LCD Monitors

IS 311 Group Presentation

Topics to be covered
Beatrice - CRT & LCD Monitor History
Sici - LCDs Advantages & Disadvantages
Gil - Current LCDs
Jerry - Future Trends
Julio - Buyers Guide

CRT & LCD Monitor History

How it all started

Monitor Overview
The most-used output device on a computer.
Most desktop displays use a cathode ray tube
(CRT).
Laptops use liquid crystal display (LCD), lightemitting diode (LED), and gas plasma or other
image projection technology.
Monitors using LCD technologies are beginning
to replace CRT.

LCD History
Liquid crystals were first discovered in 1888 by
Austrian botanist Friedrich Reinitzer.
Melt cholesterol-like substance.
When cooled, the liquid turned blue before
finally crystallizing.
RCA made the first experimental LCD in (1968).
Manufacturers have been developing creative
variations and improvements since on LCDs.

What is Being Used Today?

The most popular display today remains CRT.

It has been available for more than 70 years.
CRTs:
1. Vivid colors and detailed images and text.
2. Cost less than LCD monitors.
3. Continue to evolve.

LCD Market Trend

Market for flat screen LCDs grew rapidly during
the 90s.
Huge success of the laptop computer.
It has still been slow in matching the market share
of the CRT.
Color LCDs hit the market in the early 90s.
Has only now become popular enough for vendors
to mass-produce.

From CRT to LCD

CRT
Bulky, heavy, use vacuum tube
technology.
Using technology that was
developed in the 19th century.

LCD
First LCD laptop monitors were
very small due to manufacturing
costs.
Light, sleek, energy-efficient,
have sharp picture.

How Monitors Work

Most use a cathode-ray tube as a
display device.
CRT: Glass tube that is narrow at
one end and opens to a flat
screen at the other end.
Narrow end contains electron
guns.
Single gun for monochrome and
three guns for color.
Display screen is covered with tiny
phosphor dots that emit light when
struck by the electron gun.

Monitor Classifications
Monochrome: Display two colors, one for the
background and one for the foreground.
Gray-Scale: A special type of monochrome monitor
capable of displaying different shades of gray.
Color: Can display anywhere from 16 to over 1 million
different colors. Sometimes called RGB monitors.

Monitor Quality and Resolution

Quality:
Manufacturers describe quality by dot pitch.
Smaller dot pitches mean pixels are closely spaced
which will yield a sharper image.
Most monitors have dot pitches that range from
0.22mm to 0.39mm.
Resolution:
Indicates how densely packed the pixels are.
Most modern monitors can display 1024x768 pixels.
High end models can display 1280x1024.

LCD Technology
Used for displays in notebooks, small computers,
pagers, phones and other instruments.
Uses a combination of fluorescent-based backlight,
color filters, transistors, and liquid crystal to create
and illuminate images.
Until recently, was only used on notebook computers
and other portable devices.
In 1997, manufactures began to offer full size LCD
monitors as alternatives to CRT monitors.

IBM Advances in
Display Technology
In 1981, IBM introduced the Color Graphics Adapter
(CGA) display, able to display 4 colors and max
resolution of 320x200.
In 1984, Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) display,
able to display 16 colors and resolution of 640x350.

IBM Advances in Display

Technology (cont.)
In 1987, Video Graphics Array (VGA) display.
Most computers today support the VGA standard.
In 1990, Extended Graphics Array (XGA) display,
capable of resolutions 800x600 in true color ( 16.8
million colors) and 1024x768 in 65,536 colors.

Pre-IBM
Apple II
Released in 1977
First true personal computer
Based on the Apple I design
with some additions
Plastic case
Able to display color graphics

Able to display 6 colors at

280x192 resolution.

Apple II Control Panel

Pre-IBM (cont.)
TRS-80
Developed in late 1970s
by Radio Shack.
First product in store
history to fetch more than
$500.
Monitor was basically an
RCA TV with the tuner
removed.
Became a direct
competitor to the Apple
computer.

TRS-80

Heath Desktop
One of the first
computers designed as
complete desktop
machines.
Included monitor,
floppy disks and
keyboard.
Was eventually bought
by Zenith.

IBM PC-1981
IBMs 5150 model
introduced in 1981.
The PC featured a 5MHz Intel processor,
18K of memory and
an optional color
monitor.
Starting price: $1,565

Windows Screen Shots Throughout Time:

MS-DOS
Windows 3.1

Windows Screen Shots Throughout Time:

Windows 98
Windows 2K

Windows Screen Shots Throughout Time:

Windows XP

Advantages of LCDs
Physical Size
Compact and Lightweight
Space saving
Can be mounted on a wall or panel

Advantages of LCDs
Display Size
Available at comparable in screen size as traditional
CRT
Shown on the next slide, a 12.1" LCD display (left)
has only a slightly smaller viewing area than a typical
14" CRT monitor. Newer, larger LCD monitors are
also appearing that have 15", 17", and even larger
screen sizes that are comparable to the largest CRT
monitors. (One thing to note is that LCD monitors are
typically sized by their actual viewable diagonal
measurement, but CRTs typically are not.)

