advantages of flat panel display screens for sale

A flat–panel display is a type of display device that uses thin, flat, electronic technologies to create images. They are found in a variety of devices, including televisions, computers, mobile phones, and tablets. Flat-panel displays have many advantages over traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, including lower power consumption, thinner form factors, and better image quality.

Flat-panel displays have many advantages over their older counterparts, cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors. They are thinner, lighter and consume far less power. They also offer a much wider viewing angle and generally provide a sharper, more vibrant image.One of the biggest advantages of flat–panel displays is their size. They are significantly thinner and lighter than CRT monitors, making them much easier to transport and install. This also means that they take up far less space, which is ideal for use in small offices or homes.Flat-panel displays also consume far less power than CRTs. This is due to the fact that they do not require the high-voltage electron beams that are used in CRTs. This reduced power consumption not only saves money, but also helps to reduce the strain on the environment.Another advantage of flat–panel displays is their viewing angle. CRTs have a very narrow viewing angle, which can make it difficult to see the screen from certain angles. Flat-panel displays, on the other hand, have a much wider viewing angle, making them much easier to use.Finally, flat–panel displays generally provide a sharper, more vibrant image than CRTs. This is due to the fact that they use a technology called active matrix, which allows each pixel to be controlled independently. This results in a much higher level of image quality.

It is a well-known fact that flat–panel displays have a number of advantages over their older CRT counterparts. However, there are also some disadvantages that should be considered before making a purchase.One of the biggest disadvantages of flat–panel displays is their cost. While prices have come down considerably in recent years, they still tend to be more expensive than CRTs. This is particularly true of larger displays.Another downside of flat–panel displays is that they can be more difficult to view in brightly lit rooms. This is because they tend to reflect more light than CRTs. If you plan to use your display in a room with lots of windows or overhead lighting, you may want to consider a CRT.Finally, flat–panel displays tend to have shorter lifespans than CRTs. This is due to the fact that they contain a number of delicate parts, such as the backlight. If one of these parts fails, it can be very expensive to repair or replace the display.

A flat–panel display is a type of display device that uses a thin, flat piece of electric crystal to show images. They are typically used in devices such as computers, cell phones, televisions and portable media players. Flat-panel displays can be made in different ways, using various technologies. The most common types of flat–panel displays are liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light-emitting diode displays (LEDs) and plasma displays. LCD flat–panel displays work by placing a layer of liquid crystal between two polarized sheets of glass. The liquid crystals are arranged in a pattern that allows them to twist and turn when electric current is applied. This twisting and turning allows the crystals to block or pass light, which is used to create the images on the screen. LCDs are the most common type of flat–panel display, and are used in a variety of devices, including computers, televisions, and cell phones.LED flat–panel displays work in a similar way to LCDs, but use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) instead of liquid crystals. LEDs are small, electrically charged devices that emit light when electric current is passed through them. The LEDs are arranged in a pattern on the flat–panel display, and can be used to create images in the same way as liquid crystals in LCDs. LED displays are becoming increasingly common, as they offer a number of advantages over LCDs, including better power efficiency and brighter images.Plasma flat–panel displays work by using a gas that is electrically charged to create images on the screen. The gas is contained in small cells between two pieces of glass. When electric current is applied, the gas is ionized and creates ultraviolet light. This ultraviolet light then excites phosphors on the inside of the cells, which emit visible light to create the images on the screen. Plasma displays are typically used in larger devices, such as televisions, and offer a number of advantages over LCDs and LEDs, including better image quality and wider viewing angles.

Flat-panel displays are thinner and lighter than traditional cathode ray tube (CRT) televisions and computer monitors. They use less electricity, which not only saves you money on your energy bill, but also helps reduce your carbon footprint. And because they don’t have any moving parts, they’re less likely to break.There are two main types of flat–panel displays: liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and plasma displays. LCDs are found in most laptops, desktop monitors, and televisions. Plasma displays are typically found in larger televisions.Here’s a quick comparison of the two types of displays:LCD Displays• Thinner and lighter than CRTs• Use less electricity• No moving parts• Available in a wide range of sizes• Can be difficult to read in direct sunlightPlasma Displays• Thinner and lighter than CRTs• Use less electricity• No moving parts• Available in larger sizes• Better for watching movies and playing video games• Can be difficult to read in direct sunlight

When one hears the term “flat-panel display,” the first thing that may come to mind is a modern 21st-century classroom where a teacher gives lessons on an interactive flipchart to students using smart whiteboards. And this vision would not be wrong. However, this technology is being adopted into many other industries, such as:

In fact, the flat-panel display market is booming. In a recent ResearchAndMarkets.com report, the global market for this technology was valued at $116.80 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach $189.60 billion by 2026.

Flat-panel displays are electronic viewing technologies used to enable people to see content (still images, moving images, text, or other visual material) in a range of entertainment, consumer electronics, personal computer, and mobile devices, and many types of medical, transportation and industrial equipment. They are far lighter and thinner than traditional cathode-ray tubes (CRT)  television sets and video displays and are usually less than 10 centimeters (3.9 in.) thick.

