ECOUSTICS [05/03/13]
By PC MAGAZINE
Let’s face it, most people who buy a PC don’t necessarily give much thought to the the monitor it comes with; or they stick with the monitor they already have. You know, when 1,024 by 786 was considered high-res. We’re here to tell you that it’s time to upgrade your view. After all, a large part of your day is spent staring at your display. But what you should get depends on what you need. Are you on a tight budget? Do you need to see several windows open side by side on your screen? Planning on using the monitor for work and play? We at PCMag dissect the mass of monitors on the market today to give you the best monitors you can buy.
Regardless of the kind of monitor you are looking for, a few general factors come into play. First is price. Budget monitors (those less than $200 or 27-inch displays that retail for about $300) lack such features as USB ports and an adjustable stand, but performance is fine for most entertainment and business purposes. But if color and grayscale accuracy are important to you, then you’ll need to spend more. At the other end are your high-end models, which target graphics and photography pros. At around $2,000 and up, these are usually large (30-inch) screens with In-Plane Switching technology, and stands that can adjust height, tilt, and swivel. Gamers need more specialized monitors, definitely ones with great pixel response rate (think two-milliseconds, gray-to-gray), while the average user will be fine with 5 milliseconds.
In terms of size, monitors run the gamut from 15 to 30 inches (measured diagonally). The rule of thumb is, the bigger the monitor, the more you pay. Typically, people look for monitors in the 22- to 24-inch range.
As of late, the kind of operating system you use has become a factor to consider. Those who purchase a system with Windows 8 will want to consider the new touch-screen monitors that have come to market. A touch-screen monitor will let you take advantage of Win8′s new user interface (formerly known as Metro). Arguably, you can always use keyboard shortcuts to navigate your way through Win 8, but a touch-screen display will make getting used to the new OS a bit easier.
Whatever your need or budget, there is a computer monitor out there that’s just the right fit for you. But we winnow down the selection with the best monitors on the market today. Check out our picks below.
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Asus VS229H-P  $160 list |
The Asus VS229H-P monitor brings IPS goodness to your desktop at a price that will fit any budget.
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| BenQ XL2420TX $549 list |
The BenQ XL2420TX is a well equipped 24-inch monitor designed for 3D gaming. It’s an excellent performer and comes with everything you need for multi-dimensional gaming, but it doesn’t come cheap.
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| Dell UltraSharp U2713HM $799 list |
The Dell UltraSharp U2713HM is a 27-inch IPS monitor that’s packed with features. It also has outstanding color quality and very good light grayscale performance.
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| Dell UltraSharp U2913WM $699 direct |
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| HP Pavilion 27xi $339 list |
By Laarni Almendrala Ragaza, PCMag
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