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The monitor, that ubiquitous piece of hardware that has changed the layout of many an office desktop, may now change the look of your library workstation. A monitor is probably the single most important component that you will purchase for your computer. It is critical to know what you are buying and what to look for.

While it makes sense to spend a little money on the piece of hardware that affects your sanity the most, often it is the place computer manufacturers try to cut corners. A blazing fast PC is not very useful when its monitor gives everyone a migraine.

Basic acronyms (CRT and RGB)

To understand the mechanics of the modern color monitor, it helps to be familiar with two important abbreviations: CRT and RGB.

The monitor screen we stare at is actually the front of a cathode ray tube (CRT), which is a blown glass tube similar to a light bulb. The front surface of the CRT is sprayed with a specific pattern of red, green, and blue (RGB) phosphors that glow when three electron guns (one for each color) in the back of the tube shoot charged electrons at them. The electron guns shoot from left to right, starting from the top of the screen and moving to the bottom. The screen we look at is constantly being redrawn so quickly that the human eye can barely detect the movement.

Refresh rate (75 MHz +)

Sometimes, however, the human eye can detect the movement. This is caused by an inadequate refresh rate. The refresh rate is the number of times per second that the entire screen is redrawn from top to bottom. The refresh rate is typically measured in Hertz (Hz). If a monitor refreshes the screen one time per second, its refresh rate would be 1 Hz. It has been shown that a refresh rate below 70 Hz causes many people to suffer from eyestrain. As a result, the industry has settled on a standard 75 Hz refresh rate for nearly all monitors.

Resolution

Images shown on a computer monitor are made up of small pixels. Pixels glow in specific color patterns corresponding to their stimulation from the electron guns in the back of the monitor. The more pixels a monitor can fit on the screen, the higher the level of detail it can handle. There are two figures usually associated with resolution: the dot pitch, and the physical resolution.

Dot pitch

Measured by the space between the monitor's mask holes (don't worry about what this means if you don't know), dot pitch is the theoretical maximum detail a monitor is capable of attaining. The important thing to know is that monitors with smaller dot pitch will produce sharper text and graphics. You usually want your monitor to have a 0.22 mm to 0.26 mm dot pitch.

Resolution

The other measure associated with resolution is the number of pixels that a monitor can show vertically and horizontally. For example, a monitor with a "640x480" resolution can fit 640 pixels horizontally and 480 pixels vertically. You may be familiar with the numbers associated with the vertical/horizontal resolution. "640x480," "800x600," "832x624," "1024x768," "1152x870," and "1280x1024" are all common vertical/horizontal resolutions. Most monitors can handle several resolutions, but many smaller monitors do not have an adequate refresh rate as the resolution gets higher. So, while a manufacturer may advertise a small monitor as able to handle a high resolution, it may not be usable because the screen will flicker and blink. Below is an example of a monitor's advertised capability:

While it may seem that this sample monitor can handle any resolution up to 1280x1024, in actuality the highest usable resolution is 1152x870. This is because the 65 MHz refresh rate for the 1280x1024 resolution is inadequate (see Refresh Rate above).

Screen size

The size of the screen is probably the most common concern for libraries shopping for a monitor. The standard sizes for computer monitors are: 14 inches, 15 inches, 17 inches, 19 inches, and 21 inches. However, the actual viewable screen is slightly smaller. Monitor prices are generally related directly to the physical size -- the larger the screen size, the more expensive the monitor. A 17-inch monitor is perfectly adequate for most library projects, but for graphics and Web design, a 19-inch or 21-inch monitor is ideal. Regardless of the quality of a smaller monitor, it will not be able to handle the higher resolutions clearly. Most monitors also include an easy-to-use control panel for changing brightness, contrast, and other specifications.

Flat panel

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) or flat panel monitors have been around for some time, and as the prices fall, they can be a viable option for your library. However, if you have to ask the price, you should stick with the larger CRT monitor for now.

Conclusion

It is always best to actually see a monitor in action before you buy. If this isn't possible, read reviews and ask around. Don't try to cut corners when purchasing your monitor. You will regret it in the long run. Spending the extra money for a quality monitor is a smart investment. Unlike most other hardware, monitors have a longer path to obsolescence, and a quality one can last you through multiple computer upgrades. The monitor you choose should be able to handle a resolution of at least 1024 x 768 (the refresh rate should be 75 MHz or above to support this resolution).

The last thing you want is to be stuck in front of a shaky, blurry screen clutching a bottle of aspirin.