Introduction
The term monitor might sound very basic but when it comes to buying one, we stumble most times, don't we?
As far as a layman is concerned, there are two kinds of monitors to choose from. The most common one(when I started working on computers) is a CRT(cathode ray tube) monitor which are bulky in terms of both size and weight. The second kind is the "flat panel monitor" or the LCD monitor. LCD monitors have a flat screen and doesn't take up much space and the sleekness brings elegance to your office or your study room.
Both have their pros and cons.
CRTs
CRTs are cheap, sturdy and most importantly they are compatible with many graphic cards. CRTs can be used under a big range of resolutions, thus making it an ideal choice for most computer geeks. The display looks as realistic as possible, making the viewing experience the best.
On the other hand, it takes up a lot of space and produces a good amount heat that could keep your room warm in the winter. There are a few safety hazards tagged along with it. Scientists believe that a CRT produces X-Rays which are harmful to us in a long run. They also believe that staring at the CRT monitor causes migraine. A high voltage is passed through your CRT monitor which is the basic principle of its working, so it could be dangerous if mishandled.
Flat Panel Monitors
They are sleek, look fantastic, and can be accomodated in any small corner of your room or office. It's more expensive than a CRT.
It's slightly delicate, so "handle with care". There are more problems with LCDs than advantages. LCDs don't support a wide frequency of resolutions. The contrast on an LCD is dull. The most important disadvantage of an LCD is it covers a small viewing angle. Usually you may have to sit directly in front of it to see the screen clearly. There are other minor problems with LCDs as well which I am not going to discuss here.
Personal Judgement
Going from my personal experience, I have a CRT and an LCD. One of the websites that I designed uses two colors that do not have much difference in their hue. My CRT shows me all the colors that I need to see, whereas the LCD shows the same color on both the areas instead of two different colors.
If I am buying a monitor, I would definitely go for a CRT unless I had a space constraint or if I worked in an office where looks were given more importance than the features.
You Decide!!!
This is a good time to mention that the display on the monitor does not depend on the monitor alone. The graphic card plays a big part as well.
I have given you the advantages and disadvantages of both kinds of monitors along with my stand. So, choose wisely. Email me if you need to.
