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Size is more important than dot pitch for most users. Once we've tried an automatic car with automatic windows and locks, most of us don't want to go back to the manual transmission, manual windows and locks. The same is true with monitors. Once you have used a 17" you don't want to go back to a 14" any more. Buy the largest size your budget will allow. The price difference among 14", 15" and 17" models has shrunk significantly in the past few years.


Here is another consideration for buying big. The monitor is almost the only big-ticket item in a computer system that will last for more than three years without losing the technical edge and it's total value. Everything else seems to lose value significantly within a year or so. Therefore, spending a little more on a monitor is a sound investment strategy.


For professionals who deal with graphics, images, and design work, you need the highest resolution your money can buy. A 0.27 dot pitch is a must. A 0.26 or 0.25 is even better. The dot pitch is the size of the pixels on your monitor screen measured in millimeters. The smaller the dot pitch, the finer your image and thus the better.


We classify monitor brands into three levels according to their general prices: Low, Middle, and High. Among monitors of the same price level, we do not see much of a difference in return rates. However, this measurement is somewhat biased since we rarely take on new monitor brands that have been in the market for less than three years and we discontinue distributing any products as soon as an above-average return rate is discovered.


Do not choose monitors with integrated speakers. Yes, the built-in speakers would save you desk space, but may not necessarily save you trouble. Most computer speakers are much cheaper than monitors and tend to have a higher failure rate than monitors. It would be too much trouble to send a monitor back to your vendor just because of defected speakers. Hey, one of these days, you might get a high-end speaker system with subwoofer as a gift. Well, if you are nice for long enough.


If you are considering an LCD monitor, then you may want to consider going with a LCD with DVI-I connections. With a standard VGA connection your computer turns it's video signal into analog and transmits it to the monitor. This is fine for standard CRTs which are analog devices, but not with LCDs. An LCD is a digital device and much convert any analog signal received into a digital format. With DVI-I you cut out the double conversion and you PC sends a digital to the LCD. Since the information is never converted, you end up with a much sharper picture. Most LCD monitors with DVI-I support also support standard VGA connections. This is handy if your computer right now doesn't have DVI-I and you don't have enough money currently to upgrade your video card to one that does support DVI-I.


LCDs have a "native resolution". For smaller 15" LCDs you'll typically see 1024x768, for 17" or 18" its often 1280x1040 while ultra high end models may go as high as 1600x1200. When using an LCD the "native resolution" is the one that the monitor was designed for. If you go below the native resolution you will notice a lower image quality overall. Also the "native resolution" functions as your maximum resolution for the monitor. When choosing an LCD try to pick one with a native resolution you will be happy using as your standard Windows or Linux desktop resolution.


Although a projector may sound like the perfect display due to the display size, it has a few drawbacks. Often the color depth on a projector isn't as good as on a much lower priced CRT or LCD monitor. Also projectors are not well adapted for constant use and may require costly bulb replacements if put into constant use. Over a period of a couple of years such replacement costs and the price of the initial hardware outlay may outweigh the cost of a very high end LCD or plasma display with better resolution, color depth, etc.

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