A Look At Computer Monitors
Your monitor is an important accessory to your computer. Computer monitors come in various styles and sizes, and some offer various functions, such as a built-in speaker system. You will obviously consider what type of monitor you can afford but may also want to consider how often you will be using your computer and how you will be using it.
How Computer Monitor Sizes are Measured
Monitors are available in 15, 17, 19 and 21 inch sizes. The size of a monitor is the viewable area of the screen, which is measured diagonally (i.e., from the upper right corner of the screen to the lower left corner of the screen and vice versa). These diagonal measurements are of the screen only and not the casing of the computer monitor. Regardless of what type of monitor you decide to purchase, the larger the monitor, the more expensive the monitor will be. However, if you use your computer several hours a day, you will experience less eye strain with a larger monitor.
CRT Computer Monitor Bargains
If you are in the market for a computer monitor to have around as a spare part or just want something cheap for your kids or home office, the CRT monitor may be your best priced option.
Although they are big and bulky, CRT monitors will do the job for basic home computer uses such as sending and receiving email, playing video games, or running a bookkeeping program. These types of activities do not require an elaborate or expensive monitor.
A standard CRT (cathode ray tube) computer monitor works like a standard CRT television, accounting for its television-like appearance and bulk. Many people are switching to smaller, flat screen monitors and as a result, the prices of CRT computer monitors are dropping. I have found refurbished CRT monitors at auction for just $12. New CRTs cost anywhere from $40 to $100, which is just a fraction of the cost of the newer LCD monitors.
Prices are Falling on LCD Monitors
They're sleek. They don't take up a lot of space. They look sharp. For these and other reasons, many computer users these days are buying the more advanced LCD (liquid crystal display) computer monitors for business and home use. Nowadays, the flat screen LCD monitors are often packaged with a new computer system. LCD monitors are flatter and lighter than CRT monitors, and can be more energy efficient and produce sharper pictures.
Although prices for LCD monitors are dropping since they initially came on the market, they are still more expensive than CRT monitors. A rule of thumb is that an LCD monitor will cost about four times as much as a CRT monitor.
Considerations for Choosing Your Monitor
Whether you choose to use a CRT or LCD computer monitor, you will want to choose the size that works best for you. As mentioned above, the more time you work at your computer, the more you will benefit from a larger view screen. Although larger monitor screens can be beneficial, you want to make sure that the monitor will fit in the area where you will be using it, and will fit your budget as well.
Online vendors offer some terrific deals for just about any type of computer monitor. You can save quite a bit of money by purchasing refurbished models. Before buying a new or refurbished computer monitor online, however, make sure it has a warranty. Check out the shipping costs, too. Because of their bulk, shipping costs for CRT monitors can get pricey. Some online vendors offer free shipping.
Estate sales, garage sales and yard sales are excellent resources for used computer monitors ... and of course, you avoid shipping fees when you buy offline in your own neighborhood. When buying from individuals, see if the seller can plug the monitor in and demonstrate that it is in good working order. You can find any type of monitor at your local computer vendor.
Regardless of whether you are buying a new monitor online or offline, make sure that it is compatible with your computer.
How Computer Monitor Sizes are Measured
Monitors are available in 15, 17, 19 and 21 inch sizes. The size of a monitor is the viewable area of the screen, which is measured diagonally (i.e., from the upper right corner of the screen to the lower left corner of the screen and vice versa). These diagonal measurements are of the screen only and not the casing of the computer monitor. Regardless of what type of monitor you decide to purchase, the larger the monitor, the more expensive the monitor will be. However, if you use your computer several hours a day, you will experience less eye strain with a larger monitor.
CRT Computer Monitor Bargains
If you are in the market for a computer monitor to have around as a spare part or just want something cheap for your kids or home office, the CRT monitor may be your best priced option.
Although they are big and bulky, CRT monitors will do the job for basic home computer uses such as sending and receiving email, playing video games, or running a bookkeeping program. These types of activities do not require an elaborate or expensive monitor.
A standard CRT (cathode ray tube) computer monitor works like a standard CRT television, accounting for its television-like appearance and bulk. Many people are switching to smaller, flat screen monitors and as a result, the prices of CRT computer monitors are dropping. I have found refurbished CRT monitors at auction for just $12. New CRTs cost anywhere from $40 to $100, which is just a fraction of the cost of the newer LCD monitors.
Prices are Falling on LCD Monitors
They're sleek. They don't take up a lot of space. They look sharp. For these and other reasons, many computer users these days are buying the more advanced LCD (liquid crystal display) computer monitors for business and home use. Nowadays, the flat screen LCD monitors are often packaged with a new computer system. LCD monitors are flatter and lighter than CRT monitors, and can be more energy efficient and produce sharper pictures.
Although prices for LCD monitors are dropping since they initially came on the market, they are still more expensive than CRT monitors. A rule of thumb is that an LCD monitor will cost about four times as much as a CRT monitor.
Considerations for Choosing Your Monitor
Whether you choose to use a CRT or LCD computer monitor, you will want to choose the size that works best for you. As mentioned above, the more time you work at your computer, the more you will benefit from a larger view screen. Although larger monitor screens can be beneficial, you want to make sure that the monitor will fit in the area where you will be using it, and will fit your budget as well.
Online vendors offer some terrific deals for just about any type of computer monitor. You can save quite a bit of money by purchasing refurbished models. Before buying a new or refurbished computer monitor online, however, make sure it has a warranty. Check out the shipping costs, too. Because of their bulk, shipping costs for CRT monitors can get pricey. Some online vendors offer free shipping.
Estate sales, garage sales and yard sales are excellent resources for used computer monitors ... and of course, you avoid shipping fees when you buy offline in your own neighborhood. When buying from individuals, see if the seller can plug the monitor in and demonstrate that it is in good working order. You can find any type of monitor at your local computer vendor.
Regardless of whether you are buying a new monitor online or offline, make sure that it is compatible with your computer.
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