A Buying Guide to LCD Computer Monitors

If there's one computer peripheral that most users take for granted, it's the display. Yet it's arguably the most important peripheral because it provides the only means of seeing what's going on inside your computer. After a few hours of reading the screen, however, we often forget about the display and simply accept it as our window into the computer's operations. 

LCD monitors have finally overtaken CRTs in the marketplace, and now the chances are good that your next monitor will be an LCD. What do you need to know in order to choose the right monitor and then get the most out of it?

Most users also give little thought to their selection of display, especially when buying a new computer. System manufacturers bundle a monitor and the buyer goes along with that choice-though sometimes you get to pick the size.

The reality is that you have to make many choices when selecting a display for your computer. Your decision may be shaped by budget limitations, how you'll use the computer, aesthetics, space constraints, or environmental concerns-or a combination of these factors.

This Buyers' Guide is divided into sections so that you can find the information you need quickly. First, we list some of the reasons that LCDs are better than CRTs. The Choices section describes the different categories of displays you'll be faced with when you go shopping. The Budget section provides some generalized estimates of what you can expect to get with a certain price range. The Features section describes the most important features that differentiate displays of similar type and price. Some of these features affect all users, but others will apply only specific applications. Finally, the Reality Check section will help you steer clear of some of the most common buying misconceptions.

LCDs are better than CRTs because: