You're looking at it whenever you work or play on your computer, so it stands to reason that the monitor is one of the most important accessories to your computer system. Computer monitors come in various sizes and styles and some offer various functions, such as a built-in speaker system. You will obviously consider what type of monitor you can afford but may also want to consider how you will be using your computer and how much time you will be spending at the computer.

How Computer Monitor Sizes are Measured

Monitors are available in 15, 17, 19 and 21 inch sizes. The size of a monitor is the viewable area of the screen, which is measured diagonally (i.e., from the upper left corner of the screen to the lower right corner of the screen and vice versa). These diagonal measurements are of the screen only and not the computer monitor's casing. Regardless of what type of monitor you decide to purchase, the larger the monitor, the more expensive the monitor will be. However, if you use your computer several hours a day, you will experience less eye strain with a larger monitor.

CRT Computer Monitors Deliver Usability and Bargain Prices

If you are in the market for a computer monitor to have around as a spare part or just want something cheap for your home office or kids, the CRT monitor may be your best priced option.

Although they are big and bulky, CRT monitors will be adequate for basic home computing uses such as sending and receiving email, playing video games, or running a bookkeeping program. These types of activities do not require an expensive or elaborate monitor.

A standard CRT (cathode ray tube) computer monitor works like a standard CRT television, accounting for its large size. Many people are switching to the less bulky flat screen monitors and as a result, the prices of CRT computer monitors are falling. I have found refurbished CRT monitors at auction for just $12. Brand new CRTs cost anywhere from $40 to $100, which is just a fraction of the cost of the newer LCD monitors.

Prices are Falling on LCD Monitors

They look sharp. They're elegant. And they don't take up a lot of space. For these and other reasons, many people these days are buying the more advanced LCD (liquid crystal display) computer monitors for home and business use. Nowadays, the flat screen LCD monitors are often packaged with a new computer system. LCD monitors are lighter and flatter than CRT monitors, and are generally more energy efficient and produce sharper pictures.

Although prices for LCD monitors are dropping since they initially came on the market, they are still more expensive than CRT monitors. Generally speaking, an LCD monitor will cost around four times as much as a CRT monitor.

Considerations for Choosing Your Monitor

Whether you choose to buy a CRT or LCD computer monitor, you will want to choose the size that you will be most comfortable with. As mentioned above, the more time you work at your computer, the more you will benefit from a larger view screen. Although larger monitor screens can be beneficial, you want to make sure that the monitor will fit in the area where you will be using it, and will fit your budget as well.

There are some fantastic deals for any type of computer monitor online. You can save quite a bit of money by purchasing refurbished models. Before buying a new or refurbished computer monitor online, however, make sure it has a warranty. Check out the shipping costs, too. Because of their bulk, shipping costs for CRT monitors will be higher than LCD monitors. Some online vendors offer free shipping.

Estate sales, garage sales and the local classifieds are excellent resources for used CRT or LCD monitors ... and of course, you avoid shipping fees if you shop locally. When buying from individuals, see if the seller can plug the monitor in and demonstrate that it is in good working order. You can find any type of monitor at your local computer shop.

Regardless of whether you are buying a new monitor online or offline, make sure that it is compatible with your computer.

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