The LCD is comprised of millions of liquid pixels (picture elements). The picture quality is described by the number of pixels. For example, the “4K” label indicates that the display contains 3840×2160 or 4096×2160 pixels. Each pixel is made up of three subpixels: red, green, and blue (called RGB for short). When the RGBs in a pixel change color combinations, a different color is produced (e.g., red and green produce yellow). With all the pixels working together, the display can make millions of different colors. And finally, a picture is created when the pixels are rapidly turned off and on.

LED displays are the second most common display technology. In essence, the LED display is an LCD as it uses the same liquid diode technology but uses light-emitting diodes to backlight instead of cold cathode fluorescent (CCFL) backlighting.

The “O” in OLED stands for “organic,” as these flat-panel displays are made of organic materials (like carbon, plastic, wood, and polymers) that are used to convert electrical current into light. With OLED technology, each pixel is capable of producing its own illumination. Whereas both LCD and LED technology uses a backlighting system.

PDPs contain an electrically charged gas (plasma) that is housed between two panels of glass. PDPs are known for their vivid colors and have a wider viewing angle. However, one disadvantage with this technology is that it tends to “burn” permanent images onto the viewing area. In addition, when compared to an LCD, the PDP tends to be heavier and thicker because of the two glass panels, and it typically uses more electricity.

EL Technology places electroluminescent material (such as gallium arsenide or GaAs) between two conductive layers. When an electric current is introduced to the layers, the electroluminescent material lights up, thus creating a pixel. EL displays are most typically used for instrumentation for rugged military, transportation, and industrial applications.

In today’s world, interactivity is king. Devices like mobile phones and tablets are everywhere, and people are looking for similar experiences in their workplace and as they go about their daily lives. As a result, multi-video walls, kiosks, and interactive flat-panel displays are cropping up in almost any place you can think of.

Automobile dealerships are installing interactive flat-panel displays that allow shoppers to view their line-up of cars. These panels have touchscreen features that enable customers to view a vehicle from all angles and even zoom in on different parts. With this technology, buyers can order a fully customized car by choosing the upholstery, trim, accessories, and even some of the engine features of their new car.

Doctors have many non-invasive diagnostic tools in their toolkits—things like x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, ultrasound, PET, etc. These days, new techniques have been developed that combine multiple scans into 3D renderings. These images require high-quality (medical-grade) flat-panel displays that provide the highest resolution possible. And because these displays are in constant use, they must be durable and long-lived. LCDs with edge-lit LED backlights are currently the industry standard with about 93 percent penetration.

One of the best weapons in peace and war is information. The Pentagon is placing flat-panel displays on almost every surface they can think of—war rooms, control rooms, ships, planes, trucks, and even helmets, rifle sights, and radios. The displays used by the military must be:

Brick and mortar retail stores’ biggest competition is e-commerce sites. Interactive flat-panel displays combine in-store and online selling with the use of self-service kiosks. Salespeople are using these kiosks to personalize customer service and enhance their product availability beyond what they stock in the store. This technology can also help retailers customize their products for their customers and are particularly helpful to boutiques and luxury retailers.

As we have demonstrated, there are many uses for flat-panel displays in a multitude of sectors.  Flat-panel displays produce high-quality images, are stylish, consume less power, and give a maximum image in a minimum space. Best of all, they disperse information and help make our lives easier and safer.

Versa Technology’s objective is to keep our customers fully informed about a broad array of communication and networking technologies. We sincerely hope you found this article informative. Versa has over 25 years of experience in networking solutions. To learn more about our products and services, please visit ourhomepage.

The age of the CRT (cathode ray tube) display is well and truly over. Although some people are rediscovering how great CRTs can be, the vast majority of displays today are flat panels. However, just because modern screens have more or less the same appearance, doesn’t mean that they’re the same under the hood.

There are multiple flat panel display technologies to be found all around you. The specific type of technology in your flat screen display influences everything from how the image is reproduced to what the display costs.

We’ll be looking at the most important current and upcoming panel technologies and the pros and cons of each. Armed with this information, you can make an informed decision the next time you have to purchase a television or monitor.

TN panels are the most basic form of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display). The name refers to the basic principle of how all LCDs work. A special liquid crystal material twists into alignment or out of alignment based on an electrical current. In this way these displays can reproduce full-color images by varying the amount of red, green or blue light passing through each pixel.

Modern TN panels are much better than those early models that really made you regret switching from CRT, but these days general audiences would be happy with a typical mainstream TN screen.

There are two main advantages to choosing a TN screen. The first is a fast response time. That’s a measurement of how long it takes for the display to change from one state to the next. Slow response times can lead to blurry images and ghosting. This is why competitive gamers tend to favor TN panels, since it’s not uncommon to find ones with a response time under a millisecond.

The second major advantage of TN panels is price. With all other things being equal, TN screens are almost always less expensive than other technologies.

