Cathode Ray Tubes or CRTs have been around for almost as long as computers. And as with computers they have progressed with time. Today, LCDs may be the coveted monitor, but CRTs continue to sell as before.  If you are one of those who is looking for CRTs, here are some CRT basics you need to know:

1. Monitor Size and Viewable Area: CRT monitors are categorised by their screen size, which is equivalent to the diagonal length of the monitor. Another important term in this connection is display size. The display size is the size of the screen minus the external casing area. It is always less than the screen size. Viewable Area on the other hand, is the image display area on the screen. This is usually about an inch less than the Monitor Size.

2. Resolution: The CRT can offer multiple resolutions at varying refresh rates. Some examples are:  800×600 (SVGA), 1024×768 (XGA), 1280×1024 (SXGA) and 1600×1200 (UXGA).

3. Refresh rate: The refresh rate basically refers to how many times a monitor can refresh the image on the screen to avoid flicker and eye fatigue. This number is listed in Hertz (Hz) or cycles per second.  A score of 75 Hz at the resolution you want is a good option. Don’t go for anything that is below 60 Hz.

4. Dot pitch: Dot pitch ratings refer to the size of a given pixel on the screen in millimeters. If you have a high rating, you have big dots and big dots at high resolution can create fuzzy images. A rating of about .25 mm is average.

5. Cabinet size: CRTs are bulky and take up a lot of desk space. This is something you should keep in mind right from the beginning. You should be particularly careful about the depth of the monitor, more so if your desk has a back panel.

6. Screen contour: CRT displays now have a wide variety of contours. Initially the screen was convex like a TV screen. This made it easier for the scanning electron beam to provide a clear image. As technology progressed, flat screens with rounded edges arrived. Now you have models with completely flat screens. Remember, rounded screen surfaces tend to reflect more light causing glare and eye fatigue.

CRTs have their own takers. Some gamers for example swear by them. If you are planning on buying one, keep these specifications in mind. Chances are you will not go wrong.

The Samsung SyncMaster 940BF is a 19-inch LCD monitor with average looks and performance that costs $499. Its performance on DVD and gaming playback is good, but the image quality is average. The SyncMaster 940BF offers some extra image control options, but they may not be enough to justify its high price.

The SyncMaster 940BF is rather plain looking. The monitor is matte black and a narrow bezel runs all round the screen. A round base keeps it steady and there are six discreet adjustment buttons. The screen is 3.5 inches above the desktop and the height is not adjustable.

The monitor can be tilted backwards by 15 degrees and this is the only adjustment available. It can neither be pivoted nor swiveled. There is no clip to hold the cables and no plastic cover for the analog and digital inputs.

The onscreen menu of the SyncMaster 940BF is easy to navigate. The installation CD comes with a mouse-and-menu-based program called MagicTune that allows you to use the mouse to adjust display settings. It also has a color calibrator that simplifies gamma correction, so that colors can be standardized across different computers. 

The installation CD also comes with an application called Natural Color that ensures that the color seen on the screen is the same color that is printed out. The MagicBright button is a useful image control feature that scrolls though presets for viewing Web pages, text, sports and movies.

MagicZone is a square that covers a part of the screen and can be used to adjust the sharpness, color, brightness, saturation and contrast. It may make the colors too bright, though it may be useful for graphics professionals.

The DVD and gaming performance is better than average and text is easy to read, though there may be some compression at the light and dark ends of the grayscale. There may also be some red and green tints in the gray areas.

Besides this, there may be some minor screen uniformity problems, like dark areas along the bottom, top and the edges. The very low 2ms pixel-response rate produces smooth movements and little ghosting during DVD and gaming playback. Colors are rich and bright during DVD playback.

The monitor comes with a standard three-year warranty that covers the parts, labor and the backlight. Toll-free technical support is available round the clock and the Samsung website provides an e-mail technical support form, an FAQ section and driver downloads.

The Samsung SyncMaster 940BF provides sharp, vivid pictures that are good for DVDs and gaming, but better performance, with more features and adjustability are provided by other monitors, at a lower price.      

The Samsung SyncMaster 244T is a 24-inch LCD monitor meant for professional users. It costs $1,699, has a wide range of inputs, several image setting options and picture-in-picture capability.

It is a good choice if you want a wide-screen monitor with a superior color performance. It has a large base and is very stable despite its huge size and nearly 20-pound weight. It can be tilted 5 degrees forward and 20 degrees backwards. The height can be adjusted by 3 inches and it can be pivoted from landscape to portrait mode with ease.

The neck makes a loud cracking sound when some of these adjustments are being made and when it is extended to its full height, it slips down at least half an inch.

There are inputs for component video, S-Video and composite video on the back of the monitor, as well as analog and digital ports. There are two extra USB ports on the left side of the monitor. The upstream USB port is also on the side. This gives an unitdy look to the cords hanging from the side.

The control panel has seven buttons that can be used to navigate the onscreen menu. The MagicBright submenu has four brightness presets for different subjects. A dedicated button can be used to switch between presets easily. The MagicColor menu has three color presets. There are also four picture modes and seven tone presets. Custom and Film modes for HDTV are also available.

There is a dedicated button to launch the PIP window. The size and other settings of the PIP can be adjusted through the onscreen menu. The monitor offers good image quality and text is clearly readable. Serif fonts are readable, though they tend to merge at places. Sans-serif fonts are clearly visible.

The high 1,000:1 contrast ratio provides rich and dark tones in the grayscale, but whites look a little dirty. Midrange grays may have a pink tint and look pale around the edges. The colors are vivid, but tend to look better at the dark end of the range.

The DVD playback performance is not very impressive in spite of the 10ms response time, since background noise is evident and colors look distorted. The gaming performance is good, with plenty of detail, sharp images and clean backgrounds.

The monitor comes with the standard three-year warranty on parts, labor and the backlight. You can also opt for other three-year schemes. Toll-free telephone support is available around the clock. The Samsung website provides manuals, an FAQ section as well as driver downloads.

It is certainly a good buy for any professional.