CRT and LCD monitor advantages

The Two Common Monitor Technologies

Before stating the advantages and disadvantages of each type of monitor, let me first explain how both types of monitors work and their basic features.

The CRT Monitor

The cathode ray tube monitor is the type of monitor that has been around sine the beginning of personal computers. These monitors use the same technology as normal TV sets.

The Flat Panel Monitor
There are two types of flat panel monitors: LCD (liquid crystal display) and plasma. However, it should be noted that he vast majority of flat panel monitors are LCD and these are the type that we will discuss today. LCD monitors use small crystal that can receive electric charges. When they receive an electric charge, they turn different colors producing an image.

Advantages of Flat Panel Monitors

There are several advantages of a flat panel monitor including desk space savings, display size and power consumption. Besides these advantages, flat panel monitors are also usually relatively equal with CRT monitors on features such as amount of colors, quality of image and price (depending on size).

Desk Space Savings

Perhaps the flat monitor’s biggest advantage over a CRT monitor is the amount of space you save on your desktop. All CRT monitors are extremely bulky and heavy. Even the smallest 15 inch CRT monitors usually require more than half of a desktop to fit. For those that like an open work space and plenty of room on their desktop to complete other tasks besides working on their computer, a flat panel monitor is a must have technology. Flat panel monitors have extremely small foot prints (amount of space required on a desktop). They are super thin and very light weight.

Display Size

All CRT monitors are extremely bulky. While the screen may be 15 inches diagonal, the casing may be several inches thicker, and that is not even considering the depth in the rear part of the monitor that holds the cathode ray tube. This is why CRT monitors require a deep desk to just to fit on. On the other hand, a flat panel monitor uses its display size very efficiently. A 15 inch monitor might be encased in a 15 ½ inch casing and the total depth in the rear may be less than 5 inches thick.
Besides a small case, the size of monitors can vary with flat panel monitors. Many flat panel monitors are available in widescreen and extra large screen sizes. You wouldn’t be able to fit a 32 inch CRT monitor on your desk, but with a flat panel monitor, a 32 inch monitor not only fits on your desk, but with plenty of room to boot.

Power Consumption
LCD flat panel monitors use much less power than a CRT monitor. This is great news for those that use their computers quite frequently. You can save plenty of money over the lifetime of your purchase. In addition, LCD flat monitors give off much less radiation than a CRT monitor making it a much safer product.
Flat Panel Monitors VS. CRT Monitors on Price, Color Quality & Viewing Angle
It should be noted that although flat panel monitors do not usually exceed CRT monitors in price, color quality or viewing angle, flat panels are either relatively equal or competitive with their CRT counterparts.
Price: Obviously flat panel monitors cost more than CRT monitors, but for those looking for value, you will definitely get more bang for your buck with a flat panel monitor. For instance, a 15 inch CRT monitor will cost around $75 to $125, where as a flat panel monitor will start from prices at around $125. It should be noted that energy savings, especially for corporate environments will easily pay for this price premium over the life of the monitor.
Color Quality: CRT monitors are extremely effective at producing high quality, sharp images. And yes, CRT monitors for the most part produce a better overall image. However, today’s flat panel monitors might lack color quality when it comes to specifications, but to the average viewer, flat panel monitors will be just as crisp, clear and vivid as a CRT monitor.
Viewing Angle: Liquid crystal display monitors are made from tiny crystals that receive an electric charge and thus produce color. When LCD monitors first came out, their viewing angle was inferior to CRT monitors. For instance, a CRT monitor can be viewed from a wide viewing angle, flat panel monitors when they first were introduced could not be viewed from a far angle and must be viewed as close to the center as possible. While flat panel monitor technology has improved and with it wider viewing angles, CRT monitors continue to have better viewing angles. But for those that sit in front of their computer monitor to do tasks, this should not be an issue.
)The primary advantage that CRT monitors held over LCDs was their color rendering. The contrast ratios and depths of colors displayed were much greater with CRT monitors than LCDs. While this still holds true in most cases, many strides have been made in LCDs such that this difference is not as great as it once was. Many graphic designers still use the very expensive large CRT monitors in their work because of the color advantages. (2)The other advantage that CRT monitors held over LCD screens is the ability to easily scale to various resolutions. This is referred to as multisync by the industry. By adjusting the electron beam in the tube, the screen can easily be adjusted downward to lower resolutions while keeping the picture clarity intact.
Disadvantagesof a CRT.
While these two items may play an important role for CRT monitors, there are disadvantages as well. The biggest of these are the size and weight of the tubes. The other major drawback deals with the power consumption. The energy needed for the electron beam means that the monitors consumer and generate a lot more heat than the LCD monitors. Pros: • Multisync Capable • High Refresh Rates • Color Clarity and Depth Cons: • Very Heavy and Large • Use Large Amounts of Energy • Generate Excess Heat LCDs (1)The biggest advantage to LCD monitors is their size and weight. As was mentioned earlier, the size and weight of an LCD monitor can be upwards of 80% lighter than an equivalent dimension CRT screen. This makes it possible to users to have larger screens for their computers than was possible before
. (2)LCD screens also tend to produce less eye fatigue to the user. The constant light barrage and scan lines of a CRT tube tend to cause strain on heavy computer users. The lower intensity of the LCD monitors coupled with their constant screen display of pixels being on or off produces less fatigue for the user.
Disadvantage of LCD
• Smaller and Lighter
• Energy Efficient
• Causes Less Eye Fatigue Cons:
• Blurry Images Outside Native Resolution
• Motion Blur on Fast Moving Images
• Some Models Have Reduced Color Clarity The following list highlights the features of CRTs and LCDs:
• Both CRT and LCD monitors connect to the same type of graphics adapter plug on the back of your PC.
• Some high-end LCD monitors sport their own, unique digital graphics adapter. For example, the Apple LCD monitors connect to the digital port on the G5 Macintosh line of computers. • Some LCD monitors rotate 90 degrees, which allows you to view them in portrait and landscape modes.
• The best way to judge an LCD monitor is to view only text on the screen. Don't be fooled at the store by fancy graphics displays, which always look stunning. The true test is viewing text, not graphics.
• Be sure to check the LCD in a variety of lighting situations. Some monitors cannot be seen in very bright lights. Some monitors cannot be seen from far right or left angles. • Unlike LCD monitors, most CRTs let you display graphics in a variety of resolutions and color settings. LCDs, on the other hand, typically use only a few modes to display things. • CRT monitors emit more radiation than their LCD counterparts, although it's not enough to create a 1950s-era horror movie creature.
• Be sure to compare LCD versus CRT at the larger aspect ratios. Some larger LCDs tend to lose their color saturation, whereas larger CRTs don't.
• Don't confuse LCD with flat-screen monitors. All LCDs are flat screen. But a few CRTs have flat picture tubes and are advertised as being flat screen. It's not the same as having an LCD monitor, though theflat-screen CRTs display a nicer image than traditional curved-screen models.
• Don't get an LCD if you plan to play fast-action computer games! Generally speaking, LCDs are too slow to update for real-time game action. True gamers use only CRT monitors. • Another area where CRT monitors are better than LCDs is in high-end graphics. A CRT monitor can better render color images than an LCD, which has a more limited range of color reproduction. Missing LCD pixels