Unfortunately, there are problems. They have relatively poor viewing angles, can appear washed out and don’t reproduce vibrant, accurate colors. What’s worse, IPS displays (which we’ll discuss next) can now reach similar response times without compromising on image quality.

IPS technology was one of the new LCD approaches developed specifically to address the major weaknesses in TN technology. IPS displays offer accurate color reproduction, vibrant colors and fantastic viewing angles.

IPS technology has also essentially eroded the response time advantage of TN screens, but that depends on the specific model. Be sure to check the response time specification on any IPS screen you’re interested in.

One area where IPS screens fall a little short compared to TN panels is in the reproduction of blacks. However, poor black reproduction is a problem all LCD technologies share. It’s an issue that’s being improved across the board.

IPS monitors are generally the best option for anyone who works in video editing, photo editing, design and other professions where color accuracy is important. Although you do still have to calibrate your IPS display to really nail the right settings.

IPS screens are also suitable for gamers, especially those who don’t care for refresh rates above 60Hz. While high refresh rate IPS screens do exist, they carry a stiff price premium compared to equally speedy TN panels. Overall, when it comes to computer monitors, IPS displays are the best choice for most users.

VA panels put the liquid crystals that all LCDs use into a different orientation. That is, they are aligned vertically relative to the glass of the display when a current is applied. This changes what happens to light as it passes through the display compared to the TN and IPS approaches.

One of the most important advantages of VA panels is the fact that they produce the best black levels among LCD displays. This flat panel display design also offers much wider viewing angles than either TN or IPS.

This is why VA panels are often used in televisions, rather than computer monitors. Computer users generally work solo and view the screen from the optimal central viewing position. Televisions are watched by groups of people, with some looking at the screen from an off-axis position. VA panels minimize color shift and other distortions for those viewers sitting far to the left or right of the screen.

MVA flat panel display technology was developed as a middle-ground between TN and IPS displays. With the improvements of both TN and IPS, the need for this compromise is lessened, but modern MVA technology has its place in the form of “Advanced” and “Super” MVA technology.

OLED or Organic Light-Emitting Diodedisplays use a completely different principle than LCDs. They consist of pixels that contain organic chemicals which produce light. LCDs use a backlight through the panel to make the display visible. This makes it hard for LCDs to produce true black, since there’s always light shining through the panel. OLEDs achieve perfect black levels by simply switching off those pixels.

Premium smartphones and high-end TVs make use of OLED flat panel display technology. It’s superior to LCD technology in almost every way, apart from a higher tendency to suffer “burn-in”, where an image is retained on the screen. Oled can also be made incredibly thin, making for stylish wall-mounted TVs or ones that are easily hidden when not in use.

That being said, LCD manufacturers have been making improvements to their technology to bring it closer to what OLED can do, at a much lower price. Samsung’s cheekily-named QLED televisions is one example of this.

Mini LED flat panels are just standard LCD panels which can be of any type. The difference comes from the backlight technology. At first, LCDs were backlit with fluorescent tube lights, which produced uneven brightness and various other problems. Then LED backlights, dotted around the edges of the screen dramatically improved the situation. Today higher-end TVs use “local dimming” where numerous LEDs are placed behind the panel across its surface.

For example, a TV might have 12 dimming zones, which allows for better representation of true black thanks to precisely controlled brightness in each zone.

Mini LEDs are many times smaller than those existing LED arrays, making it possible to put hundreds and perhaps thousands of local dimming zones in a TV. They promise to approach the visual prowess of OLEDs but at a much more affordable price. Especially for the larger displays.

Finally, we have microLED flat panel display technology. You can’t buy a display using this technology yet, but it probably won’t be long. If you thought mini LEDs were small, hold on to your hat. microLEDs are so small that they can be used as pixels themselves. That’s right, a microLED display doesn’t have an LCD panel. You’re looking at millions of microscopic lights.

This technology promises superior image quality to OLED displays, without the decay organic compounds suffer over time. If you want to know more, check out OLED vs MicroLED: Should You Wait? for an in-depth breakdown.

Which flat panel display technology do you think offers the best overall experience? Do you care mainly about cost or performance? Are there other display technologies you think should be included in this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.

Theflat panel display marketis becoming increasingly popular in a world where screen size is decreasing and prices are increasing. Flat Panel Displays, as they are more commonly known, offers a full view of the display without the use of monitors. They allow you to view the information you want and then save it to your hard drive where it can be viewed whenever you want. Flat Panel Displays is found in public areas and companies such as airports, theatres, conference rooms, and educational facilities.

There are a wide range of reasons why you may want to purchase a flat panel display. One of the main benefits is that it gives you a clearer image than traditional monitors. They can also be a more convenient option for many users who don"t have a lot of desk space and rely on their computers for work. Another benefit is that they use much less power than normal CRT or LCD displays, which is important for people who use their computers a lot on battery power or whose equipment needs to operate continuously.

