MONITORS

How to Choose a Monitor

Some monitors are better than others. The technology is better, the picture is sharper, the size is
bigger. These are issued that need to be looked into when choosing a monitor

A picture speaks a thousand words or probably more. That perhaps tells us how critical a decision
is buying a monitor. With the market being flooded by monitors of different makes and sizes,
making the right decision can be difficult. We give you some insight into the critical factors you
need to think of before buying.

Dot Pitch
A dot-pitch specification represents how sharply an image can be displayed. It is having the
smallest physically present element on a monitor. Typically, monitors with .28 mm are present on
personal computers.

Pixel
A pixel is the smallest element that can be controlled via software. A collection of pixels
causes the monitor to glow. When the monitor is set to the highest possible resolution, the physical
size of pixel represents the size of dot-pitch (term explained above). For lower resolutions, a
conglomeration of pixels represents a given dot-pitch. In simple terms, consider your monitor being
made up of collection of tiny bulbs placed extremely close to each other. To illuminate a particular
spot on screen, the relative bulb glows.

Screen Resolution
A higher resolution monitor implies greater amount of viewable workspace in a given
amount of area. A 15” screen with a maximum resolution of 1024*768 means it has a total of 1024
pixels width wise and 768 pixels height wise, that’s a total of 7,86,432 pixels on a 15” screen!
If you plan to use your monitor primarily for surfing the web, reading and doing text-related
work, I recommend a 15” monitor capable of 1024*768 resolution. For those whose work revolves
intensely around PhotoShop and other graphic editing tools or simply love playing games, a 17”
monitor capable of more than 1024*768 resolution is recommended.

Refresh Rate
If a pixel continues to glow continuously at high intensity, it may flicker (ie. Change the
intensity with which it glows) thus causing eyestrain. In case of monitors, an image is constantly
being redrawn at a particular interval (expressed in /seconds). Any screen capable of doing refresh
rate at a frequency greater >= 75 Hertz is a good choice.

Video Card
Having a proper display card with adequate amount of RAM is an absolute necessity. If you
end up with a 17” monitor connected to a video card with a meager 1 MB amount of VRAM, it
hardly makes any sense. Although normal applications such as Word and Solitaire will work without
any glitches, watching movies on it will be a poor show. A good video card with adequate amount of
RAM enhances the monitor’s performance enabling us to truly experience the joy of big things.
We suggest a 14” monitor with 1 MB VRAM, 15” with 4MB VRAM and 17” with at least
8M VRM. So before buying a monitor, make sue of the VRAM you possess.
Tilt
 For some of us who are extremely fidgety with the actual position of monitor an who prefer
to sway and swing it every now and then, choose one that has a good base and can be moved easily.
If the monitor is going to be used by more than a single person, ergonomics plays a vital role.
Not only do two people view the monitor at different angles, the way they operate the mouse, their
posture, their height and all such factors are important. Lay your hands on a monitor whose height
and angular position can be adjusted.

Go Green
Quite recently, the amount of electronic waste being piled up has grown significantly. If you
are buying a monitor by replacing the old one, ensure that the old one is displayed in an environment
friendly manner. Branded computer manufacturers such as HP, take special care in disposing old
and defective monitors.
While purchasing a monitor, buy one that’s made up of recyclable material. Almost all
manufacturers make monitors or at least the accompanying rectangular box out of recyclable
material.

Emissions
Computer screens tend to emit radiations and a prolonged exposure to them is harmful.
Though protective ultra-violet screens are available in the market, their presence simply darkens the
screen and some of the non-certified cheaper protective-screens are prone to speed up the process of
forming a cataract in the eye. A monitor whose emission matches MPRII or TCO standard is good.

Efficiency
Since a monitor is powered on for more than 8 hours / day efficient utilization of power is
mandatory. Always prefer a monitor that bears an “Energy Star” loge, which indicates that it is
manufactured according to the norms set by U.S. EPA’s

Size Matters
A 21” isn’t what it is exactly billed as. These digits represent the diagonal width of the
screen. So even if you have bought a 21” monitor the image size displayed will be 5% to 8%
smaller.
For malls and departmental stores, special 8” and 12” monitors are available at extremely
low prices.

Budget
Availability of hard cash is one of the core deciding factors when choosing the size of
monitor. While a 21” costs somewhere around Rs. 40,000, a more modest 17” costs around Rs.
12,000. For a normal buyer, a 15” flat screen monitor costing around Rs. 6000 is a recommended
buy.

Warranty
A monitor resembles a crockery shop’s warning sign that says: “If you break it, consider it
sold”. For a manufacturer, it’s more economical to replace the defective monitor than to repair it.
Buy a monitor that comes with a least one year warranty.