y case, for a home PC, the viewing angle doesn’t make much difference but if the monitor is going to be used for official presentations then it should have viewing angle of at least 120 degrees horizontal and 100 degrees vertical. Also, ask for peripherals like pivoting frames.

4. Size: bigger is better, but with flat panel, remember 15-inch screen gives you the experience of a 17-inch CRT monitor. If you can afford 17-inch flat panel, by all means, go for it, if not, a 15-inch screen should not be a disappointment.

Other things to check when buying a flat panel are guarantees and warranties. A three-year wa

If you are still not on the flat-panel monitor bandwagon, you must be considering doing it soon. And, if not, then you should! It’s the coolest peripheral to own. It represents power, fashion and all things young and happening. Until you replace your CRT screen you wouldn’t realize how much you hated that monstrosity! But before you dish out your hard earned money, getting to know the ‘object of desire’ will stand you in good stead.

Shopping tips:

1. Flat panel monitors use interfaces – analog or digital. The newer models have digital interface but an all-digital environment costs more. If you are buying an analog flat panel, you will have to attach it with a digital interface to your video card with a digital out jack to mainstream the signal.

If you are planning to buy a digital interface, you need to check its compatibility. There are several digital interface standards available today—Plug and Display (P&D) from the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), Digital Flat Panel (DFP) from the Digital Flat Panel Working Group, and Digital Video Interface (DVI) from the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG).

The P&D interface is the oldest of the three standards and chances are your new model won’t sport this standard. Support for DFP standard is seen across many hardware vendors. The DVI standard is the latest and the most popular. Do your research and whichever standard you chose, you need to match its components that include cables and video cards!

2. Pixel-refresh response time: In an LCD display, the time required to switch from light to dark objects or vice versa, is referred to as Pixel-refresh response time. If the response time is poor (more than 40ms), you may see ghosting effect, i.e., the image seems to remain longer on the screen than it actually is!

Whereas in a text environment this would hardly matter, in a gaming or media centric environment the effect could be a deterrent. Cheaper models give more ghosting than their expensive counterparts. Also, pixel-refresh response time is not mentioned on the monitors. You need to watch closely to judge the performance of each model.

3. Viewing angle: One problem with a flat panel monitor is its viewing angle. Laptop users must have experienced this problem. Moving away from the monitor in any direction causes the screen to look black! Different models offer different viewing angles horizontally and vertically.

Find the one best suited to your pocket! In any case, for a home PC, the viewing angle doesn’t make much difference but if the monitor is going to be used for official presentations then it should have viewing angle of at least 120 degrees horizontal and 100 degrees vertical. Also, ask for peripherals like pivoting frames.

4. Size: bigger is better, but with flat panel, remember 15-inch screen gives you the experience of a 17-inch CRT monitor. If you can afford 17-inch flat panel, by all means, go for it, if not, a 15-inch screen should not be a disappointment.

Other things to check when buying a flat panel are guarantees and warranties. A three-year war

analog flat panel, you will have to attach it with a digital interface to your video card with a digital out jack to mainstream the signal.

If you are planning to buy a digital interface, you need to check its compatibility. There are several digital interface standards available today—Plug and Display (P&D) from the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), Digital Flat Panel (DFP) from the Digital Flat Panel Working Group, and Digital Video Interface (DVI) from the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG).

The P&D interface is the oldest of the three standards and chances are your new model won’t sport this standard. Support for DFP standard is seen across many hardware vendors. The DVI standard is the latest and the most popular. Do your research and whichever standard you chose, you need to match its components that include cables and video cards!

2. Pixel-refresh response time: In an LCD display, the time required to switch from light to dark objects or vice versa, is referred to as Pixel-refresh response time. If the response time is poor (more than 40ms), you may see ghosting effect, i.e., the image seems to remain longer on the screen than it actually is!

Whereas in a text environment this would hardly matter, in a gaming or media centric environment the effect could be a deterrent. Cheaper models give more ghosting than their expensive counterparts. Also, pixel-refresh response time is not mentioned on the monitors. You need to watch closely to judge the performance of each model.