Flat Panel Displays can also be used to add special effects to your pictures or video. This allows you to make your pictures look much better than they would with regular film or photo slideshows. Flat Panel Displays is also useful for displaying audio clips or music. Their versatility and convenience make them a popular choice for a wide range of businesses.

There are several different types of Flat Panel Displays available on the market today. They include: LED, LCD, DLP, plasma and LCD. Flat Panel Displays systems differ slightly according to how they work. Some work on three different layers, whereas others work on layers two through four. You need to know what your needs are before making a selection.

Flat Panel Displays is not only used for electronic display. They are also used in medical, architectural, industrial and educational applications. Since there are so many different types of these screens, it helps to know where you will use it before you decide which type you want to purchase. You should also consider some of the pros and cons of the various screens to ensure that you are making the right decision.

One of the main benefits of Flat Panel Display is that it requires less electricity to operate. The screen is also much thinner than traditional monitors. This means that you will have almost no dead space in which people need to rest their things. The cost of the system can be fairly low as well. This is one reason why so many people choose Flat Panel Display Systems.

When choosing a flat panel screen, you should make sure that you are buying one that offers the best quality. It is also a good idea to spend the money on a high-quality seller. To help you choose which seller is best, you should always check out their feedback from other customers. Although you may spend a little more on the screens, you can be assured that you are getting the highest quality panel on the market.

Another advantage to Flat Panel Display is that they are incredibly easy to install. Some people even choose to use them in their home offices or in their business offices because they do not take up much space. These screens are also great because they have an extremely high resolution. They can display a lot of information without any problem at all. The panels are very stable and you do not need to worry about your computer crashing when you use them.

One of the first tech accessories you should consider when setting up a home office is an external display. Having a monitor will give you a larger canvas for your work, whether you’re taking notes while watching a lecture, copying data between spreadsheets, or editing photos and videos. If you’re using a laptop, and keep its lid open, having an external monitor lets you keep two screens on at the same time.

There are many factors to consider when choosing the right external monitor to use, but one of the most important is whether you’d like it to have a flat or curved panel. There’s no wrong answer, but we’ve broken down the differences between both types of external monitors below, so you can make the right decision for your needs. We’ve also recommended one monitor from each category, so you know the right one to get.

The biggest reason curved displays are popular is that they fill up more of your peripheral vision, which allows you to focus on your work instead of being distracted by what’s happening around you. If you’re watching or playing a game, this engrossing experience can be hard to beat. The downside to this style of monitor is that its curved display can catch light from more angles. The glare, which can make part of the screen more difficult to look at, negates the biggest advantage curved displays have over flat panel monitors. To be clear, flat-screen monitors can still be susceptible to glare, but it’s easier to set them up in an area where that will be less of an issue.

Both flat and curved monitors are available in an array of sizes, but their shape changes as they get bigger. Flat panel displays generally have an aspect ratio of 16:9 or 16:10, which means their height and width grow at a pretty proportionate rate. The 16:9 aspect ratio is the standard for TVs, so you’ll be familiar with how a flat panel monitor looks regardless of its size. Curved monitors can have up to a 32:9 aspect ratio, which means they’re significantly wider than they are tall. This proportion allows you to spread more information on the screen, but also means it’ll likely take up the entire length of your desk.

Flat panel displays have the ergonomic advantage over curved ones because you may have to turn your neck more frequently to focus on different parts of a large, curved monitor’s display, which can cause strain. The alternative is to sit further away from the monitor, which may not be possible if you’ve got a small desk or room. Flat panels also have the advantage when it comes to flexibility. Both flat and curved monitors can be height and tilt-adjustable, but some flat panels give you the option to turn their display vertically, which makes it easier to work on writing assignments (from articles to legal drafts) or to edit vertical video (say, for Instagram).

Despite their differences, both curved and flat panel monitors share a lot of similar features. Both styles are outfitted with the same types of inputs (commonly known as ports), which allow you to connect your computer to them without an adapter. Each can have a very high resolution to ensure you get an ultra-clear image, which will make everything from viewing photos to reading text easier.

If you have a large enough room, the right lighting conditions, and spend a lot of time editing horizontal video or playing games, getting a curved display is probably the way to go. The ultra-wide form factor may take some time to get used to, but you’ll end up with a larger area to view your documents, images, videos, and browser tabs.

If you’re more space-constrained, don’t have very much control over your room’s lighting, and stick to more general computing tasks like web browsing, writing, shopping, and watching video, it’s probably better to get a flat panel display. That’s especially true if you want an external display with a more familiar physical design.

Samsung designed the Odyssey G9 to match the natural curve of the human eye. This means you’ll get maximum immersion and minimal eye strain — even as you game over multiple hours.

Refresh rates run as high as 240ghz for smooth performance, even on the most combat-heavy games. There’s also HDR functionality, which means you’ll see every detail, down to the specks of dirt as you drift in Forza Horizon 5.

Like the rest of your gaming setup, you can even customize the lighting of your new monitor through Infinity Core lighting. Plus, you can adjust this curved monitor’s height via the stand, although since it’s pretty wide you won’t be able to modify tilt.

LG 34WN80C-B is the perfect example of what a curved monitor has to offer. The 34-inch WQHD (wide quad high definition) display supports 99% of the sRGB color gamut and HDR (high dynamic range). If you’re watching videos or playing games that support HDR, you’ll immediately notice a big improvement in color accuracy.

This monitor’s standout feature is its array of inputs, which include two HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, a USB-C port, two USB-A ports, and a headphone jack. If you connect your computer to the monitor with a USB-C cable, you can use the monitor’s USB ports to connect your accessories. If you’re using a laptop, the monitor’s USB-C port will also supply your computer with power. The ability to use an external display as a USB hub to save space is great and necessary with a monitor this big. Unfortunately, the 34WN80C-B does not have built-in speakers.

Although curved displays aren’t as flexible as flat panels, LG designed the 34WN80C-B to be height and tilt-adjustable, so you can find a position for it that’s comfortable to use. That said, this monitor is 32.7 inches long, so you’re going to need a large desk and a lot of space to prevent neck strain.

If you have the room and have been curious about curved monitors, LG’s 34WN80C-B is a good choice. Its hardware features and physical design maximize the advantages of using this type of display while minimizing the downsides.

This 4K monitor is packed with more than eight million pixels according to Dell, which should provide brighter more balanced visuals, no matter what angle you’re viewing this monitor at. You’ll also be able to tilt, swivel or adjust the height of your flat monitor to your liking.

This monitor even comes equipped with IPS technology for accurate color pictures, even during hours of streaming or working. And, with Dell Display Manager, you can have multiple tabs open with ease, restore your work the second you log on and quickly access your data through shortcut keys.

There’s a wide array of ports too, including a USB-C port, a display port, an HDMI port and regular USB ports as well. This way you can connect your monitor to your existing work-from-home set up easily.

The Asus 27-inch monitor also features a 4K display as well as HDR for detailed color visuals and crystal clear images when you stream, game or create presentations for work. (Note you can also grab this monitor in the 2K version if you’re looking to save a little cash).

The ASUS ProArt was also designed with graphic artists and creators in mind. It’s Calman Verified which means it’s great for video editing and is probably one of the most color-accurate monitors you can find. You can even adjust the color configuration to your liking on this monitor.

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Curved monitors are relatively new technology, but they are quickly overtaking flat monitors among discerning users. Why make the upgrade? There are a number of benefits to curved monitors unique to their design, including reduced eye strain and better field of view.

Long story short, curved monitors are the new flat! At least that’s what it seems like based on the number of curved monitor options entering the market for applications spanning from gaming to work, and even to general entertainment.

With a curved monitor, your eyes are immediately drawn to their flowing curved screen and sleek look – but how do they perform? Below, we’ve set out to compare curved monitors and flat-screen monitors to find out for ourselves. What are the benefits of curved monitors? What are the benefits of flat monitors? Read on below to see our list of curved monitor advantages and a full breakdown between curved monitors and flat monitors. Moreover, we will provide some info regarding the ultrawide variants of curved and flat monitors.

In the world of viewable media, immersion is a golden standard to work towards. If a product can make you forget, so to speak, that you’re staring at a screen, then you’re much more likely to enjoy the experience.

To create this sense of immersion, products must be engineered in a way that replicates real life. The monitor technology specifically used in this case is called ocular perception. This is something everyone learns from an early age.

We see the world in three dimensions – length, width, and height. If our collective reality was based only on two dimensions, then everything would appear to be flat. This is where the battle of curved vs. flat monitors comes into play.

Curved monitors take advantage of all three dimensions. Further, they expand on peripheral vision. In contrast, flat monitors, which live up to their namesake and don’t require the use of peripheral vision, offer a weaker immersive experience.

Imagine how annoying it is when you experience a blurry picture. Next, consider how you feel when that blurriness is not due to a poor internet connection, but instead a hardware issue. In another example, consider how when you enlarge a video or picture, the quality ends up suffering a fair amount of distortion, particularly at the edges.

When it comes to the debate between curved vs. flat monitors, the situations above are almost exclusively associated with flat monitors. Although examples of distortion can occur on screens of any size, they become more prevalent as monitor size increases. Less distortion is one of the advantages of curved monitors over flat monitors as distortion issues are minimized on curved monitors.

The difference between curved and flat-screen distortion comes down to the physics of light projection. Put simply, flat screens blast their images in a straight line, both at the viewers and past their sides. Curved screens, on the other hand, take advantage of their shape, and aim everything at the viewer, thus limiting distortion.

The same physics that limit curved-screen distortion also make their use more comfortable. Essentially, the curvature of the monitors allows our eyes to take in everything at once, without strain.

This comes in opposition to flat screens, which, depending on the size, may cause eyestrain if the screen exceeds a viewer’s natural field of view. The ability to take in a scene without strain is something that occurs naturally in everyday life.

