LCD Monitor

An LCD, or liquid crystal display, monitor works by passing flourescent light through a layer of liquid crystal. This LCD technology has become popular in recent years because it reproduces an image in a way that is efficient, without "burn-in." The longevity, too, of LCD screens makes them attractive to users.

LCD monitors have certain advantages in that they don't consume anywhere near the amount of energy that a plasma screen needs to function. LCD screens are lightweight, averaging between 12 and 13 pounds for a 19-inch monitor. They offer decent color reproduction, but can have a hard time reproducing deep blacks. LCDs also tend to have good, solid brightness ratings and contrast ratios when compared to plasma monitors.

It used to be that LCD screens couldn't be as large as plasma or CRT monitors, due to inherent limitations in the technology, but all of that is being changed. 17-, 19- and 24-inch sizes are the most common, but there are LCD monitors on the market as large as 52 inches. Also, LCD monitors are steadily dropping in price as the technology becomes more advanced and cheaper to reproduce.

Because of their slim profiles, LCD monitors are valued because they take up much less room and free up valuable desk "real estate." Some models feature built-in speakers, which can further save on space. Those with very thin bezels are suitable to use for multiple-screen setups--two screens can be mounted to a single stand.