Notebooks, netbooks, laptops and PDAs are becoming more and more confidententer our lives, forcing the usual stationary computers to make room. But! The indisputable advantages of this digital device leave it with many chances for successful competition. And we still buy exactly these computers for our home. Moreover, you can equip it with all the components at your own discretion. For example, how to choose a monitor for a computer? It is clear that tube monitors are already yesterday (if not the day before yesterday), and you can no longer find them in stores. Therefore, let's figure out what to pay attention to when choosing the most "today", and therefore the most accessible and inexpensive liquid crystal monitor: what to be guided by when choosing and what nuances to pay attention to.
Place of purchase
Considering that the LCD monitor will serve you for quite a long timelong time and will not need improvement, it is not worth saving on it. And therefore, you should go to buy a monitor only in specialized and large stores, where you will be given almost unlimited freedom of choice. In addition, competent (as a rule) consultants work in such stores, who can give good advice and answer many questions related to the choice of a monitor. You can also use the services of online stores. However, in this case, firstly, the online store must have a good reputation, and secondly, you must know exactly what kind of monitor you need. Because modern online stores offer no less a wide range than regular ones. So, arm yourself with the necessary knowledge about the item of purchase.
Appearance
This is the first thing that interests us when choosingmonitor. Of course, LCD monitors do not have a wide variety of colors. All that modern manufacturers can offer you is black, silver, black and silver, white and (in rare cases) dark blue. However, we still think and choose for a long time. Do not bother. Choose what you like best, what suits your interior better - the color of the monitor does not affect the image quality. It is better to pay attention to its diagonal and format. You will have to choose among models with a diagonal of fifteen to thirty inches. The larger the diagonal, the more detailed the image on the monitor. The most "popular" models are nineteen-inch (and slightly larger): both the picture is clear and the image does not lag. In general, focus on your needs. For professional work with graphics or for games, it is advisable to choose a large monitor, for more prosaic purposes a screen with a smaller diagonal will do. The format of modern monitors can be square or rectangular. Rectangular monitors are also called widescreen. The familiar 4:3 format is being replaced today by models with a 16:9 or 16:10 format. This is, in general, understandable. It is believed that it is more convenient to work, play or watch movies on a wide-format monitor.
Technical characteristics affecting the image quality
From what technical parametersthe quality of the monitor is assessed, it would also be useful to find out. After all, you want to buy a high-quality and convenient monitor? Therefore, when buying, it is advisable to inquire about its brightness and contrast, resolution, viewing angle, frequency and response time. How to choose an LCD monitor for a computer, taking into account these characteristics? Brightness. This is not a particularly important parameter. But if you have to work with materials that are not initially bright enough, then the monitor settings will allow you to increase it. However, a constant increase in brightness can shorten the life of the monitor, and will not have the best effect on your eyesight. The standard brightness of an LCD monitor is three hundred candelas per square meter (cd / m2). Contrast also affects image quality, but is adjusted to suit your own needs. However, overusing the monitor with maximum contrast settings will also shorten its life. The viewing angle determines how well you can see the image on the monitor not only while sitting directly in front of it, but also slightly to the side. For example, sitting in a chair or lying on the couch while watching a movie. The only important thing is that the larger this angle, the better. And its standard size is sixty degrees. Screen resolution is a characteristic of the so-called "density" of the image. The higher the resolution, the more detailed the picture on the monitor will be. In addition, monitors with a high resolution allow you to increase the area of the "desktop" on the computer and place many working folders and shortcuts on it. And the quality of graphic files or games on such a monitor is better. So the higher the resolution of the monitor, the better. Frequency and response time. This is probably the most incomprehensible technical parameter. But in fact, everything is quite simple. Response time is the amount of time required to change the image. That is, the time it takes for a pixel on the screen to change color. The shorter this period of time, the less noticeable the change in image will be. Although in modern monitor models this parameter is no longer relevant. Manufacturers have achieved the fact that any "objects" move across the screen without a visible trail. Frequency is a characteristic flickering or twitching of the image on the screen. This parameter can be adjusted according to your own requirements for image quality.
Other specifications and features
Energy consumption.This feature is important for budget buyers. The more economical the monitor, the less you will have to pay for electricity. Pay attention to the possibility of placing the monitor not only on the table, but also on the wall. Many models are equipped with additional brackets for wall mounting. Look at how “dynamic” the monitor you choose is, that is, whether it can be rotated at different angles (up and down, right and left). Ask if the monitor has built-in additional devices. For example, built-in speakers will not only save you from having to buy speakers, but will also allow you not to clutter your desk. And a built-in TV tuner will turn the monitor into a real TV. Well, if your monitor has built-in speakers, it would be nice to have the same microphone. It is desirable that your new monitor connects to the processor using a digital interface and a DVI connector, designed specifically for transmitting video from the processor to the screen. A built-in video camera will also be useful for short-term communication via the Internet: video communication via Skype, online games, video conferences. And the most modern models are monitors with 3D image support. Perhaps you will be interested in such an innovation. Another important parameter of the monitor you choose is its safety. What are the safety requirements for the monitor?
- Ergonomics. Visual: brightness and contrast, screen format, color rendering, image stability. Ergonomics of the workplace: the ability to rotate the monitor from different angles.
- Radiation: electric and magnetic fields, static electricity, noise emitted by the monitor (if it has a cooling system).
- Electrical safety: protection against electric shock.
- Ecological compatibility: the permissible content of harmful substances in the materials, and which the monitor is made of.
- Energy saving.
All these (and some other) requirements are regulated by the TCO and MPR standards. So if your future monitor has a sticker with such abbreviations, then everything is in order – it is safe.
Control shot
Having finally decided on the model and found outall technical parameters, you will only need to make a "control shot". Namely, check the monitor for dead pixels. How to do this? Alternately change the desktop picture to a single-color background. If the screen is clean in a certain color and there are no black (or other color) dots on it, everything is fine. By the way, many manufacturers quite allow the presence of no more than three non-working (dead) dots on the monitor and do not consider such a product defective. In this case, you will just need to look at another copy of the same model. Well? Have you figured out how to choose the right monitor for your computer? Such terms as "response time", "DVI connector" and "dead pixel" no longer scare you? This means that you will definitely be able to make the right choice and a successful purchase! We recommend reading: