Leading Brands of Monitors

Finding a brand to meet your needs

So you’ve decided it’s time to purchase a new computer monitor. Where do you start? Not only are there several types of monitors available, there are also numerous brands. Each has its own line of products that it insists are the most high tech and innovative on the market. To make your search a little easier, we’ve put together a list of leading companies operating in the United States.

Before setting out on your search for the perfect display to compliment your computer, there are some decisions you will likely want to make first. Consider your price range - that could narrow your search considerably. Think about the type of monitor you want. Are you in the market for an LCD or CRT? Do you want a wireless monitor? Do you plan to splurge on a plasma display?

When deciding on the type of product you want, you should think of where you’ll be using it and what you’ll be using it for. If you have a home office or work in an environment where you don’t have a lot of desk space, you may want to consider an LCD (like a Samsung) because they take up less room than a CRT. If space isn’t an issue but price is, then go with a CRT - they typically don’t cost as much. If you plan to use your monitor for graphic-design work or digital editing and you need a large screen, NEC has the widest selection of high-quality CRT monitors. Hewlett-Packard, however, has designed an LCD meant to replace the CRT for graphic-arts work. If you’re looking for something really high tech and you don’t mind a hefty price tag, Dell has a widescreen model created for video and photo editing and gaming. If you can’t quite decide what you want, Samsung offers monitors for just about any need.

CRTs also tend to be better for watching DVDs or playing video games because you can change the resolution on them without ruining the image quality. However, there are a growing number of sophisticated LCD monitors on the market with higher resolutions that can handle movies and gaming. Sony and Viewsonic both make LCDs they consider optimal for fast-paced on-screen entertainment, but they come at a higher price. If you’re looking for a display on a budget, Acer has a variety of models designed for most wallets.