By being able to take in the entirety of a curved screen, even at its largest sizes, your eyes will take advantage of that natural feeling to remain comfortable. All in all, when considering curved vs. flat monitors, bear in mind that your eyes will be able to do their job more comfortably when viewing the former.

When researching curved vs. flat monitors, it’s common for the specs of curved screens to correlate greater immersion with a superior field of view. Frankly, this is true for the same reasons that curved screens are also more comfortable than their flat counterparts.

Since a curved screen directs light from all angles towards the viewer’s eye, the idea is that you will be able to take everything in without much ocular exertion. Therefore, if your eyes are more easily covering a larger field of view, as compared to flat screens, then curved monitors will thus feel larger.

Nothing is ever 100% perfect; there’s always a catch. Although that certainly goes for claims that appear too good to be true, it, unfortunately, goes for curved screens as well

Thankfully, the drawbacks of curved screens are very minor and will probably not be sending any buyers running for the hills to purchase flat screens instead.

First and foremost, as a result of their eponymous shape, curved screens face difficulty when it comes to wall mounting. Unlike flat screens, which are typically flush with the adjacent wall, curved screens require specific mounts and positioning in order to be mounted.

Broadly speaking, curved screens necessitate a situation where they are kept from being too close to the wall. Although they don’t resolve the fact curved screens will jut out, tilt & swivel brackets and adjustable arm mounts are great options to overcome the hurdle of mounting in general.

Due to the geometry involved in its curvature, a curved screen will regrettably be prone to glare, when viewed at certain angles. As compared to a flat screen, which projects light at a single uniform angle, curved screens will do so at countless numbers.

The best way to mitigate this issue is to place the screen away from as many light sources as possible. Or, simply using your monitor with most lights turned off.

As you can see in the image above, the 21:9 ultrawide monitor offers approximately 33% more horizontal screen real estate than the standard 16:9 monitor. The resulting ultrawide curved combination fits together nicely and it would make sense to go with an ultrawide curved monitor over a standard 16:9 curved monitor. Having the extra horizontal screen real estate of an ultrawide monitor further accentuates the benefits of curved monitors that we outlined above.

Furthermore, for those who require multiple displays for work or gaming-related purposes, ultrawide monitors will allow you to ditch the other screen. In regard to gaming, some games even support the ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio, resulting in all the benefits of a curved monitor for gaming plus an extended field of view in-game!

For more on the benefits of an ultrawide monitor, check out this ultrawide vs. dual monitor comparison article. In certain situations, this shift could help increase productivity and efficiency, as well as open up extra space on your desk and power extension cord. Or discover ViewSonic’s collection of curved monitors here.

ONE can never be too thin or too rich, the saying goes. When it comes to flat-panel monitors for personal computers, being rich is almost a prerequisite to being thin.

If price were no object, flat-panel displays would probably take over the computer monitor business overnight. These slender new displays, which are essentially desktop versions of the liquid crystal displays attached to high-end portable computers, take up only a fraction of the desktop space hoarded by conventional computer monitors, which are known as cathode-ray tube displays.

The newest models of LCD monitors offer big, bright images that are adequate for all but the most demanding PC user. They consume less power, weigh just a few pounds and have noticeably less flicker, and thus produce less eye strain, than their CRT cousins. And they are more stylish.

Despite steep price reductions in the last few months, flat-panel displays still cost more than twice as much as conventional CRT computer monitors with comparable screen size and resolution.

In the last year, prices for flat-panel displays have fallen by as much as two-thirds. For example, in June 1997 the list price for a 14-inch Think Panel LCD Model 9514 from I.B.M. was $3,000. Today it is $999. Earlier this month, Apple slashed the price of its 15-inch Studio Display LCD to $1,299, from $1,999.

The plummeting prices are a result of better manufacturing efficiencies, weak financial conditions in Asia where all the LCD makers are located and increased competition among display sellers here. On top of that, computer companies are preparing to introduce a new generation of digital LCD displays this fall that hold the promise of even better performance and lower prices. There are some complications

""We don"t see CRT"s going away any time soon,"" said Paul Semenza, director of market analysis at Stanford Resources, a market research and consulting firm in San Jose, Calif. ""They"re cheap, and extremely reliable."" For example, Mr. Semenza said, some 14 million conventional monitors were sold (separately or bundled with computers) in the first half of this year, compared with 55,000 LCD"s.

Given the price difference, even the most technologically ardent consumers -- the fabled ""early adopters"" -- may find it hard to look a spouse squarely in the eye and argue that the flat-panel monitors are worth double or triple the price of an equally good or superior CRT display. Analysts say flat-panel monitors will not capture significant shares of the consumer market until the price ratio between LCD and CRT is 1.5 to 1 or lower, and that is not expected to happen any time soon.

Barry Young, vice president of DisplaySearch, a market research company in Austin, Tex., said prices for flat-panel monitors are most likely to continue falling this year before stabilizing in 1999, when demand catches up to supply.

