into games, make sure you buy a monitor that has a low response time. The response time is how quickly a pixel can change colours, measured in milliseconds. If you are a gamer, go for a monitor with a response rate of less than 5ms.

Contrast ratio is the difference in light intensity between the whitest white and the blackest black, for best effect go for the highest you can, but get at least 700:1. Film buffs and gamers should aim higher.
Whatever contrast ratio you settle on, your monitor should look equally bright when viewing light and dark images.

In monitor-speak brightness or luminance refers to how much light a screen can produce. It's usually measured in candelas per square meter (cd/m2). It makes sense to get as bright a monitor as you can, because you can always turn it down but make sure it's at least 300cd/m2. 500 cd/m2 is better for TV and movies.

Viewing angles (mentioned above) are important too. The brightness and colour of LCD pixels can darken if viewed from an angle rather than front-on. Again manufacturers' specifications may not be completely accurate, so always inspect it on the shop floor if you can before you make any decisions. Colours and brightness should not change in the corners of the screen.

Some monitors come with extra features. Multifunction monitors perform as both a computer and TV screen. These can either be LCD monitors with built in TV tuners or Plasma TVs or screens that function as monitors. Some monitors have digital connections which can be hooked up with a graphics card with a digital video interface to give you a better picture. Also some are equipped with USB ports and speakers, but unless you're short on space, don't worry about it these too much.