3. Viewing angle: One problem with a flat panel monitor is its viewing angle. Laptop users must have experienced this problem. Moving away from the monitor in any direction causes the screen to look black! Different models offer different viewing angles horizontally and vertically.

Find the one best suited to your pocket! In any case, for a home PC, the viewing angle doesn’t make much difference but if the monitor is going to be used for official presentations then it should have viewing angle of at least 120 degrees horizontal and 100 degrees vertical. Also, ask for peripherals like pivoting frames.

4. Size: bigger is better, but with flat panel, remember 15-inch screen gives you the experience of a 17-inch CRT monitor. If you can afford 17-inch flat panel, by all means, go for it, if not, a 15-inch screen should not be a disappointment.

Other things to check when buying a flat panel are guarantees and warranties. A three-year wa

his standard. Support for DFP standard is seen across many hardware vendors. The DVI standard is the latest and the most popular. Do your research and whichever standard you chose, you need to match its components that include cables and video cards!

2. Pixel-refresh response time: In an LCD display, the time required to switch from light to dark objects or vice versa, is referred to as Pixel-refresh response time. If the response time is poor (more than 40ms), you may see ghosting effect, i.e., the image seems to remain longer on the screen than it actually is!

Whereas in a text environment this would hardly matter, in a gaming or media centric environment the effect could be a deterrent. Cheaper models give more ghosting than their expensive counterparts. Also, pixel-refresh response time is not mentioned on the monitors. You need to watch closely to judge the performance of each model.

3. Viewing angle: One problem with a flat panel monitor is its viewing angle. Laptop users must have experienced this problem. Moving away from the monitor in any direction causes the screen to look black! Different models offer different viewing angles horizontally and vertically.

Find the one best suited to your pocket! In any case, for a home PC, the viewing angle doesn’t make much difference but if the monitor is going to be used for official presentations then it should have viewing angle of at least 120 degrees horizontal and 100 degrees vertical. Also, ask for peripherals like pivoting frames.

4. Size: bigger is better, but with flat panel, remember 15-inch screen gives you the experience of a 17-inch CRT monitor. If you can afford 17-inch flat panel, by all means, go for it, if not, a 15-inch screen should not be a disappointment.

Other things to check when buying a flat panel are guarantees and warranties. A three-year wa

matter, in a gaming or media centric environment the effect could be a deterrent. Cheaper models give more ghosting than their expensive counterparts. Also, pixel-refresh response time is not mentioned on the monitors. You need to watch closely to judge the performance of each model.

3. Viewing angle: One problem with a flat panel monitor is its viewing angle. Laptop users must have experienced this problem. Moving away from the monitor in any direction causes the screen to look black! Different models offer different viewing angles horizontally and vertically.

Find the one best suited to your pocket! In any case, for a home PC, the viewing angle doesn’t make much difference but if the monitor is going to be used for official presentations then it should have viewing angle of at least 120 degrees horizontal and 100 degrees vertical. Also, ask for peripherals like pivoting frames.

4. Size: bigger is better, but with flat panel, remember 15-inch screen gives you the experience of a 17-inch CRT monitor. If you can afford 17-inch flat panel, by all means, go for it, if not, a 15-inch screen should not be a disappointment.

Other things to check when buying a flat panel are guarantees and warranties. A three-year wa

y case, for a home PC, the viewing angle doesn’t make much difference but if the monitor is going to be used for official presentations then it should have viewing angle of at least 120 degrees horizontal and 100 degrees vertical. Also, ask for peripherals like pivoting frames.

4. Size: bigger is better, but with flat panel, remember 15-inch screen gives you the experience of a 17-inch CRT monitor. If you can afford 17-inch flat panel, by all means, go for it, if not, a 15-inch screen should not be a disappointment.

Other things to check when buying a flat panel are guarantees and warranties. A three-year warranty is satisfactory. People change the monitor settings in stores and while purchasing; make sure that you check the piece adequately. You now have the basic information; all you need is time to check out the market!