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Size matters

Many studies have indicated that increasing screen size will improve productivity more than any other component upgrade. Depending on the primary task you may want to consider a large screen monitor in a standard aspect ratio (4:3), a wide screen monitor (16:9) or a dual monitor installation.

A 17" LCD is currently our standard purchase. A 19" LCD does offer more screen real estate but that comes at a price. Screens larger than 20 inches are still relatively expensive and best serve design shops and other creative professionals. If you are working with graphics and images an LCD may not be the best option. A CRT monitor may be better suited to this task.

For multitasking and the most screen real estate for your dollar, a dual-display setup with two smaller displays is recommended.

Monitor technology falls into two basic categories. Three if you are considering the purchase of an ultralarge plasma screen. These tend to be in a class of their own and are beyond the scope of this discussion.

The two basic types or technologies are the CRT monitors and the Flat Panel LCD monitors. "Flat Panel" is not to be confused with "Flat Screen". The former being LCD technology, the latter is CRT.

When comparing monitors, note that the measured screen size is made on the diagnal. A very important difference between the measurement of an LCD and a CRT is that the CRT measurement is inclusive of the frame. Therefore a 19" CRT has only 17.5" of screen. This is not the case for LCD measurements.

As mentioned previously our current standard is a 17" LCD. Currently this is a Dell  1708FP. This and other recommendations and prices are represented below. These are the "Ultrasharp" models.

1708FPV - $209.17	1908FP - $261.84	2007FP - $400.72	2007WFP - $361.89

Typical connections on these monitors

Note the two USB connections on the side as well as two additional USB Connections underneath. Very handy for a monitor and Keyboard. Note also that these units have both DVI and VGA inputs.

As the screens go up in size so does the connectivity. Many of the larger screens include S-Video, TV and other inputs. Many will also have features such as PIP.

Widescreen

Widescreen monitors have a 16:9 aspect ratio designed to display DVD video in its native format. The widescreen format especially in the larger sizes is excellent for multiple windows and multi tasking. If your video card supports it you may also want to turn your widescreen to a portrait configuration for viewing long web pages without having to scroll.

Dual Monitors - Recommended

To maximize your screen real estate it is recommended to use dual monitors and utilize Windows  "Extended Desktop" feature. This method offers the most screen real estate per dollar and more configuration options. The dual monitor option is significantly less expensive than a single large monitor (approximately $400 vs $1,200). You will also find a dual monitor configuration has more options and is easier to work with than a single large monitor. 

A dual monitor configuration allows for two different types and/or sizes of monitors. The resolution of each monitor can be independently configured. Open windows may be tiled, cascaded or full screen on either monitor. They may also be stretched across both screens.

An example of using dual monitors would be to maintain two instances of Outlook, one open to the mailbox and a second opened to the calendar on one screen while utilizing the primary screen for word processing. Moving windows between screens is a simple drag and drop.

These are two Dell 17" flat panels configured with the Windows Extended Desktop. Note that Outlook is open on the right screen while the left is available for other tasks.

Screen size:
Graphics editing and tasks requiring multiple application windows and multi-tasking call for larger screens; e-mail or simple word processing requires very little space.

At the least: For the most basic  work (or for minimally used workstations), a 15-inch panel should be satisfactory; Beyond the basics a 17-inch or larger LCD is recommended.

Ergonomics and Adjustability:
Ergonomics are very important.  A bad configuration can hurt you. Being able to adjust your LCD will allow a screen arrangement that will fit your needs, easing neck and back pain and even helping cut down on typing injuries and eyestrain. Adjustability options include raising and lowering the panel, pivoting it from side to side, rotating it between Landscape and Portrait modes, and tilting it forward and back.
At the least: At the bare minimum, you should be able to raise and lower the panel to the proper height. Panel tilt helps you adjust for changing light conditions.

Connectivity options:
LCD analog signal processing has progressed to the point that DVI connections are not necessarily superior any longer. For most people either connection is fine. If you need or want to use the digital connection on your LCD (for high-level graphics work, for example), you'll need a graphics card that supports a DVI-I or DVI-D connector. Most new cards will support DVI.
At the least: An analog cable to connect via the VGA or D-Sub connector and a graphics card that supports your choice of connections. Nvidia cards for an analog connection and ATI cards for a digital connection are recommended.

Extras:
The kind of computing you do will determine your need for extra features. Some common extras include built-in speakers, upstream and downstream USB ports, A/V inputs, built-in TV tuners, and picture-in-picture capability (which lets you, say, watch TV in a box on your screen while you do work behind it).
At the least: The most useful extra feature is a built-in USB port. This allows you to connect a digital camera, a Webcam, or another USB device directly to your LCD--no fussing around on the floor to find your PC's USB connection.

Image quality:
Without getting into detailed stats, the most important determination of image quality is whether the picture looks good to you. Obviously this can only occur if you are in a retail environment with the monitor present. You should always compare LCDs at their native resolution, which you can find in the product literature. At this setting, the image will look its best.  Make sure you can make the  adjustments you may need. If you're editing photos at home for example this may include gamma correction and color temperature. Check for pixel jitter (flickering spots on the screen), make sure you can see the LCD clearly from a number of angles, and look for uniform brightness in all corners of the screen. If possible, open a text program (such as Word, Excel or a browser), and  make sure text looks sharp enough for you. Definitely utilize on-line resources for reviews and recommendations if you are unable to physically check out a particular display.
At the least: The best test of an LCD is to go into a store and see for yourself. The specs and numbers that a salesperson is going to spout mean little on their own. Know that resolutions are standardized based on panel size, and contrast ratio is important only relative to the brightness of your work environment.