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Picture Perfect
When buying a computer, don't overlook the importance of getting just the right monitor

By Theo Gantos

The holiday season also is the computer-purchase season. The prices are more attractive, companies are changing lines so the smart shoppers can get great deals. When you finally do bring that new system home, don't skimp on the monitor.

Here are some tips on what to look for and why these features are important.

A good monitor can be a more important purchase than the system itself.

• First, good monitors often outlast two or three systems. I am writing this on a 10-year-old Sony 19" Trinitron.
• Second, the quality and size of the monitor will be a big factor in how long you will be able to use your system daily. Poor or fuzzy monitors cause eyestrain.
• Third, larger monitors make you more productive, saving you from scrolling as often and letting you keep more information on the screen at a time.

Most people will agree that as far as monitor quality goes, you can get as good as a Sony, but a Sony is hard to beat. That is because until very recently, Sony had the Trinitron tube technology patented. The Trinitron uses a single gun to shoot electrons at the screen instead of three separate ones. Obviously this makes for a much sharper picture because it is easier to hit a target with one gun than three separate ones.

Other monitors may be brighter because they have more electrons hitting the screen. Since Sony's patent has expired on the Trinitron, other companies have been building their own Trinitron designs. Some examples are Mitsubishi (Diamondtron), Viewsonic, and Mag Innovision (the models with the T suffix). Trinitron tubes cost a little more to make than the (Invar) shadow mask type, but many feel they are worth the price.

Monitor money
Where does the money go when you are building a better monitor? Or more likely, where do the bargain builders skimp? The first place to save money is on power supplies. By using a cheaper power supply, you can shave five or 10 dollars off the price for a slightly shorter life and less-steady operation. The high-voltage transformer is a high-buck item, costing almost $50 on it's own. A cheaper version will have less adjustment and not last as long under stress. Cheaper picture tubes have a larger dot pitch and weaker colors. You can save a lot if you have fewer resolutions and lower sync frequencies.

Finally, forget the digital electronics and go with analog controls that will dry out in three to five years. You'll save another $30. If this sounds appealing to you, then you deserve what you get.

The "buzz words"
A word on some of the "buzz words."

Dot pitch is only useful for the non-trinitron monitors as a measure of sharpness, and only among same-size monitors.

The smaller the dot pitch, the sharper the monitor. Next come sync frequencies. Higher is better. Don't accept a monitor that only syncs at 60hz. Get one that goes to 72, 75 or even 85hz. Sync refers to how fast the monitor redraws the screen for the computer. Go faster and you will notice less flickering. Resolution is how many pixels (dots) are displayed at a time. Your 17" and smaller monitor should go to at least 1024x768. Larger monitors can go up to 1600x1280. Most monitors today are "multisync", meaning they have a range of resolutions and frequencies they will lock up to. Don't buy a single-sync monitor today unless you know what you are doing.

Ignore the size in big type and go right to the viewable area in fine print. Fifteen-inch monitors are really 13-inch monitors. Don't be fooled by the advertised size of the case. Most home users can get by with a good quality 15" monitor. Home office and business users should look at the 17" monitors as a starting point and larger if your job includes CAD, graphic design or large spreadsheets. Most businesses can justify the purchase of a larger monitor with increased productivity. The payback is usually under a year, two at the most. For an asset that can last eight to 12 years that is an excellent return. Higher quality monitors send a message to your people that they are worth it. They will be less irritable (a symptom of eyestrain), happier, and more productive.

What should you expect to pay? The bigger the monitor, the more area there is for manufacturers to cut corners so be careful. A good range for a 15" monitor with a 13" viewable area is about $300-$450, depending on features. A 17" monitor with a 14-15" viewable area costs between $500-$800. The bigger monitors from 19" to 21" with viewable areas from 16" to 19" range the widest. You can start around $850 and go above $3,000. Trinitrons start at $1,000 and go to $2,000 or more. The really large monitor prices are sky high over 21 inches, but the good news is at this price you filter out most of the riff-raff, almost all are excellent quality.

Treat yourself or your employees to a good monitor whenever you can. Your eyes are worth it and you really get what you pay for.

Theo Gantos is president of TEKA, a technology consulting firm. Contact him: