There are basically two kinds of computer monitors in the world. Do you know what kind of monitor you are looking at? There are the old fashioned bulky (TV like) monitors and the newer, slim flat panel monitors. Here is a basic description of the differences:
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CRT Monitor |
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Flat Panel Monitor |
When computers first came out you didn't have a choice on what kind of monitor you got. You got that bulky CRT that was huge and cumbersome to move if you wanted to switch around your computer desk.
This isn't true anymore; with all the technological advances you have choices now. So let's look at the differences. Of course you have the CRT, but now you have the LCD Monitors available to you. There are huge differences between the LCD and a CRT. LCD's have become quite advanced, and the technology offers you pretty much the same quality of picture as a CRT, but still many people still want the CRT monitor. CRT's of course are bigger and bulkier than an LCD monitor, they also consume more power and you get that annoying screen flicker. But LCD's are more expensive than a CRT. They also have the problem of viewing from angles, and they usually have less accurate color replication.
Each monitor as you can see above has its advantages and disadvantages. We are going to do a closer comparison of the CRT monitor and LCD monitor to hopefully help you out with your purchase.
CRT monitors were the only choice that people had for many years, the CRT stands for Cathode Ray Tube, and it's been in use for over 100 years. It's what is found in most TV's and computer monitors. How it works is it moves an electron beam back and forth across the back of the TV screen or Monitor screen. When it moves across the screen it lights up dots on the inside of the tube, thus it illuminates the active parts of the screen. By doing this several times it will complete the screen image.
LCD monitors stand for Liquid crystal display. This type of technology can also be found in those digital watches and of course computer monitors. LCD's use two sheets of polarizing material with liquid crystal between them, when an electronic current passes through the liquid the crystals will align so that light will not pass through them. With several passes the screen image will be complete.
Pro's and Con's of each monitor. Resolution or how sharp your picture will look is very flexible on a CRT. In fact the newer models offer up to 1600 x 1200 displays. The LCD's resolution is fixed, it can be changed, but if you do so you will notice the performance will drop.
Both of the newer models of both monitors will give you a bright color display that is vibrant. LCD's though fall short in the color range. As far as sharpness of the image, if you are running your LCD at it's normal setting the picture will be perfectly sharp, while the CRT you will notice flaws in.
When viewing a CRT monitor you can look at it from any angle with no problem, however your LCD monitors you will notice the picture will fade or disappear.
As stated before with the CRT you may have that screen flicker, but with today's graphic cards that may be fixed almost completely. LCD's do not have this problem so a screen flickers!
Screen size of a CRT you will find most people buying 17" displays. With this you get around 16.1 inches of true display image. While with a LCD monitor if you buy a 17" screen you will have 17" of true viewing. The physical size of the two monitors is in no way even close. A CRT is heavier and bulky, while a LCD is much less weight and flat.
The big difference though is going to be the price, where the LCD wins in size it will cost you much more in price. CRT's although bulky will be much cheaper to purchase. Here are a few examples. An Acer 15" LCD will run you $195, which is a very good price, now a 17" CRT from Acer is $169. Not much of a difference but a little choice. Another example is Samsung 17" CRT for $125 compared to a Samsung 17" LCD at $480. Now that choice you see a huge difference in the price.
What you need to keep in mind is how much you want to spend and what kind of monitor you like the best. Just use this as a guide for some answers.
CRT vs. LCD - The Pros and Cons of Each
Resolution & Viewing Quality
Resolution on a CRT is flexible and a newer model will provide you with viewing resolutions of up to 1600 by 1200 and higher, whereas on an LCD the resolution is fixed within each monitor (called a native resolution). The resolution on an LCD can be changed, but if you're running it at a resolution other than its native resolution you will notice a drop in performance or quality.
Both types of monitors (newer models) provide bright and vibrant color display. However, LCDs cannot display the maximum color range that a CRT can. In terms of image sharpness, when an LCD is running at its native resolution the picture quality is perfectly sharp. On a CRT the sharpness of the picture can be blemished by soft edges or a flawed focus.
A CRT monitor can be viewed from almost any angle, but with an LCD this is often a problem. When you use an LCD, your view changes as you move different angles and distances away from the monitor. At some odd angles, you may notice the picture fade, and possibly look as if it will disappear from view.
Refresh Rate
Some users of a CRT may notice a bit of an annoying flicker, which is an inherent trait based on a CRTs physical components. Today's graphics cards, however, can provide a high refresh rate signal to the CRT to get rid of this otherwise annoying problem. LCDs are flicker-free and as such the refresh rate isn't an important issue with LCDs.
Dot Pitch
Dot pitch refers to the space between the pixels that make up the images on your screen, and is measured in millimeters. The less space between pixels, the better the image quality. On either type of monitor, smaller dot pitch is better and you're going to want to look at something in the 0.26 mm dot pitch or smaller range.
Screen (viewable) Size
Most people today tend to look at a 17-inch CRT or bigger monitor. When you purchase a 17-inch CRT monitor, you usually get 16.1 inches or a bit more of actual viewing area, depending on the brand and manufacturer of a specific CRT. The difference between the "monitor size" and the "view area" is due to the large bulky frame of a CRT. If you purchase a 17" LCD monitor, you actually get a full 17" viewable area, or very close to a 17".
Physical Size
There is no denying that an LCD wins in terms of its physical size and the space it needs. CRT monitors are big, bulky and heavy. They are not a good choice if you're working with limited desk space, or need to move the monitor around (for some odd reason) between computers. An LCD on the other hand is small, compact and lightweight. LCDs are thin, take up far less space and are easy to move around. An average 17-inch CRT monitor could be upwards of 40 pounds, while a 17&-inch LCD would weigh in at around 15 pounds.
Price
As an individual one-time purchase an LCD monitor is going to be more expensive. Throughout a lifetime, however, LCDs are cheaper as they are known to have a longer lifespan and also a lower power consumption. The cost of both technologies have come down over the past few years, and LCDs are reaching a point where smaller monitors are within many consumers' price range. You will pay more for a 17" LCD compared to a 17" CRT, but since the CRT's actual viewing size is smaller, it does bring the question of price back into proportion. Today, fewer CRT monitors are manufactured as the price on LCDs lowers and they become mainstream.
You have posted very nice pics. I like the flat panel monitor...Computer Monitor
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