Specs Explained

Monitor Specs Explained :

There are literally dozens of features that differentiate displays. It's important to pay careful attention to those that will have the greatest impact on the kind of activity you most regularly perform with your computer. We've divided the most important features into three categories, depending on whether they apply to all monitors, CRTs only, or LCDs only:

All:

	Front-panel controls. All displays require some adjustment, even if only for brightness and contrast settings. Most monitors now have an on-screen menu to guide you through the process; this menu will help you make sense of the controls and screen prompts.
	DDC support. The Display Data Channel (DDC) is a standard set by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) that allows computers to communicate with monitors. Among other information, this feature allows the monitor to tell the computer which resolutions, signal rates, and power-saving modes it supports. The Windows Plug and Play feature can then use this information to configure the computer to work with the display, without the need for separate driver information.
	Quick-exchange warranty. If your monitor fails, you won't be using your computer until you can get a replacement. Some display warranties include overnight replacement. If your installation is mission-critical, check for this coverage.
	Digital versus analog input. Though digital and analog connections are supported by both types of displays, the debate about which is better applies more to LCDs than to CRTs. The standard VGA-compatible connection takes the digital display information, which is stored in the graphics adapter's frame buffer. This data is then sent to the display. If that display is an analog monitor, the data is sent to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and then out the VGA connector as analog signals. If the receiving monitor is an LCD, the analog data must be converted back to digital. Because LCDs are digital, the quality of the signal may diminish as it's converted from digital to analog and back again. Also, some LCDs have difficulty synchronizing correctly to an analog signal, resulting in pixel jitter. A digital signal addresses each pixel directly, so there is no jitter. Most displays that accept digital signals use the DVI (Digital Video Interface) connector, but digital inputs are becoming less important, because many LCD monitors do a much better job of processing analog signals than they did in the past.
	Multiple inputs. If you need to work with more than one computer but have space for only one display, consider getting a model with multiple inputs. The best units will have a single button or switch on the front panel, making it easy to switch between the two displays.

CRTs:

	Refresh rate. Refresh is one of the most important display settings. If the refresh rate is too low-for example, lower than 72 Hz for most users-the image on the screen may appear to flicker. But don't set your monitor's refresh rate any faster than what's required to eliminate flicker; higher refresh rates can cause the image quality to degrade.
	Dot pitch (or stripe pitch). This measurement refers to the spacing between the phosphors on the CRT screen. For shadow mask monitors, it is the space between the triads of red, green, and blue dots. For stripe mask (or aperture grille) tubes, it is the horizontal space from a stripe of one color to the next stripe of the same color. Some shadow mask monitors report a horizontal dot pitch, which is smaller than the dot pitch and somewhat comparable to a stripe pitch measurement-if you're comparing monitors with different tube types. It's possible that a monitor will be specified to support a resolution that's higher than its phosphors can display. If a pixel is smaller than the horizontal pitch measurement, the monitor won't be able to produce a single pixel vertical line accurately at that resolution. A good rule of thumb is not to get higher than a 0.28 dot pitch on a 17-inch monitor.
	Flat-faced CRT. The popularity of LCDs has prompted CRT manufacturers to design tubes with a flat face. This helps reduce reflected glare, making the image more attractive. Flat-faced models typically cost more than traditional designs with curved screens.
	Screen geometry controls. No CRT is perfect, despite the manufacturers' best efforts. The best monitors have controls that let you adjust the image geometry so that the corners are square and shapes are proportionate. The convergence setting-one of the most important features for designers and CAD operators-helps align the three electron gun beams so that they overlap one another correctly when drawing a white line.
	Short neck design. As a rule of thumb, a CRT's case is as deep as the diagonal measurement of the picture tube. Newer designs can control the electron beams across a wide angle, so the picture tube neck can be shorter. This in turn makes the case smaller and the monitor a bit lighter, which can be an advantage in many environments.
	BNC (Bayonet Nut Connector) inputs. The standard VGA connector and cables can result in some signal degradation between the computer and the display. Larger, high-end displays, such as those designed for graphic-arts and computer-drafting applications, often offer coaxial BNC connectors instead of (or in addition to) the VGA connector. This can result in a better, more accurate signal.

LCDs:

	Native resolution. The actual number of pixels displayed is the panel's most important specification. Most LCD monitors allow you to scale images of other resolutions, but you'll get the sharpest result if you stick to the native resolution.
	Auto-adjust. If the LCD monitor uses an analog signal, it must synchronized to be sized and positioned correctly. The best models have a single button on the front panel that lets you initiate an automatic synchronization process.
	Viewing angle. With some LCD panels, viewing the image from an alternative angle can be difficult to impossible. If you need to see the image when you're not directly in front of the display, look for a design with a wider viewing angle. There are different technologies used to achieve this, but you should be able to view the image at up to 80 degrees off the axis in any direction.
	Pivoting display. Some LCDs pivot, so the screen orientation can change from landscape mode-where the image is wider than it is tall-to portrait mode. Software rotates the image and reformats it for the new orientation. This feature lets you view an entire letter-size page in full size on a 15-inch LCD.
	Mounting-arm compatible. One of the most attractive features of an LCD is that it takes up less space than a CRT. Many are designed to attach to arms that conform to a VESA mounting standard, so they can be mounted on a wall, saving even more space.
	Antitheft lock. LCDs are fairly expensive and relatively small, making them attractive targets for theft. Some models include security features, such as support for a Kensington lock, which can deter pilfering.