How to choose a Monitor

How to choose a Monitor

What is a Monitor?

Monitor is the most-used output device on a computer, because the monitor provides instant feedback by showing you the text and graphic images as you work or play. When purchasing a monitor, you have a number of decisions to make. These decisions affect how well your monitor will perform for you, how much it will cost and how much information you will be able to view with it. To choose the best monitor it is important to know some basics. Whether you're looking for your first monitor or replacing your current model, these basic points will help you find the best match for your needs.

Monitors types:

Flat panel monitors (LCD): Flat panel monitors use the type of liquid crystal display (LCD) found in laptop computers. They sandwich a thin layer of liquid crystals between layers of polarizing filters and special conductive glass to create an electrical grid with millions of tiny transistors that can be switched on and off to allow pinpoints of light from thin fluorescent tubes to pass through. LCD are very thin because they must house a few layers of glass. And they use only a trickle of electricity. These monitors are expensive, but they are a great choice if you don't have a lot of desk space. LCDs use digital technology, which provides more-accurate signal reproduction from your computer. Whereas LCDs have a greater viewing area than CRT monitors. LCDs also generate less electrical interference, and they don't generate or suffer interference from high-power magnetic fields like CRTs. Typical 17-inch flat panel monitor uses about 60 watts at full brightness.

Wide Screen Entertainment LCD Monitor (Display): Enhanced 16:9 wide screen format allows take full advantage of the panoramic capabilities of not only PCs, but video players, game consoles, digital cameras, camcorders, and more.

Stereoscopic (3D) LCD Monitors: There are several technologies. For example, 3 D monitor developing by Sharp Systems contains two TFT panels separated by a parallax barrier, which directs pixel images to two separate regions so that each eye receives a slightly different image. The brain of user formulates the signals so that the image appears to be a three-dimensional object. This innovation can be useful either for a chemist studying molecular structures, or a surgeon preparing for complex neurosurgery, or an architect designing the latest fashion mall. StereoMirror technology of Planar System, Inc.delivers stunning images for use in applications such as satellite/aerial photogrammetry; medical imaging; computational chemistry; complex modeling visualization and computer gaming.

Plasma Display Panel (PDP): Several years ago Fujitsu Ltd. and Hitachi Ltd. had cooperated on new core technologies aimed at reducing the cost and improving the picture quality of plasma display panels. Though they are still lacking the resolution of CRTs, plasma displays are widely seen as the flat-panel technology that could replace them. Plasma monitors are optimized for superior performance in multimedia applications including conference room presentation, boardroom AV presentation systems, videoconferencing, training and broadcast video production

High Bright Sunlight Readable Displays. High bright LCDs are ideal for use in any high ambient light condition, and will give you the intensity and brilliance your application requires. This display have brightness levels from 700 nits to 1850 nits and certainly outperform commercially available non-enhanced products that washout in direct and/or indirect sunlight conditions. . High brightness monitors deliver a radically higher level of brightness, resulting in unparalleled picture sharpness.

Touch Screen Monitors: A touch screen gets rid of the need for a mouse with a computer. You simply move your finger across the screen and the mouse pointer moves with it. To mouse click, then you tap on the screen instead. You don't even need a keyboard with many systems, as a software keyboard can be displayed on screen when a user needs to type in information. Many touch screens also come with hand writing recognition software so that your writing on the screen can be converted to text. A computer mouse needs regular cleaning to prevent it sticking and is easily damaged. Touch screens and computers can easily be built into custom cases so that only the screen can be seen. This makes touch screens ideal for public places.

Open-Frame LCD Monitors: Open-frame LCD monitors are flat panel display components for use by any customers, including kiosk developers and other system integrators. They are supplied without a typical case or housing, so that they can be mounted into the wall, kiosk systems or other computer-based equipment.

Plasma touch screens: Plasma screens are generally larger ranging from 21" to 50". Many plasma screens can be supplied with software and optional touch screen fronts.

Interactive whiteboard (IWB): These are used alongside an LCD projector and replace the usual projector screen. IWB assists professionals who use white boards to conduct brainstorming, problem-solving, product design, or training sessions. Ideas are saved in real time to a PC as they are created. Review the entire meeting using the unique software playback feature. Meeting notes or illustrations can be modified or distributed anytime electronically. These screen are generally 50" to 72" in size. Rear projection touch screens are effectively another kind of interactive whiteboard. Generally the whiteboard is mounted in a false wall with the projector behind it to display the image.

