What do we stare at for hours on end, yet rarely pay much attention to? Here's a clue to chew on: you're looking at it right now! You guessed it -- we're talking about the monitor, that piece of hardware no computer system is complete without, yet is often considered of secondary importance to the CPU or even to the printer. Just think about it: you can easily rattle off your processor's speed, the size of your hard drive, and your printer's dots-per-inch. But are you as familiar with your monitor's resolution or aperture-grill pitch? Didn't think so.

The good news is, if you're in the market for a new monitor, you can easily remedy this oversight. Just keep your eyes glued to your computer screen and let your click-happy mouse finger take you to web sites that will make getting to know and shopping for monitors as easy as building a sand box in the Sahara. Stop by at Future Shop, Radio Shack and Sony Canada for a look at what's new and available in monitors. Some additional sites selling monitors online are Microwarehouse, Hardware Street Canada and Compusmart. You're sure to gain a perspective on monitors that will not only come in handy when you're ready to make your purchase, but will also impress all your monitor-challenged friends!

Image is everything

A monitor's image quality is determined largely by its resolution. No, we're not talking about those promises you make -- and inevitably break -- at the start of every year. We're talking about pixels, the units by which a monitor's resolution is measured. The higher the number of pixels, the better the image.

Keep in mind, however, that a high-resolution monitor should also come with a high refresh rate. In computer speak, this refers to the number of times per second the screen image is redrawn. Generally, monitors with high refresh rates flicker less often. Look for a refresh rate of at least 75 hertz. For larger screens, 85 hertz is better. And while you're fussing over details, don't forget to inquire about dot pitch. Also known as aperture-grill pitch, dot pitch is the spacing between the coloured dots or lines that make up the screen image. Ideally, you'll want a dot pitch of .28 millimetres, or even less.

The CRT, new and improved

The cathode ray tube, or CRT, is the most popular type of monitor today, thanks to its affordable price and the fact that manufacturers are in the habit of "bundling" a CRT monitor with your complete computer system package. A number of new models now come with shorter necks and have more streamlined frames around the screen. This new design allows manufacturers to put in a bigger screen without taking up more desk space. "Bigger is better in monitors," says Dave Armitage, a market analyst with Evans Research in Toronto. "When you get into the short depth or short-necked monitors, they take up less room on your desktop, and you're getting a larger image."

Flat-screen monitors put a new face on an old design

One of the latest evolutions in CRT design is the flat-screen monitor. Not to be confused with flat-panel displays, flat-screen monitors are essentially CRTs with a completely flat glass panel and a slightly less humpbacked profile. "The real advantage with a true flat CRT is that it eliminates the possibility for distortion," says Dave Walsh, vice-president of sales and marketing for NEC Technologies in Canada, which launched its Flat Professional series in the fall of 1999. "And anytime you have less distortion of a normal curve, there's certainly going to be improved focus." In addition to improved image quality, flat-screen CRTs also reduce glare and -- here's the part you'll love -- they're comparably priced with their traditional CRT cousins.

LCDs

Industry analysts are hailing liquid crystal displays as the wave of the future. It's easy to see why. LCDs, also known as flat-panel monitors, are sleek and compact -- they come as thin as 2 inches deep -- and are absolutely flicker- and distortion-free. They also use about 60 percent less energy than a CRT. The downside with LCDs is that they cost about 5 to 6 times more than a CRT with comparable size and features. The upside is that prices are slowly but surely going down. "I believe we're a couple of years away from the LCD being a mainstream desktop monitor," predicts Walsh at NEC.

Going digital

A number of manufacturers have now come out with dual-output monitors, which support both analog and digital interfaces. The option to use digital graphic cards means improved resolution -- a definite plus when you're playing video games or watching DVDs.

Glossary

Pixels are tiny squares that make up the visuals on a computer screen or display. The term pixel comes from the phrase "picture element."

Pivot capability allows users to position their monitors in landscape or portrait view.

Quirks

Don't let your monitor just sit there. Have it tell the world something about you during downtime. There are thousands, possibly millions of screensavers and desktop themes out there on the 'Net, all available for free. Check out http://www.download.com/ and http://www.tucows.com/ for a start. Or even better, put your monitor to work. Instead of having a frog in a blender on your screen when you're not working, use the time to help in the search for extraterrestrial life. Visit http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/ to add your computer to the two million already hard at work worldwide.