Advantages of LCDs

Advantages of LCDs
Power Consumption and Radiation Emission
Consume less energy and more durable
A typical CRT losses approximately 50% of its brightness
after 10,000 hours. An LCD bulb will maintain its brightness
anywhere from 25,000 to 50,000 hours.
LCD consumes fewer watts than a CRT. LCD will use an
average 30 watts compared to 120 watts for the CRT.
Can reduce electric bill by 40-85%.
Uses a combination of fluorescent-based backlight, color
filters, transistors, and liquid crystal to create and illuminate
images. It blocks light rather emit light

Advantages of LCDs
Power Consumption and Radiation Emission
Doest not emit Radiation
Not subject to Electromagnetic Interference

Advantages of LCDs
Viewing
Cause less eyestrain
Does not flicker or glare

(Source: Dailey News June 2, 2002, TouchScreens.com, unicomplabs.com,

TheVisualLink.com)

Advantages of CRT
Color
Most are capable of displaying unlimited
colors.

Resolution
Multiple video Resolutions.

Advantages of CRT
Response Time
Faster response time. Critical to people who
watch videos or play games on their PCs.
The fastest LCDs offer a response time of
about 25 milliseconds as apposed to CRTs that
have a response time of about 13 milliseconds.

Advantages of CRT
Viewing Angle
Look @ a very wide angle

(Source: PCWorld.com, TouchScreens.com)

Disadvantages of LCDs
Resolution
Displays Native Resolutions (Resolution that it
displays best)

Viewing Angle
Smaller, needed to be viewed more directly from
the front.
From the side the images on an LCD screen can
seem to disappear, or invert colors.
Newer displays that are coming out have a wider
viewing angle so this is not as much of an issue as
it has been in the past.

Disadvantages of LCDs
Price
Upfront cost it is more costly but long-term
cost but will conserve energy in the long run.
The energy savings may not be much for an
individual use, but for a corporate office where
50 displays or more are in use, the energy
savings might be more of an issue.

Disadvantages of LCDs
Installation
Need a plug interface to connect to the
computer.
Some require a special digital plug-interface in
order to work .
Problem: is that this plug is not available on
most computers, so another video card or
adapter must be purchased to plug these LCD
monitors into the computer.

Disadvantages of LCDs
Response Time
It is much slower. The delay can cause a
ghosting effect on images it displays.

(Source: TechRepublic.com, PCWorld.com, TouchScreens.com)

Disadvantages of CRTs
Physical size
Takes more desktop space.

(Source: TechRepublic.com)

Disadvantages of CRTs
Power Consumption and Radiation Emission
Consumes more energy
Emits harmful radiation. The metal shield behind the
glass of your monitor protects your body from a flood
of radiation.
It holds a dangerous electrical charge even after turned
off and can last up to several years and be hazardous
and even deadly to anyone who opens a CRT monitor
casing.
Know to cause fires due to electrical malfunctions and
excessive heat if the ventilation holes are accidentally
covered up.
(Source: TechRepublic.com)

CURRENT LCDs
Current Technology and Trends

Business Aspect
1. Reasons for a sensitive market:
I. Price sensitive demand As price drops
slightly sales go up sharply.
II. Long time for production facilities to
form.

Recent History
1999 Very high demand for LCD
2000 Crash of computer market causes
surplus.
Prices are slashed.

Average 17 LCD Monitor Street price

Quarter

Average Price
1Q 2001

$1,148

2Q 2001

$1,003

3Q 2001

$887

4Q 2001

$781

1Q 2002

$773

2Q 2002

$757

3Q 2002

$735

4Q 2002

$676

Technology Aspect
1. Display addressing.
2. Analog VS digital signal handling.
3. Display Uniformity and Viewing Angle .

Active VS. Passive Display

Active Display

Passive Display

TFT (Thin Film Transistor)

Analog VS Digital signal handling

On most graphic card signal goes through
DAC (digital to analog converter) to
convert to Analog signal.
LCD must convert the signal back to digital
to determine which pixel to light.
If conversion has error the result is "pixel
jitter", in which the image seems to
shimmer or move.

Improved Signal Handling

1. DVI (digital video interface) standard
was adopted.
i. DVI handles both analog and digital
signals with separate connectors
2. controlling circuitry became substantially
better in a very short time.

Display Uniformity
Backlight
Early LCD backlight wasnt uniform and
hot spots were created.
Display manufacturers developed more
sophisticated diffusing materials.

Viewing Angles
Improving Viewing angels can be done by
changing cell design.
Three different cell designs.
1. Vertical alignment (VA).
2. In-plane switching (IPS).
3. Multi-domain.

