Plan on spending from 30 to 90 minutes looking for a monitor in a store--that's on the first visit. Plan on at least two visits: one to discover what features and qualities really matter, and one to make a purchase decision and drive a bargain. Shopping through a catalog should take around 45 minutes by the time you're ready to place an order.

2torial #0678: Learn2 Shop For a Computer Monitor You've only got one set of eyes... O.K. folks, let's be open about this: your computer monitor can be the most personally-detrimental part of your whole computer system. No other component has such potential to damage you (unless you've got the nervous habit of chewing on power cables). That bright, happy, box can give you headaches, cause severe eyestrain, and bombard you with various forms of radiation. That's why you need to consider your next monitor about as carefully as you'd consider your next sweetheart. Your monitor is like your sweetheart: it can be a bit temperamental, it's with you much of the day, and it may have a greater effect on your life than you'd expect.   There are two basic types of monitors widely available on the market today; the Trinitron (or aperture grille), and the shadow mask (see Keywords). The best shadow masks are called InVar masks and use a special alloy which resists distortion much better than traditional shadow masks. Terrific monitors can be produced using either technology, but inferior monitors can be produced as well, so you should shop with care. When you buy a monitor, you have three major concerns: The sharpness (focus) of the image, The brightness of image The consistency of the image as it spreads from the center of the screen to the edge. A good monitor will have more contrast, and purer colors than an inferior one, and will maintain those qualities for a longer time. The screen should be fairly flat as well, to minimize image distortion. It'll also meet or exceed the standards for radiation emission and energy usage developed in countries such as Sweden and the United States. Many monitors allow you to adjust the onscreen image to suit the current computer user. These adjustments can be accomplished through the use of digital controls, which most often involve pushbuttons and onscreen menus; or alternatively, more traditional dials and switches. These adjustment controls are highly desirable features: it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with their function and understand their ability to improve the onscreen image. Step 1