Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

LCD monitor tech info requested

Sep 13, 2004 2:30PM PDT

Am gathering info to buy my first (17") LCD monitor. What specs are most important? Is Contrast Ratio an important spec, and is it measured low to high (higher being better)? I've noticed that it varies quite a bit from model to model. Thank you!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re: LCD monitor tech info requested
Sep 13, 2004 9:00PM PDT

As you did with CRT monitors, you look at it before purchase. I found a monitor with wavy lines going through it at more than a few stores and that is alarming since the defect is not in any spec. That defect is likely to a badly designed power supply, but no spec would save you from getting that monitor.

Go shopping!

Bob

- Collapse -
thanks, but.....
Sep 16, 2004 10:36AM PDT

I most likely will buy it from an online vendor but will still look at it in a store setting if possible. What of the question I asked about Contrast Ratio and the other specs-which are important to consider before purchase?

- Collapse -
Re: thanks, but.....
Sep 16, 2004 10:50AM PDT

Go to the store, look at the displays and note the numbers to see what matters. The more you look, then you may find a model you can shop online for.

This has been discussed before with CRTs. You can't "spec" your way to a great monitor.

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: LCD monitor tech/and keep in mind
Sep 14, 2004 9:45AM PDT

While shopping in most places, the monitors will all be hooked to the same source and will not display their best. A real bummer with LCDs is that their best image is only in their native resolution so messing with other ones can cause undesirable results. I have two. One is a Sony 18" and the other a 19" Princeton. Both are very nice but I like my 19" Viewsonic CRT P95f for overall image quality.