Monitor

In the beginning, there were CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors. These monitors use the same technology as standard televisions. Cathode rays are vacuum tubes coated with red, green, and blue phosphors, which produce light and color when activated. CRT monitors were ubiquitous at the dawn of the computer age, and are still in use today.

However, CRT monitors are now considered to be far inferior to LCD flat panel monitors. A flat panel offers less distortion than the older, curved screens. LCD displays tend to be more cost effective, as well as thinner and lighter. However, LCD displays may not have the contrast ratio of other display technologies. Plasma displays reproduce color beautifully, and have an excellent contrast ratio, but are fragile, heavy, and consume a lot of power.

But there are two other main criteria when it comes to choosing a monitor. The first is your choice of video interface. There are analog and digital interfaces to choose from--although some LCD monitors offer both. CRT monitors typically support only analog. When it comes to LCD screens, a digital signal can provide images that are clearer and of higher quality.

The second criteria is maneuverability. LCD monitors can often tilt, swivel, and pivot to display at every angle. Some can even spin to provide a portrait display, rather than a landscape orientation. With the proper software, these monitors will automatically adjust the display depending on the position of the screen.