LCD Monitors – Getting You Up-to-Date

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is a part of digital display technology that shows images on a flat panel by shining light through liquid crystals and colored filters. It is extremely beneficial for computer users because it takes up less space, requires less energy and puts out less heat. At the same time, LCD monitors cost a lot more than the traditional cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitors. But higher prices come with the territory of newer and better technology.

There are a number of reasons why the LCD monitors are superior to the CRT monitors. First, they offer a crisp and clear text that does not flicker like others may do. At the same time, they have flat screens which help to reduce glare. Not only is that more convenient for computer users, but it also cuts down on annoying eye strain. The LCD monitors are also very thin, thus they take up less space than the CRT monitors do. That can come in handy if desk space is limited.

Liquid crystals were first discovered in 1888. They are actually liquid chemicals that can be aligned precisely when encountering electric currents. When that happens, light is able to pass through. The source of that light is the backlight which is part of the last layer of the three layers in the LCD monitor. That light passes through the middle layer first, which is composed of thousands of little cells of liquid crystal. It is then lined up with the second polarizing filter, allowing the images to appear.

Pixel, or picture element, is another term that needs to be in any conversation regarding color LCD monitors. Each pixel is comprised of three cells, one red, another blue, and the last green. Thousands upon thousands of possible colors can come from a single pixel.

Because the CRT monitors and the LCD monitors use entirely different technology, there are some advantages and disadvantages between the two that are worth mentioning. First off, the CRT monitors have a richer color spectrum than the LCD monitors. However, it really only makes a difference for graphic artists, and the average computer user will hardly notice. The LCDs are much brighter than CRTs, having a brightness level of 200 to 300 nits, while the CRTs only have around 100. However, the CRTs have superior resolution technology because the LCDs are each created for a specific resolution, and cannot easily switch back and forth between different resolution settings. Again, that would only matter if the user needs to switch to other settings to support the programs that are running.

Clearly, the monitors with liquid crystal display technology are more efficient and convenient in most respects. While the CRT monitors do have some advantages of their own, they are behind in technology. So, while the LCDs are more expensive in almost every case, they are worth the cost.