21st Century Monitors

 W alk into any business, see a clunky cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor on a desk and you might think you should check over your shoulder for a brontosaurus.

 The monitor is one of the longest-lived components of a PC; in fact, it often lasts far longer than the original computer. In recent years, improvements in technology and lower production costs have made thinner, flat-panel, liquid-crystal-display (LCD) monitors comparable in price to those antiquated-looking CRTs. The new monitors also have the added benefit of taking up a fraction of the desk space and are not only better looking, they are, quite literally, easier on the eyes since they do not need to refresh in the same linear way as a CRT.

 Multiple Screens

 Not so long ago, it was necessary either to turn the monitor to enable another person to view the screen or to install a dual-headed graphics card that would permit the use of a second monitor. To accommodate users demanding more viewing space without calling in the IT specialist to install the video cards, DisplayLink will now allow you to connect up to six monitors in a daisy-chain to one computer. This new technology permits you to connect a desktop to a laptop, for example, through their USB ports, then link both to auxiliary monitors. Now you will be able to share and explain information to clients on a second monitor as well as use additional monitors to increase the number of windows that can be opened without reduction or screen overlay. Imagine adjusting a spreadsheet on one screen, editing a report on another while touching up a picture for presentation on a third - all with the same mouse. Now that's multitasking!

 Screen Sizes

 Since an LCD does not have the imposing bulk of a CRT, displays with a larger viewable area are now much more practical and affordable. Multitasking is a fact of life. Providing employees with the ability to view multiple windows or applications simultaneously is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase productivity within your organization.

The 17" monitor has been a standard for years. More data, more aging eyes, and the need for larger imagery to view the increasingly complex graphics have pushed the 19" monitor to the forefront with 23" and 24" widescreen displays also becoming popular. A larger screen area, however, will not necessarily display more information since the amount of information displayed depends on image resolution. Resolution, in turn, depends on the number of picture elements (pixels) or electronic dots used to create the image: the higher the number of pixels, the higher the resolution, and the greater the amount of information displayed. In other words, 17" and 19" displays of the same resolution do not carry more information when the image resolution is the same; the individual pixels on the 19" monitor are just larger.

 When making a screen purchase, you may wish to consider a 16:9 widescreen display ratio rather than the traditional 4:3 ratio since the human field of vision is naturally more comfortable viewing something that is wider than it is high. On a 24" widescreen LCD you can work comfortably on two documents side by side or on a large spreadsheet.

 Dual Purpose?

 Are you thinking of using a high-definition LCD television as a computer monitor? It can certainly be done, as modern TVs are simply computer monitors with a built-in tuner. That HDTV, however, probably has lower image resolution than your LCD computer monitor. A good computer monitor will provide a much sharper image than a TV using the same technology, since the pixel count on a typical 32" LCD television is about half that of a similarly sized LCD monitor. If you want to save space by using a single monitor for your TV and desktop PC, consider getting a Media Centre PC instead, with the TV tuner built into the computer rather than the monitor. The Media Centre PC has the added advantage of including a PVR function to record TV programmes onto the hard drive for later viewing.

 Features Worth Considering

 1.          Ensure your monitors can tilt and swivel to permit the user to adjust it to the position most comfortable for the neck and eyes. Most monitors allow this. Some monitors allow pivoting to the portrait position, which is an ideal feature for those working with text, pictures or graphs that are best viewed in standard 8½" x 11" page format.

2.          Consider purchasing an LCD panel compatible with a standard VESA mounting system. The VESA system enables you to mount your display on a wall or desk using a monitor arm. With this system you will have more desk space and be able to adjust the height or location for perfect comfort.

3.          Check that the monitor has a DVI or HDMI port with HDCP (high band width digital content protection) compatibility, if your business is contemplating playing a copyright-protected medium such as Blu-ray. Most, but not all, newer monitors have incorporated these features.

4.          Check that your monitor comes with built-in speakers. If not, see whether they are offered as clip-on options that attach directly to the monitor and thus take up no desk space.

5.          Consider a built-in web cam to reduce clutter and encourage interaction over distances.

 Buy Right

 Buying a new monitor is a long-term investment. Consider getting the largest screen size with the highest available image resolution that fits your space and your budget.