LCD Future Trends

LCD Future Trends

Short & Long Term Prices
3 Important Ergonomic Features
LCD Monitor Quality
New Technologies

LCD Future Trends

Lower LCD Prices in the Short Term
The Dock Works Strike
The Slow Economy
More Factories Online

LCD Future Trends

Lower Prices in the Long-Term
Calculators, CRTs, VCRs and DVD Players
were all very expensive at first
They now sell at lower prices because of the
laws of supply and demand
What do they have in common with LCDs?
The are all electronic devices
So if the laws of supply and demand continue to
apply, LCDs will sell for less in the long-term

LCD Future Trends

Lower Prices in Long-Term (continued)
Example of an LCD going down in price
IBMs T220 LCD monitor cost about
$50,000 when it first came out
Oct 2001 it costs: $22,000
Dec 2001 it costs: $15,999
May 2002 it costs: $8,400 (T221)

LCD Future Trends

Three Important Ergonomic Features
Large Viewing Angles
All LCDs approaching 170 both horizontal & vertical

Minimal Reflection and Glare

Sharps AGLR screen coating which forms a quarterwavelength filter that cancels reflection rather than
diffusing it as other do.

Thin Bezels
When working with multiple monitors, your eyes dont
jump past wide gaps thus less eye strain

LCD Future Trends

A workstation where all three of
these ergonomic features are useful

LCD Future Trends

LCD Monitor Quality
Backlights
The only thing that can wear out
There are more LCDs with 50,000 hour life
spans

Zero-Voltage Black
lessens impact of non-functioning subpixals

LCD Future Trends

New Technologies
On-Glass Circuitry unveiled Oct. 22, 2002
The new screens use Sharps CGS
(continuous grain silicon)
Microprocessor circuitry applied directly on
the glass, enabling it to function like a
computer
Produces ultra fine resolutions

LCD Future Trends

New Technologies (continued)
ThinCRTs from Candescent Technologies
quarter-inch thin form factor: a "thin CRT."
Thousands of emitters instead of a single
large cathode tube
Has the best of both CRTs and LCDs

LCD Future Trends

ThinCRT from Candescent Technologies

Buyers Guide To LCD Monitors

What to consider when buying a LCD
monitor

What applications are going to be used

How much room you have on your desk
How much space you need on a virtual desktop
How much you want to spend

Buyers Guide To LCD Monitors

Key features or things to look for when
deciding what to buy and how much to
spend
Native Resolution
LCD uses a matrix of cells to display its
image, causing it to have a fixed or native
resolution at which the display looks best

Buyers Guide To LCD Monitors

Viewing angles
indicates how you can move to the sides
or below the center of the screen before
image is being displayed
an angle of 160 degrees is recommended

Dot Pitch
another indicator of image quality
the smaller the better; more expensive

Buyers Guide To LCD Monitors

Contrast ratio
is the difference in light intensity between the
brightest white and the darkest black that an
LCD can produce
helps determine how rich the color will be in
on-screen images
recommend a contrast ratio of 300:1 or better

Buyers Guide To LCD Monitors

Digital vs. Analog
if you have a graphics card with a digital videoout, choose LCD that has digital input
image will be clearer because it wont have to
convert from analog to digital and back and
forth

Buyers Guide To LCD Monitors

Prices
$200 - $500 range: panel size 15 inches;
native resolution 120/100 to 140/120 degrees;
contrast ratio 200:1 to 300:1
$500 - $800: panel size 15 to 17 inches;
native resolution 120/100 to 140/120 degrees;
contrast ratio 300:1 to 350:1
$800 and up: panel size 17 to 19 inches;
native resolution 150/140 to 170/170 degrees;
contrast ratio 300:1 to 400:1

Buyers Guide To LCD Monitors

Buying Tips
Stick to 15 inch monitors
balances screen size and price together well
Cheapest

Look for a wide viewing angle

good for making presentations and working with
partners
indicates a higher quality panel with better
brightness and color effectiveness
less tendency to leave trails on screen

Buyers Guide To LCD Monitors

Buying Tips
Try before you buy
actually looking at your desired monitor is
always best
do not buy online or by mail unless the seller
has a return policy

Buyers Guide To LCD Monitors

Comparison with CRT buying tips
Stick with a 17 inch monitor
is big enough and doesnt take up too much
space
is cheaper
if you work with allot of graphics and image
editing, go with the $300-$400 19 inch
CRTs

Buyers Guide To LCD Monitors

Comparison with CRT buying tips
Need to consider power cost
uses more power than LCD monitors
can find low power CRT monitors that have a
TCO99 seal

Do not throw away CRT monitors

contain large amounts of toxins and lead that
destroy soil and water
Recycle

Buyers Guide To LCD Monitors

Where To Buy
Electronic stores (reasonable prices)
Frys Electronics, Circuit City, Compaq,
Best Buy

Websites low prices, but cant see what

you are buying
tomshardware.bizrate.com
www.dealtime.com
tigerdirect.com

Buyers Guide To LCD Monitors

Conclusion
Prices have been falling over the past two years
more affordable for consumers
Key features and buying tips mentioned should
lead consumers in purchasing the right LCD
monitor for the lowest price

Conclusion

Q&A