Multi-screen LCD monitors. Digital Tigers Zenview™ multi-screen monitors (displays) are more than 50 different configurations of multi-monitors system. Zenview displays with ultra-thin screen bezels enable a virtually seamless multi-monitor desktop. Avoiding gaps between monitors, Zenview displays free up desk space normally consumed by individual monitor stands. Compatible with Windows and Macintosh.

Multi-function monitor: This type of monitor lets user take control of desktop, and additionally allows to watch TV and HDTV, or VCR and DVD movies.

Monitor as a form factor. All-in-one-computer. Some manufacturers designed all-in-one-PC inside a monitor for multiple markets: health care, banking, education, government, and other industries. Product line can include all-in-one-computer in an LCD monitor, in a keyboard, and medical grade all-in-one PCs that can be used in sterile environment.

TV as monitor. Modern digital TV can be use as computer monitor. For this goal TV and computer must be connected either by special cables like HDMI, DVI, VGA or wireless.

Industrial Monitors provide high quality solution for harsh environment applications. Design of these monitors allows easy to integrate into new and existing systems. Industrial monitors are available in resistive touch screen or non-touch screen versions. Most popular lines of monitors was engineered to perform while enduring vibration, circulating dust, falling dirt, and dripping non -corrosive liquids.

Matrox Graphics Inc. recently announced the Matrox® TripleHead2Go™ Digital SE external multi-monitor adapter, which expands your system’s single-video output into an immersive triple-monitor setup so that you see and do more. This new Graphics eXpansion Module (GXM) connects to a compatible system's DisplayPort™ or Mini DisplayPort video output or Thunderbolt™ port and lets you add three external DVI monitors, each with maximum resolutions of either 1920x1080 @50Hz (PC) or 1360x768 @60Hz (Mac).

Monitors without screen - Projectors: Projectors include a number of proprietary features that ensure crisp, clear images are displayed no matter what type of computer you connect. Advanced intelligent technology enables projectors to display accurate and detailed images form non-native resolution computers.

Virtual Reality (VR): You can have a super-high-resolution big screen monitor and video viewer, attached to your eyes. It is a head mounted display. Big stereo sound through build-in private speakers can complete the effect of virtual reality (www.vreallities.com).

Additional information about Monitor features

Common recommendations

Size of screen (inch) and preferences for desktop computers and computer presentation systems

I want my PC to do…	Type of monitor
I want my PC to do…	LCD	PDP	Touch screen	Projector	VR
Reasons for preference	Aesthetically nice, compact	Multimedia applications, video- conferencing, training and broadcast & video production	Works without mouse , sometimes without keyboard	For presentation, teaching, entertainment (iTV)	For entertainment, teaching and training
E-mail/ internet	<=15
Word Processing	<=17
Microsoft Excel/ PowerPoint	<=17	>=40
Software developing	<=21		<=21
Digital Photography	<=21
Digital Video Editing	21-23	>=40
Digital Audio	<=15		<=15
Intense Gaming	<=21		<=21
Advanced Multimedia	21-23	>=40	21-23	50-70
Cutting-Edge Graphics	21-23		21-23
Presentation	21-23	>=40	21-23	50-70
Teaching for students	<=21		<=21
Teaching for teacher		>=40		50-70

What is a Monitor?

Monitors types:

Wide Screen Entertainment LCD Monitor (Display): Enhanced 16:9 wide screen format allows take full advantage of the panoramic capabilities of not only PCs, but video players, game consoles, digital cameras, camcorders, and more.

Plasma touch screens: Plasma screens are generally larger ranging from 21" to 50". Many plasma screens can be supplied with software and optional touch screen fronts.

Multi-function monitor: This type of monitor lets user take control of desktop, and additionally allows to watch TV and HDTV, or VCR and DVD movies.

Virtual Reality (VR): You can have a super-high-resolution big screen monitor and video viewer, attached to your eyes. It is a head mounted display. Big stereo sound through build-in private speakers can complete the effect of virtual reality (www.vreallities.com).