Archive for the ‘Flat Panel LCD’ Category
LCD monitors are not the same size as CRT monitors. LCD monitors are actually larger for the same sized CRT monitor! Monitor measurements are measured diagonally. Since the advent of the television, this has been the industry standard for screen measurements. When computer monitors hit the scene, the measurement became the diagonal measurement of the tube itself, not the actual viewable screen. When you look at your monitor, there is a plastic box that houses your CRT tube and other components, but when you look at the front of your monitor, there is probably an inch or more of framework around your picture tube. This hides the rest of the CRT tube that is enclosed within the box.
Now take a ruler or tape measure, and measure the actual image you are viewing, measure diagonally, and you will see that the actual measurement is smaller than the monitors claimed size. For example, my 19 inch CRT monitor, measuring the actual image from the bottom left hand corner of the picture to the upper right hand corner is actually 17.25 inches, or in other words, only .25 inches larger than 17 inches, if the monitor measurement were the actual viewing screen this 19 inch monitor would only qualify as a 17 inch LCD monitor. This is where the LCD measurement comes in.
LCD monitors are measured by actual viewable area of the screen. They do not have a large rounded out tube beyond the screen, it is a flat panel of Liquid Crystals behind which are a series of tube lights that shine through the color crystals to illuminate your display. A 17 inch LCD monitor is 17 inches diagonally, a 19 inch monitor is 19 inches diagonal or about 1.75 inches larger than my example of the CRT tube.
Another little known glich in monitor measurements is how the diagonal measurement of a widescreen monitor reduces the overall height of the monitor which in turn reduces the actual size of a standard 4:3 to a smaller size. Example: If you purchase a 32 inch widescreen TV and watch a standard broadcast movie in it’s original format, you in essence are watching a 26 inch television. A more in depth look at how this measurement effects the full screen format, please read my Widescreen article.
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My name is Dan Dunkin, I have been working on computers, building and upgrading as well as programming computers since the first tandy Color computer came out in 1980. Originally I programmed in QBasic, later I explored OS9 which was basically a Pascal based language, then with the technology increases into the pentium chips I finally merged this into the Visual Basic fields. In dream shopping I’ve discovered where to find values for different types of electronics and like to share them with others through my website. |
When it comes to shopping around for new displays, people wonder if it’s frugal to purchase a flat panel monitor when they can purchase a cathode ray tube monitor for a much cheaper price. One thing to note is the difference between being “frugal” and being “cheap”.
For arguments sake, let’s say frugality is characterized more of balancing value and return on investment a product can provide you over time for your purchase decision, whereas cheapness refers mostly to price considerations, perhaps almost exclusively.
OK so now that I got that out of the way, I can flat out say it’s more frugal to purchase a good quality reasonably priced LCD flat panel monitor display rather than a run of the mill cathode ray tube monitor. Of course some may disagree, and that’s fine. But in the spirit of discussion…
LCD monitors may not necessarily cost you less in the short run compared with cathode ray tube displays, but let’s consider what it does save you in the short run and even the long run.
1. Less flickering of the screen and better clarity results in fewer headaches as a result. This could amount to more productivity on your part and also a more enjoyable experience in front of the computer. Let’s face it, we live in the digital age and computers are a core part of it. Why not make make the experience more enjoyable each and every second we are using it?
Let’s not forget that they are generally brighter and can be experienced in high definition which is not always available with cathode ray tube displays.
2. Space considerations. By having a flat panel monitor you free up much of your desk space. By having a more clean and organized desk, you will be less prone to distractions from your immediate environment. Your sole focus will be on the task at hand (in theory). So in that regard, it’s frugal because it again makes you more productive.
Now take those two basic advantages and stretch it out of the course of a year or two (or even longer). Is it a worthwhile investment to you if you can spend perhaps a hundred or little more on a flat panel and enjoy the benefits of a flat panel display versus saving a hundred bucks and opting a cathode ray tube?
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http://www.flatpanelmonitorzone.com