LCD screens and problem
LCD monitors, the thin ones you see replacing those big boxy CRT monitors that used to come with most desktop pc's, actually outsold CRTs in 2005 for the first time according to a few sources, and it's no wonder. They’re brighter, clearer, easier to read, take up much less space on your desk and the big factor: came down in price significantly in recent years.The only problem they have are the stuck pixels.
But we will talk about this in another section of the website. A 17 inch LCD gives you about as much screen area as a 19” CRT because when a CRT is sold in Canada the size is measured before it is put into its case
and part of the frame actually covers up the measured part of the screen. An LCD, on the other hand, is measured corner-to-corner as well, but what you measure is what you get.
LCD monitors are digital, but most have analog inputs, because that is what most people still have on their video cards in their PCs. Many LCD monitors also have a digital input jack which, if your PC supports it, should be the one you use. A PC, after-all creates a digital image which gets converted to analog, so you can view it, and then gets converted back to digital within the LCD monitor. Your colours will be truer, and you picture clearer, if you do not go through this conversion and drive the monitor digitally, if you can.
Lastly, if you are used to specifications for CRTs, because you’ve bought so many, some of the items below may be of interest. It explains some of the factors you may wish to be informed of before selecting a brand of LCD monitor. The references were collected over a year ago but the details are the same today. So, the words the salesman may try and bring to your attention, when shopping for an LCD monitor (and my comments on each) are:
The maximum viewing angle should be as wide as possible, ideally greater than or equal to 150° vertically (the horizontal angle isn't that important). Many are at least 170°.
Inputs can be important. Newer video cards have both Analog and Digital outputs. Some LCD monitors can take advantage of both. Accepting digital video means less degradation in quality as both computer files and LCD monitors are digital. Conversion to analog (and then back to digital) can cause information loss.
Tilt and swivel is available on some LCD’s. Obviously this will be a more valuable feature to some than others. Height adjustment is another feature sometimes available.
Size is possibly the biggest factor determining the cost
of the LCD monitor. A 15” LCD has about the same viewable screen size as a 17” CRT monitor because some of the screen measured on the CRT is covered by the housing. On an LCD every pixel is viewable.
But we will talk about this in another section of the website. A 17 inch LCD gives you about as much screen area as a 19” CRT because when a CRT is sold in Canada the size is measured before it is put into its case
and part of the frame actually covers up the measured part of the screen. An LCD, on the other hand, is measured corner-to-corner as well, but what you measure is what you get.
LCD monitors are digital, but most have analog inputs, because that is what most people still have on their video cards in their PCs. Many LCD monitors also have a digital input jack which, if your PC supports it, should be the one you use. A PC, after-all creates a digital image which gets converted to analog, so you can view it, and then gets converted back to digital within the LCD monitor. Your colours will be truer, and you picture clearer, if you do not go through this conversion and drive the monitor digitally, if you can.
Lastly, if you are used to specifications for CRTs, because you’ve bought so many, some of the items below may be of interest. It explains some of the factors you may wish to be informed of before selecting a brand of LCD monitor. The references were collected over a year ago but the details are the same today. So, the words the salesman may try and bring to your attention, when shopping for an LCD monitor (and my comments on each) are:
The maximum viewing angle should be as wide as possible, ideally greater than or equal to 150° vertically (the horizontal angle isn't that important). Many are at least 170°.
Inputs can be important. Newer video cards have both Analog and Digital outputs. Some LCD monitors can take advantage of both. Accepting digital video means less degradation in quality as both computer files and LCD monitors are digital. Conversion to analog (and then back to digital) can cause information loss.
Tilt and swivel is available on some LCD’s. Obviously this will be a more valuable feature to some than others. Height adjustment is another feature sometimes available.
Size is possibly the biggest factor determining the cost
of the LCD monitor. A 15” LCD has about the same viewable screen size as a 17” CRT monitor because some of the screen measured on the CRT is covered by the housing. On an LCD every pixel is viewable.
