Your monitor is an important accessory to your computer. Computer monitors come in various styles and sizes, and some offer various functions, such as a built-in speaker system. You will obviously consider your budget for a monitor, but may also want to consider how often you will be using your computer and how you will be using it.

Understanding Computer Monitor Sizes

Monitors are available in 15, 17, 19 and 21 inch sizes. The size of a monitor is the viewable area of the screen, which is measured diagonally (i.e., from the upper left of the screen to the lower right of the screen and vice versa). These diagonal measurements are of the screen only and not the casing of the computer monitor. Regardless of what type of monitor you decide to purchase, the larger the monitor, the more expensive the monitor will be. However, if you use your computer several hours a day, a larger monitor will create less eye strain.

CRT Computer Monitors Deliver Usability and Bargain Prices

If you are thinking about buying a computer monitor to serve as an extra part in case your primary monitor malfunctions or just want something cheap for your home office or kids, the CRT monitor may be your best priced option.

Although they are big and bulky, CRT monitors are adequate for basic home computer uses such as sending and receiving email, playing video games, or running a budget program. These types of activities do not require an elaborate or expensive monitor.

A standard CRT (cathode ray tube) computer monitor works like a standard CRT television, accounting for its television-like appearance and bulk. Many people are switching to smaller, flat screen monitors and as a result, the prices of CRT computer monitors are falling. I have found refurbished CRT monitors at auction for just $12. New CRTs may cost anywhere from $40 to $100, which is just a fraction of the cost of the sleeker LCD monitors.

LCD Monitors Are Less Expensive Than They Used to Be

They don't take up a lot of space. They're sleek. They look sharp. For these and other reasons, many computer users these days are choosing the more advanced LCD (liquid crystal display) computer monitors for home and business use. Nowadays, the flat screen LCD monitors are often packaged with a new computer system. LCD monitors are lighter and flatter than CRT monitors, and can be more energy efficient and produce sharper pictures.

While the prices for LCD monitors are falling since their initial appearance in the market, they are still more costly than CRT monitors. Generally speaking, an LCD monitor will cost around four times as much as a CRT monitor.

Things to Consider When Buying a Computer Monitor

Whether you choose to buy a CRT or LCD computer monitor, you will want to choose the size that works best for you. As mentioned above, the more time you work at your computer, the more you will benefit from a larger view screen. Although larger monitor screens can be beneficial, you want to make sure that the monitor will fit in the area where you will be using it, and will fit your budget as well.

There are some fantastic deals for any type of computer monitor online. You can save quite a bit of money by purchasing refurbished models. Before buying a new or refurbished computer monitor online, however, review the warranty. Check out the shipping costs, too. Because of their size and weight, shipping costs for CRT monitors will be higher than LCD monitors. Some online vendors offer free shipping.

Estate sales, garage sales and the local classifieds are excellent resources for used computer monitors ... and of course, you avoid shipping fees when you shop locally. When buying from individuals, see if the seller can plug the monitor in and demonstrate that it is in good working order. You can find any type of monitor at your local computer shop.

Whether you are purchasing a new monitor online or offline, make sure that it is compatible with your computer.