Even so, some flat-panel customers can justify the price differences. Hospitals and medical offices favor LCD displays because, unlike CRT monitors, their signals do not interfere with nearby sensitive equipment. Banks and financial institutions array them on the previously groaning desks of traders who need multiple monitors to track different markets. Office workers crammed into small cubicles love them for their relatively petite footprint, which yields more working space, or room for more clutter, on the desk surface.

Come to think of it, these thin displays would seem to be ideal for apartment dwellers who are torn between a desire for a bigger monitor and the lack of space for it. The Internet has fueled a demand for bigger screen sizes, but CRT"s typically are as many inches deep and wide as the screen size, measured diagonally. Apple"s 15-inch Studio Display, in comparison, has the same viewable area on screen as Apple"s 17-inch CRT, and it can fit on a shelf 10 inches deep and 15 inches wide.

Complicating the decision between fat and thin monitors is the introduction this fall of a new generation of digital flat-panel monitors from I.B.M., Compaq Computer and others.

Personal computers are digital, processing information as binary signals that are either on or off. But almost all CRT monitors for sale today are analog devices, meaning they process image information as signals of varying electrical intensity. As a result, desktop computers typically come with a video graphics card that converts the computer"s digital signal into an analog wave form that the monitor can interpret.

But flat-panel displays are intrinsically digital, mapping their images on a rigidly defined grid of tiny ""on"" and ""off"" cells. This is not a problem for the LCD panels attached to laptop computers, which send digital signals directly to the digital display. For LCD monitors to work with most desktop computers, however, they must convert the incoming analog signal back to digital.

Besides adding complexity and cost to the LCD monitor, this digital-to-analog-to-digital dance is further complicated by variations in the timing of the computer"s video card. Not all cards synchronize signals the same way. If the signals are not precisely on track, unwanted video artifacts can occur. Straight lines may veer, pixels may pop out of line.

For this reason, it makes sense for shoppers, whenever possible, to test the LCD monitor on the computer that will be driving it. Variations in different video cards can cause the same monitor to behave beautifully or to be quirky, depending on what it is plugged into. Doing away with the analog-to-digital converter in the LCD monitors would eliminate some of the complexity and cost, driving prices down another $100 or so but only if the computer itself has a digital video card. For the majority of PC owners today, buying a digital card would more than erase the savings on the monitor.

Even so, the promise of better performance from all-digital systems is leading some vendors, like I.B.M., to offer customers a choice of buying digital cards along with digital monitors when new systems are introduced in October (pricing has not been disclosed).

Compaq is already offering a digital LCD panel as an option on its Presario line of home computers, and at least two other major PC makers will add digital flat-panel options this fall.

There is a major catch, though. I.B.M."s digital flat-panel displays will adhere to a new video interface standard called Plug and Display (P&D), which has been endorsed by major makers of computers, video cards and monitors. The first P&D computer and video card systems will begin appearing in the fall and will work with both analog and digital flat panels. To get digital flat-panel monitors into the marketplace sooner, however, Compaq and some other companies adopted an interim standard called Digital Flat-Panel Port (DFP). In essence a subset of Plug & Display, the DFP system uses a different and, of course, incompatible set of connectors.

Compaq executives acknowledged that DFP is a ""transition technology"" and said the company was committed to supporting the Plug & Display standard when it becomes practical.

It is possible that a simple and inexpensive hardware adapter can be developed to allow DFP systems like Compaq"s to connect to Plug & Display video systems in the near future. No such adapter yet exists, however, so for now the conflicting standards are confusing not only consumers but also the companies that make the equipment.

William Lempesis, executive director of the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), an international standards organization for video display systems, said efforts are under way to try to resolve the incompatibility between the two rival systems.

Once a computer is equipped with a digital video card and a compatible digital LCD monitor, however, the chance of a happy marriage is quite high as long as the relationship between the computer and the LCD is monogamous. Monitor swapping is problematic because, for now at least, most other computers will have analog cards.

Thus, another suggestion: If the LCD monitor is to be community property, consider one of the current analog versions. If it is to be used exclusively with only one computer, it may make sense to wait until the new digital models show up later this year especially if one is buying a new computer to go with it.

Technical discussions aside, the flat monitors may have some intangible benefits, too. James D. Pyler, marketing strategist for visual products for I.B.M. in Raleigh, N.C., recalls putting an early LCD model on his desk several years ago and being quickly surrounded by crowds of admiring co-workers. ""They"re different than the standard monitor, and as a result, they make you look like you"re more important,"" he said. One of the co-workers who came over to admire the LCD later became his wife. He prefers to think she was attracted to him, and not to the monitor.

FOR people who have more money than space, flat-panel displays sound almost too good to be true. Naturally, there is a catch or two, or six or seven, said Raymond Soneira, creator of the popular Displaymate utility program that helps both manufacturers and users get optimum performance from their monitors.

