LCD Monitors: Light, Slight, and Stylish

To LCD or Not to LCD: Two Views on Flat Panels

Writers and designers place different demands on a computer's display. So we asked Carla Thornton, a writer and contributing editor at PC World, and Alan Davenport, a Web-site and corporate publications designer, about the pros and cons of using LCDs.

Carla Thornton uses a 15-inch ViewSonic VPA150, the fifth-place 15-inch LCD monitor, mostly for writing and surfing the Net.

PC World: How does your LCD compare to your old CRT?

Thornton: I like the LCD primarily because of the thin footprint. It's so much lighter than a CRT monitor, and I don't have this giant thing on my desk anymore.

PCW: Is image quality better on the LCD?

Thornton: I didn't see a big improvement with text or graphics. I tweaked the settings, and it seems as good to me now as the CRT when I look at it head-on. It's definitely different with viewing angles, though. Whenever I stand up or look at the monitor from the side, it's a little disconcerting that the image looks hazy, kind of like a dual-scan notebook display. I miss the kind of solid image quality that CRTs seem to have.

PCW: Is your LCD worth the price?

Thornton: Yes, but if you can, wait until the prices come down to less than $1000.

Designer Alan Davenport tested a 15-inch Mitsubishi LCD51 (a model that fell short of our Top 10). He used it to proofread designs and layouts.

PCW: What did you think of the LCD's image quality?

Davenport: I've seen images jitter or wave as if the panel's surface were made of water. I've also noticed ghosting--a faint colored outline of shapes sometimes appeared on the screen. The Mitsubishi is fine for doing proofing, but it's unlikely I'd ever use this size LCD for designing.

PCW: How did it compare to your notebook LCD screen?

Davenport: This LCD is brighter than my notebook screen. I was impressed with that. And I haven't had problems with natural light interfering with the image, as I do with the notebook.

PCW: Have the limited viewing angles frustrated you?

Davenport: You do have to stand in a certain location, basically in front of the LCD, to see the image clearly. It hasn't been a big problem, but I can see how it might be.

PCW: Has eyestrain been an issue?

Davenport: Yes. I noticed the fuzzy type the first time I turned it on. You get used to it--it's like your brain is compensating for the fuzzy type. But the overall text quality isn't as good as a CRT's.