LCD

A liquid crystal display (LCD) is a thin, flat panel used for electronically displaying information such as text, images, and moving pictures. Its uses include monitors for computers, televisions, instrument panels, and other devices ranging from aircraft cockpit displays, to every-day consumer devices such as video players, gaming devices, clocks, watches, calculators, and telephones. Among its major features are its lightweight construction, its portability, and its ability to be produced in much larger screen sizes than are practical for the construction of cathode ray tube (CRT) display technology. Its low electrical power consumption enables it to be used in battery-powered electronic  equipment. It is an electronically-modulated optical device made up of any number of pixels filled with liquid crystals and arrayed in front of alight source (back light) or reflector to produce images in color or monochrome. The earliest discovery leading to the development of LCD technology, the discovery of liquid crystals, dates from 1888. By 2008, worldwide sales of televisions with LCD screens had surpassed the sale of CRT units.

Characteristics that help you when buying an LCD monitor

• Compatibility
  Make sure the monitor you’re considering has the right connectors for your computer and that your operating system will work with it.
• Quality of the LCD monitor

Advantages in using LCD monitors

• Takes up less space, consumes less power, so it is good for Environment (eco friendly), and produces less heat than traditional cathode-ray tube monitors.

• Lack of flicker and low glare reduce eyestrain.

Disadvantage of LCD monitors

• LCD monitors are very expensive to buy than a CRT

CRT Monitors

CRT stands for cathode ray tube, describing the technology inside an analogue computer monitor or television set. A CRT monitor or TV is readily recognizable by its bulky form. The CRT monitor creates a picture out of many rows or lines of tiny coloured dots. These are technically not the same thing as pixels, but the terms are often used interchangeably. The more lines of  dots per inch, the higher and clearer the resolution. Therefore 1024 x 768 resolution will be sharper than 800 x 600 resolution because the former uses more lines creating a denser, more detailed picture. Higher resolutions are important for displaying the subtle detail of graphics. For text, resolution isn’t as critical.

Advantages in using CRT  monitors

• Significantly lower cost compared to CRTs, because the technology has matured.
• Displays full motion video better
• Modern versions may include a sleep-mode for energy efficiency.
• Strong glass screen can withstand routine handling, and is not easily damaged by casual touch.
• Screen images viewed from side angle are as good as when viewed straight-on (no dilution of clarity or colour.)

Disadvantages  in using CRT  monitors

• Larger size takes up more desk space; the bigger the screen, the bigger     the footprint.

• Heavy weight, 40 lbs and more.

• Heavier size limits easy and convenient movement.
• Expends more energy and throws off heat

The information I found was summarized from the following sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_crystal_display

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-lcd-monitor.htm

http://www.pcworld.com/article/15112/how_it_works_lcd_monitors.html

http://www.lcdtvbuyingguide.com/lcdtelevision/3lcdadvantages.shtml

http://compreviews.about.com/od/multimedia/a/CRTvsLCD.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode_ray_tube

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-crt-monitor.htm

http://www.ergoindemand.com/lcd_and_crt_monitor_comparison.htm

http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/C/CRT.html

http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/2005/all_about_monitors.asp