""They are quirkier,"" Mr. Soneira said of the flat-panel monitors, which have a liquid crystal display (LCD). The flat-panel screens require more adjustments to achieve the best picture, and even then they may exhibit odd and perplexing behaviors that would be unacceptable in displays of cathode-ray tubes, or CRT"s.

Imagine being in a football stadium and trying to get hundreds of fans to align themselves perfectly and to flip an assortment of colored cards precisely on cue all day long. Multiplied by thousands, that is the daunting challenge of the transistors that drive the picture elements (pixels) on an LCD monitor.

Some customers cling to the belief that paying such a high premium for a monitor should guarantee perfection. Alas, many dealers have a more relaxed definition of perfection.

LCD panels typically have one or more bad pixels, including some that are stuck annoyingly in either the ""on"" or ""off"" position. Laptop computer screens often have similar freckles.

Contrary to popular wisdom, LCD monitors do in fact flicker, Mr. Soneira said. But the flicker is much less noticeable than with CRT"s, so people who stare into a computer screen for most of the day generally report less eye fatigue with LCD"s. This, besides space saving, is one of the prime benefits of flat-panel monitors. Also, on a properly tuned LCD monitor, smaller text is more readable.

Early LCD monitors, besides being wildly expensive, were technically finicky. Viewing angles were narrow, meaning the user had to align his eyeballs almost precisely at the center of the screen to see images at their best. Straying to the side, or up and down, even by a few inches, made images change color, become distorted or lose contrast.

The newest LCD monitors, specifically the type known as TFT (Thin Film Transistor), like those used for laptops -- are much better, although every one we tested showed some degree of color shift as a result either of a change in viewing angle or of variations in lighting across the screen. In terms of retaining contrast at wider viewing angles, though, newer LCD displays are comparable to CRT"s.

Lighting is a crucial distinction between LCD and CRT monitors. The cathode-ray tube generates its own brightness across the screen as electrons excite layers of phosphors and cause them to glow.

But LCD screens are illuminated only by a background light that typically runs around the perimeter of the screen. These fluorescent backlights are known to dim and darken over time.

Because LCD desktop monitors are still new, one can only speculate on the life span of the screen. Manufacturers are coy when asked about it, and concede that no one really knows whether it will be practical to replace fading backlights.

LCD monitors have only one optimum, or native, resolution. CRT displays, in contrast, typically can switch among several standard resolutions. Problems often arise when the LCD monitor tries to display a nonnative resolution, resulting in poor image quality.

Some LCD models -- not all -- offer high native resolutions (up to 1,280 by 1,024 pixels) and colors (16.7 million shades) that rival their sumo-size counterparts. Of the half-dozen flat-panel monitors tested for this article, however, none could display large areas of black reliably. While colors are quite good, they often lack the richness, or saturation, of CRT displays.

Some LCD screens also have slower response times than most CRT"s, Mr. Soneira said, which can lead to disappearing cursors when the mouse is moved quickly, or substandard, jerky performance when full-motion video images are displayed. However, we found no problems when playing DVD movies on the screens.

The Displaymate software for Windows has a list price of $79. More information is available at www.displaymate. com, or by calling (800) 932-6323. PETER H. LEWIS

This category is a hotbed of mistakes and false assumptions, hence the eight essential sections in our Visual Displays 8 Essentials in Specifying Screens and Displays Guide.

From smaller sizes to massive stadium billboards, displays progress through an overlapping chain of technologies. At smaller sizes these are commodity items, known as a Flat Panel Display (FPD), but more correctly as ‘LED-backlit (Light Emitting Diode) LCD displays’. FPDs are an obvious choice for smaller spaces, not for spaces over 5m to 6m deep. It’s a depressingly common experience for viewers in the back half of rooms to being the second class citizens, stuck in the ‘cheap seats’ and unable to see images and content in sufficient detail. In the world of displays, the response to the ‘is it big enough?’ question is often a depressing ‘no’! LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) flat panel displays are commercially available to approx 98”, but above the 84” (1.86m x 1.05m) size range, the cost and technology advantages swing decisively to Laser Projected Display (LPD) packages. At this crossover point the Laser Display Packages are at least half the price and provide substantial technological and sustainability advantages.

From 100” (2.21m x 1.25m) Visual Displays Complete Laser Display Packages provide the optimum image quality (conforming to AVIXA’s ISCR Standard) and at less than half the price of LCD displays.

Above 100”, the cost per square metre of Visual Displays Laser Displays packages is not only a fraction that of LCD panel displays, they’re also effectively the only options available until you arrive at the eye-watering price range of Direct View LED screens.

Incorrect display choice can cause asthenopia (eye strain) in two main ways: font size too small, causing squinting; image brightness too high relative to other room surfaces, both causing stress for the eye’s accommodative and convergence mechanisms.

Image brightness must conform to the essential 3:1 Task Luminance Ratio metric. Displays are often too bright, causing eye-strain and fatigue, particularly in longer sessions, so this is a vital element to manage. See Visual Displays 8 Essentials in Specifying Screens and Displays Guide.