Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
should avoid them in lieu of putting the display into Standby mode.
• To prevent premature failure of the monitor's power supply, use the power-management
features of the OS to put the monitor into a low-power standby mode after a reasonable period
of inactivity. Using the power-management feature is far better than using the on/off switch
when you are away from the computer for brief periods. Turn off the monitor only at the end of
your computing “day.”
How can you tell whether the monitor is really off or in standby mode? Look at the power LCD
on the front of the monitor. A monitor that's in standby mode usually has a blinking green or
solid amber LCD in place of the solid green LCD displayed when it's running in normal mode.
If the monitor will not go into standby mode when the PC isn't sending signals to it, make sure
the monitor is properly defined in the Display properties sheet in Windows. In addition, make
sure the Energy Star check box is selected for any monitor that supports power management,
unless the monitor should be left on at all times (such as when used in a retail kiosk or self-
standing display).
• Make sure the monitor has adequate ventilation along the sides, rear, and top. Because monitors
use passive cooling, a lack of adequate airflow caused by piling keyboards, folders, books, or
other office debris on top of the monitor will cause it to overheat and considerably shorten its
life. If you need to use a monitor in an area with poor airflow, use an LCD panel instead of a
CRT because LCDs run much cooler than CRTs.
• The monitor screen and case should be kept clean. Turn off the power, spray a cleaner such as
Endust for Electronics onto a soft cloth (never directly onto the monitor!), and gently wipe the
screen and the case.
• If your CRT monitor has a degaussing button or feature, use it periodically to remove stray
magnetic signals. Keep in mind that CRTs have powerful magnets around the picture tube, so
keep magnetic media away from them.
Testing Monitors
Unlike most of the other peripherals you can connect to your computer, you can't really tell whether a
monitor suits you by examining its technical specifications. Price might not be a reliable indicator
either. Testing monitors is a highly subjective process, and it is best to “kick the tires” of a few at a
dealer showroom or in the privacy of your home or office (if the dealer has a liberal return policy).
Testing should also not be simply a matter of looking at whatever happens to be displayed on the
monitor at the time. Many computer stores display movies, scenic photos, or other flashy graphics that
are all but useless for a serious evaluation and comparison. If possible, you should look at the same
images on each monitor you try and compare the manner in which they perform a specific series of
tasks.
Before running the tests listed here, set your display to the highest resolution and refresh rate allowed
by your combination of display and graphics card:
• Draw a perfect circle with a graphics program. If the displayed result is an oval, not a circle,
this monitor will not serve you well with graphics or design software.
• Using a word processor, type some words in 8- or 10-point type (1 point equals 1/72 inches). If
the words are fuzzy or the black characters are fringed with color, select another monitor.
• Display a screen with as much white space as possible and look for areas of color variance.
