Monitors have become part of every day life for most people. Whether you use a computer/monitor at work, at school, or just for fun, you more than likely have plenty of experience in front a a computer screen. There are two different types of monitors that are most popular, LCD and CRT. While both have a place in the market, each one is different and uses it’s own set of technologies. This article will briefly explain the difference between the two so that you can make a wise choice when making your next purchase.
CRT - The heavy original
CRT, or cathode ray tube, is a type of monitor that was invented by a German physicist in the early 1920s. The bulky screens that were very commonly sold with computers in the 80s and 90s are an adaptation of this technology. CRT monitors use a cathode ray gun located in the back of the monitor to shoot electrons to the front to create the picture. These rays are deciphered by the video card as red, green, and blue channels.
LCD - The lightweight, sleek choice
LCD, or liquid crystal display, monitors are much newer than CRT and are now the standard for desktop and laptop computer systems. Like CRT, these monitors use electricity to create a picture on a screen. LCD monitors are known for being lightweight and smaller. These monitors are very power efficient when compared to CRT. LCD monitors create their picture on the screen by sandwiching the liquid crystals between polarized glass, then aligning them with electrical fields. Every dot on an LCD screen is called a pixel. A pixel is a comprised of three cells…red, blue, and green.
It is important to note, that LCD monitors are the most popular these days. They have come down in price tremendously and are great for offices since they save so much space. When shopping for any monitor, make sure that its native resolution is one that your computer supports.