ATFT monitoris a type of LCD, orliquid crystaldisplay monitor. The names comes fromthin film transistorwhich is the technology used to improve the picture quality. There are several factors to look out for when choosing a TFT monitor.
Size is arguably the most important point in choosing a TFT monitor, particularly because the technology allows you to get a much bigger screen size without the monitor becoming impractically deep as would happen with an old-style CRT monitor. As a general rule, it’s worth getting the biggest screen within yourbudget, though sometimes a smaller screen from a high quality brand can be better value than a bigger screen from a budget manufacturer.
As with other screens, TFT monitors are listed by their diagonal screen size. However, because the screen does not curve at the edges, a TFT screen will have about one inch (2.5 cm) extra visible area compared with a CRT monitor of the same diagonal size. It’s also worth remembering that a 16:9 or “widescreen” monitor will have less total viewing area than a 4:3 monitor with the same diagonal size. The difference varies with the screen size, but as a rough rule a 4:3 monitor will have about 50% more area than its 16:9 equivalent.
As LCD technology has evolved, different techniques for producing color have emerged. Passive matrix screens, which were the first invented, use two transistors — one for each row and one for each column of pixels — to activate a particular point on the LCD grid. Active-matrix screens usually use thin filmtransistor(TFT) technology, in which each point on the grid has its own transistor; this allows only the desired pixels to be activated. Passive matrix screens tend to respond more slowly thanactive matrixscreens, and are not able to produce the same level of image quality.
Monitor Specifications
Most modern LCD computer monitors use active matrix technology. Within this group, there are a number of specifications that set one LCD monitor apart from another. Size, aspect ratio, and resolution are three related features; contrast ratio, brightness, viewing angle, and response time are also important.
The size of an LCD monitor can affect its price, resolution, and aspect ratio. Larger monitors are more expensive; the transistors that are used to make active matrix displays have a high failure rate, and since bigger monitors have more transistors, consumers are paying in part for those that are defective and cannot be sold. Aspect ratio refers to the shape of the screen, with standard screens usually having a 4:3 or 5:4 ratio. Widescreen monitors tend to be bigger, but allow images to be viewed in a 16:9 (or 16:10) aspect ratio.
A bigger screen may also allow for a higher native resolution, or the number of pixels it can display. A screen with a high native resolution will be very sharp, and be able to display more information than one with a lower resolution can. Most monitors can display resolutions other than what is native, but the image may appear blurry.
Contrast ratio relates to the display's comparative difference between its brightest white values and its darkest black. A higher contrast ratio will have truer colors with less washout, and allow for a greater range of shades. The standard offering for lower-end models is commonly 350:1, but many experts recommend a contrast ratio of 500:1 or better.
LCD monitors tend to be bright, with standard levels being more than adequate for everyday use. Brightness is measured in nits, units of one candela per square meter. Anywhere from 250 to 300 nits is standard, although people who play games may benefit from a brighter screen. If the nits are much higher, the user will likely end up adjusting the brightness down for regular use.
The vertical and horizontal viewing angle specifications refer to the degree the viewer can stray from dead center before the picture starts to wash out. Most monitors are looked at straight-on, but wider angles can benefit people who use multiple screens, or if the screen will be used by several people at one time. Many experts recommend a viewing angle of at least 140° horizontal and 120° vertical, but the wider the viewing angles, the better.
Response time is measured in milliseconds (ms) and refers to how long it takes pixels to turn from completely white to black and back again. Smaller values represent a faster response time and are more desirable, especially for playing games and viewing videos. If the response time is slow, ghosting or trailing can occur with fast-moving images, where images linger as the screen refreshes. A maximum response time should be no more than 25 ms for general use, and 17 ms is better. Many gamers report no ghosting using an LCD monitor with a response time of 16 ms or less.
Advantages
One major advantage of LCD monitors are their size; they are commonly 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm) thick and weigh less than 10 pounds (4.5 k). CRT monitors, on the other hand, have a depth five times as large, and a weight of 30 to 50 pounds (13 to 23 kilograms) or more. As such, LCDs can take up 90% less space, and are far easier to move or adjust.
A wide variety of screen sizes are available, from 15 to 30 inches (38.1 to 76.2 cm) or larger. For average sizes — 22 to 24 inches (55.88 to 60.96 cm) — the price of an LCD monitor is about the same as a traditional CRT. LCD screens tend to last longer, however; in addition, if a few pixels on the screen fail, the monitor is still usable in most cases.
LCDs use relatively little electricity, especially when compared to their CRT counterparts, and produce far less heat. They also emit very low levels of electromagnetic radiation. LCD monitors are also easier on the eyes; glossy or matte screens are usually available, and matte screens reduce glare.
Disadvantages
LCD monitors have largely displaced CRTs in most monitors, except for very cheap and very expensive models. CRTs still can offer better color content and depth at the high end, and also have the advantage of multisync, or the ability to keep colors consistent even when a picture's resolution is changed. Colors on LCDs may also change hue as the viewer moves to the outer limits of the viewing angle, particularly on displays with narrow viewing angles and low contrast ratios. Graphics, photography, and design professionals, as well as medical professionals, usually have preferred CRT monitors for these advantages.
A potential weak link of an LCD monitor is the backlight. Since the liquid crystals do not produce any light on their own, if the backlight fails, the monitor is unusable. Many monitors come with a three-yearwarranty, but stipulate one year for the backlight.
It’s also important to consider the available inputs on a TFT monitor. If it’s compatible with your computer, a digital input such as DVI will give better results than an analog input such asVGA. A digital input can also be useful if you want to use the monitor as a screen for aDVDplayer or games console.
There are a variety of figures used to measure the level of detail available on the screen. The most common is the resolution, which simply describes the number of pixels which can be displayed. The higher the resolution, the better the more detailed the picture will be.
Another measure is the contrast ratio. This is a figure measuring how many times brighter a pure white signal displayed by the monitor is than a pure black signal on the same screen. The higher the contrast ratio, the more subtle the colour detail on the screen will be. It’s worth noting that the precise methods for measuring contrast ratio can vary, so it is more useful to use an independent guide which directly compares different models than to go buy the manufacturer’s own figures.
A third measure is the response rate. This is a measurement of time, showing how quickly the screen can change its display. A quick response rate is more important on a screen you will be using for watching videos or playing games than one used mainly for Internet surfing and office tasks, where the difference in response rate may be less noticeable.
