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Flat panel monitors use LCD or plasma technology instead of CRT, resulting in a slim profile and clear digital image. They have a limited viewing angle and are locked to native resolution, but are more environmentally friendly than CRT monitors. They have become popular due to their light weight, small footprint, and improved quality.
A flat panel monitor can refer to a computer or television monitor that does not use cathode ray tube (CRT) technology, but commonly LCD or plasma technology. This allows the monitor to have a slim profile, which is how the monitor gets its name. Thanks to its light weight, small footprint, clarity and digital technology, it has become the monitor of choice.
Before the flat panel monitor, the CRT monitor was standard. These monitors are easily recognized by their protruding back or kinescope. Vacuum tube monitors are not only bulky and heavy, they are harmful to the environment and emit more radiation than LCD or plasma monitors.
While there are many benefits to a flat panel monitor, there are also a potential downside or two. A limited viewing angle can be one, although this can easily be avoided by buying carefully, as the viewing range is included in the specifications of these products. A second potential downside is being locked to “native resolution”.
A CRT monitor will display crisp text in any supported resolution, but a flat panel display only provides perfectly clear text in its native resolution. On a 19 inch screen this could be 1280 x 1024 pixels. By switching to a lower resolution, the text will appear slightly blurry or fuzzy.
Why would anyone want to downgrade to a lower resolution? At higher resolutions, images get better but also get smaller. For example, icons on a desktop, toolbars within software, and menus within the operating system are all scaled down to higher resolutions. While many of these elements can be adjusted, some people prefer a lower resolution to get a larger overall picture on the screen. This may be a particular concern for people with visual impairments. In this case, you should examine the flat panel monitor carefully before purchasing to be sure that the native resolution is comfortable.
Flat panel monitors have steadily come down in price while improving in quality. Gamers and video editors tended to avoid these monitors initially due to “ghosting” with fast moving graphics, but this is no longer an issue. A faster response time and greater viewing angle have made them more popular than ever. With its clear digital image, small footprint, and ultra-light weight, the flat panel is a welcome improvement over its CRT predecessor.
