Purchasing a computer monitor

Purchasing a computer monitor You may feel a larger screen is all you need. But the features you need to decide on when choosing a computer screen or monitor include: type of screen, its size, accessibility of controls, image quality, resolution and the effect of the screen on eye fatigue. Test these features out on your monitor before you purchase it. Type of Screen Most computer screens are large, heavy and bulky. If you are short of space or need to move your monitor frequently, you could consider a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). LCD displays are much more expensive, and are not available in the larger sizes. They also appear to fade when looked at from an angle. They do, however, reduce reflective glare and help reduce the effects of eye fatigue. Size of Screen Screen size is measured as the distance from the bottom left corner to the top right corner. The actual viewing distance is slightly smaller than this. Most modern computers are supplied with a 17-inch monitor. If you are using large print consider using 19-inch or 21-inch screen. Brightness and Contrast Controls Check that the contrast and brightness controls are easy to use. Some monitors have anti-glare and anti-reflection built in. Quality of the Image Standard monitors have a slight curve. Newer technologies have flatter, squarer screens and are easier on the eye, with less reflection. Consider these monitors if you are using very large print or need a very clear image. Resolution The images on a computer monitor are made up of a series of small dots called pixels. Resolution refers to the maximum number of these pixels that the monitor can display. When the resolution increases, the writing on the screen becomes smaller. Eye Fatigue The smaller the size of the pixels (image dots), the easier the screen will be on the eye. The speed at which the pixels are refreshed (called the refresh rate) also affects eye fatigue. Choose a refresh rate of 72Hz or higher. This does not apply if you are using an LCD screen.