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by Tomas Hernandez, Jr.

Some readers may remember connecting their $1,000 Apple II+ to the family color television set because the price of Apple’s color monitors was out of sight. Today, you can buy a 17-inch monitor that’s faster and sharper than that one was, and whose display is visible under the worst lighting conditions, for less than $300. You can also choose from a wide array of display devices: CRTs, flat-panel LCDs, or pressure-sensitive tablets that let you draw on-screen. But, how do you decide which monitor is right for you?

Not just for CAD

AEC professionals who use CAD and image-and-text-based programs need high-resolution monitors that present clean, crisp lines, line weights, and types. They also need to clearly display solid and gradated colors, deep uniform blacks, and clean, white backgrounds. They require 24-bit photo-quality resolution that can be calibrated to match color printing. But the need for these tools is no longer limited to the CAD user; it extends to the designer who reviews and prepares presentations and marketing materials. The typical designer spends an average of eight hours a day viewing a display, making it the single most important piece of hardware used in the trade. A bad display device can be the kiss of death to a designer trying to produce high-quality presentations.

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Most firms buy monitors as part of preconfigured workstation packages from manufacturers such as Dell, Gateway, HP, and Compaq. These suppliers offer larger, higher-quality monitors as upgrade options, or they can be purchased from third parties. Although most monitors have multiple pages of specs that describe their capabilities, there are only a few key features to keep in mind when looking for a monitor.

Size is the first criterion. A 17-inch monitor is the minimum size one should consider for design work, but a high-quality 19-inch screen will give more bang for the buck. It has 30 percent more display area and typically costs less than $500. The most demanding design professionals may need 20- or 21-inch monitors, which cost a little under $1,000. Units this size tend to be very deep, bulky, and extremely heavy. There are even units as large as 24 inches. Sony’s 24-inch CRT monitor, the GDM-FW900, goes for under $2,000 and offers a 22½-inch viewable area.