Intro:
Before you begin

Part 1:
Learn about
image quality

Step 1:
Understand image sharpness
Step 2:
Understand image brightness
Step 3:
Understand image consistency
Step 4:
Understand image contrast
Step 5:
Understand color purity
Step 6:
Understand screen resolution
Step 7:
Understand screen refresh rates
Step 8:
Understand screen flatness

Part 2:
Explore image
adjustment options

Step 1:
Center the image onscreen
Step 2:
Make necessary adjustments

Part 3:
Decide on a monitor size

2torial #0678:
Learn2 Shop For a Computer Monitor (continued)

Part 3: Decide on a monitor size

• The largest may not always be the best. Monitors are generally available in 14", 15" and 17" sizes, as well as the really big 20" and 21" ones. While most people tend to buy the largest monitor they can afford, be careful--your computer in its current configuration may not support anything larger than 15."
  
  
• Beware of space and hardware limitations. Larger monitors require a more powerful video card to run them. If your owner's manual tells you that you can use up to a 15" monitor, you'll need to buy and install a new video card to support anything larger. In general, a 17" monitor is large enough for most uses, but graphics and multimedia professionals often use larger ones.

So there you have it. There's a lot more to a monitor than meets the eye, eh? Well, bad puns aside, keep this in mind-- buy the best (not the biggest or the most gimmicky) monitor you can afford. You're gonna be looking at this thing for a long time, and the better the image quality, the less headaches and eyestrain you'll have. It's a worthwhile investment.

-end-

Learn More!

All steps at once
(printable version)