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Buying a New Computer Monitor

Some people are interested in the best processor, the biggest hard disk, the most RAM. For me the most important part of any computer system is the monitor. That's the bit you're staring at all day, and that's the bit that can have a direct impact on your health. So it's important to make the right choice, both for asthetic reasons and also to look after your eyes.

Personally I use a Philips Widescreen monitor which I like very much. It's a couple of years old now and I bought it back in the day's when widescreen monitors were only just starting to become available. Initially I was skeptical, but now I'd recommend everyone gets a flat, widescreen monitor. Not only do you save on desk space, but you also have that little bit extra room that you just don't have on a standard, old style square monitor.

So what are the most important things to consider when buying a monitor?

Size

The most noticable thing about a monitor is it's size. You have to consider what you'll be using your computer/monitor for? If you're going to be creating huge spreadsheets, or doing graphic design/video work, then a large monitor is a must, however if you're just an average web user who just wants to check their email, then perhaps you would be better off with a smaller 19" monitor (although plenty big enough really).

Dot Pitch

This is the size between the dots that make up the image on your screen. So the smaller the number the clearer the image. You should look to get a monitor with a dot pitch of 0.26mm or less. Although these days LCD monitors (flat screens) rely more on contrast ratio for clarity measurement, so dot pitch is less relevant.

Resolution

I was very surprised the other day when I discovered my monitor was running at a resolution of 1440 by 900 pixels. To me this seems very high, but it does mean I have a lot of space on my desktop, and my 19" monitor displays the picture perfectly. 1024 by 768 is considered a minimum these days, most new monitors will go a lot higher, although this also depends on your graphics card.

Refresh Rate

The refresh rate of a monitor refers to the number of times the monitor redraws the image every second. You should go for a monitor with a minimum refresh rate of 60Hz. The higher the refresh rate the less flickering you'll get on your monitor and the easier it will be on your eyes. Flickering monitors can bring on migranes or headaches, so if you plan to use your monitor for long periods, make sure you have a good refresh rate.

Should I get a Flat Screen?

This question is pretty out of date these days, and the resounding answer is yes. You'd be hard pushed to find a big CRT monitor anywhere but a car boot sale these days. The space saving benefit from getting an LCD flatscreen monitor, not to mention the fact they just look much cooler, makes it definately worth the money.

So there you have the most important things to consider when buying a new monitor. Of course there are lots of different makes out there, but if you find a monitor you like the look of that's half the battle, remember you're likely to be looking at it a lot, so invest in a good one.