Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
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 sup-
ports power management, unless the monitor should be left on at all times (such as
when used in a retail kiosk or self-standing display).
•Makesurethemonitorhasadequate ventilation alongthesides,rear,andtop.Because
monitors use passive cooling, a lack of adequate airflow caused by piling keyboards,
folders,books,orotherofficedebrisontopofthemonitorwillcauseittooverheatand
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 shouldalsonotbesimply amatter oflookingatwhatever happenstobedisplayed
on the monitor at the time. Many computer stores display movies, scenic photos, or other
flashygraphicsthatareallbutuselessforaseriousevaluationandcomparison.Ifpossible,
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.
