Selecting the right monitor is a big challenge for almost all users. Before buying it, one has to understand own usage and the best available monitors accordingly. This post will help the users to know different types of monitors, detailed configurations & features, availability with price, their reviews, and so on. It will surely help you to choose the best monitor in terms of your affordability and usage.
What are the different types of monitors in use?
CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) Monitors
CRT technology was used in traditional computer monitors and televisions. These types of monitors are outdated and hardly being used in offices now because of several drawbacks. CRT monitors are heavy and bulky, have a big back, and need much space on the desk, consume a lot of electricity, and produce a lot of heat, and harmful DC and AC electric and magnetic fields. These monitors are also tough to replace and cost a lot. CRT Monitors are replaced by LCD and LED Monitors.
The Technology used in CRT Monitors
The image on a CRT display is made by firing electrons from the rear of the tube to phosphors located towards the front of the display. Once the electrons hit the phosphors, they illuminate and are projected on the screen. the color we see on the screen is produced by a mix of red, blue, and green light. The tube used in CRT Monitors makes it thicker than LCD and LED Monitors.
LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) Monitors
An LCD monitor is a computer monitor that uses LCD technology to show crystal clear images. It is found mostly in laptop computers and flat-panel monitors. This technology has replaced the traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors because of its energy-efficient and long-lasting features. It doesn’t have the screen burn-in issue which was present in CRT Monitors. These are available in all shapes and sizes. It is easier to replace in comparison to CRT monitors.
The Technology used in LCD Monitors
LCD monitors are made of a substance that is permanently in a liquid state, however, it has some special properties inherent in crystal bodies. These monitors don’t produce any light to display characters, images, videos, and animations. It is a passive device but helps simply to alters the light traveling through it to produce characters, images, videos, etc. LCD screens are an array of pixels, which can be manipulated for information displaying. These displays have several layers made of glass material free of sodium.
Pros that make LCD Monitors better than CRT one
- The LCD can be made in large sizes of over 60 inches or 150 cm diagonal.
- It has no physical distortion.
- It is very compact, thin, and lightweight.
- It does not affect by the magnetic fields.
- Low power consumption and less heat emitting during operation.
Cons of LCD Monitors
- It is not suitable for a very bright environment.
- It has an issue of loss of contrast in high temperatures.
- It consumes a lot of electricity which produces a lot of heat.
- In terms of viewing angle, the color and contrast are inconsistent.
LED (Light Emitting Diode) Monitors
LED Monitors are best-seller monitors due to their light, thin, and more efficient display. LEDs are a flat panel display that uses light-producing diodes. These are available in large and small sizes depending on the usage. LED Monitors don’t use fluorescent bulbs due to which these are lighter and thinner in weight and thus far better than LCD and CRT monitors. This technology consumes less energy and saves a lot of power. LED displays offer numerous benefits in contrast to other light-producing displays and provide bright image quality by enhancing the contrast and enriching the range of colors.
OLED displays are the latest LED versions one should go for.
The Technology used in LED Monitors
LED is a type of backlight technology with displays. This technology utilizes LEDs to light up each pixel’s content. It offers a brighter display while consuming less power than other monitors. All LED monitors are typically LCD monitors but not all LCD monitors are LED. There are two methods of LED backlighting: full-array backlighting and edge lighting. With full-array backlighting, the LEDs are placed evenly across the entire screen. Edge Lighting is where LEDs are placed along the edge of the screen rather
Pros that make LED Monitors better than LCD & CRT monitors
- It is comparatively less expensive and broader dimming-ranged.
- It runs at a lower temperature, and consumes much less power, as few as 20 watts.
- It has a higher dynamic contrast ratio.
- It also has a long lifespan and less environmental impact.
Plasma Display Monitors
It is a computer video display in which each pixel on the screen is illuminated by a small bit of charged gas called plasma, somewhat like a tiny neon light. This is thinner than CRT displays and brighter than LED displays. In addition, a plasma display is a flat display and therefore free of distortion on the edges of the screen. Unlike many LCD & CRT displays, a plasma display offers a very wide viewing angle.
The Technology used in Plasma Monitors
A plasma display is an earlier flat-screen technology that uses tiny cells lined with a phosphor that was full of inert ionized gas. Plasma monitors are similar to the way neon signs work combined with the phosphors of a CRT. Plasma displays use the properties of plasma as a lightweight source. Plasma is made by energizing a gas, increasing the number of electrons within the gas. This creates an imbalance of charges and effectively ionizes the gas, putting it within the state of plasma. Plasma is very conductive in the presence of an electromagnetic field.
Pros of Plasma Monitors
- Excellent brightness due to the direct lightening of phosphors.
- High-resolution display with at least 720p capable and many are 1080p capable.
- Most plasma displays can be plugged directly into Personal Computer.
- A wide viewing angles.
Cons of Plasma Monitors
- The life span of Plasma Monitors is shorter because of the phosphor-based technology to display videos. The cost per hour of viewing is much higher than any other monitor.
- Susceptible to phosphor burn-in is another big challenge with these monitors. The issue comes if the users do a lot of video gaming, stock, or news ticker viewing.
- The resolution is not better in comparison to LCD Monitors. One must use 1080p plasmas to overcome the problem which is not that common.
TFT (Thin Film Transistor) Monitors
TFT monitors, which use thin-film transistors technology, are the upgraded version of LCD. These monitors are also known as flat panel displays. The technology is replacing the old-style cathode ray tube (CRT) in both computer and television displays. If we talk about today’s LCD monitors, almost all of them are TFT inbuilt. The major benefit of such monitors is the separate, tiny transistors for each pixel which needs less amount of charge to control.
TFT Monitors are mainly of two types
- Twisted Nematic TFT LCD which is the old version.
- In-plane Switching TFT LCDs which is the latest version.
Pros of TFT Monitors
Thin-Film Transistor Monitors need minimal energy consumption and have sharp visibility. TFTs not only have an excellent physical design but also have a fast and accurate response time. Such monitors don’t harm our eyes and save us from mental strain. The best part of such monitors is that they don’t take much space on the desk.
Cons of TFT Monitors
These monitors are higher in price in comparison to other displays. The viewing angle is also disproportionate. TFTs can only be used indoor and it can be ineffective for outdoor use where glass can showcase glares from the sunlight.
Touchscreen Monitors
Touchscreen monitors allow the user to interact with a laptop or a computer using their finger. This helps users to avoid mouse and keyboard and saves a lot of time. It is being used almost with all the devices such as smartphones, tablets, computers, laptops, cash registers, and kiosks. The technology used in such monitors is a grid of infrared beams to sense the presence of physical touch that one does with fingers and is also called touch-sensitive.
Pros of Touchscreen Monitors
- Touchscreen Monitors are engaging & interactive.
- No need for a mouse and monitor.
- Don’t require much space.
- Easy user interface.
- Simple to clean & maintain.
- Great speed & efficiency.
Cons of Touchscreen Monitors
- Difficult in entering data and sending texts.
- Can damage eyes because one has to come near the screen to use touch facility.
- Lack of large LCD and LED, especially in phones.
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