CRT vs LCD vs Plasma

Before we go and compare all three, allow me to share common Myths or Misconceptions :

CRT is obsolete, no one use them now.
LCD is but better than Plasma.
Plasma has best picture quality.

The purpose of this post is not to persuade you to buy one of these, but to make you aware of all the Pros and Cons of these three technologies. Here we go…

CRT Monitor:
- CTR stands for Cathode Ray Tube.
- Technical Architecture:
  - Pros
    1. Professionals in Multimedia, Print and Movies use CRT monitors to verify and validate colors.
    2. CRT displays true to life colors are textures.
    3. It is very economical and last much longer than LCD and Plasma.
    4. New generation CRT monitors will be much flatter and will need less voltage.
    5. No bad or dead pixels.
    6. Easily duplicates any preferred aspect ratio.
    7. Produce a very dark black.
    8. Fast response times and no motion artifacts. Works best for rapidly moving or changing images.
    9. Produce the highest contrast levels commonly available.
    10. Rarely results in saturation and compression. CRTs are on the bright-end of the intensity scale.
  - Cons
    1. They usually are bulky are require more space.
    2. Use more power and produce more heat than a compared to LCD and Plasma.
    3. Vulnerable to geometric distortion.
    4. Very sensitive to electromechanical objects like a speaker.
    5. May harm you eye if not configured properly, as it may radiate small amount of X-Rays aka Gamma Rays (usually in inferior older models)
    6. Converts to a toxic waste as it contain lead.
LCD Monitor:
- LCD Stands for Liquid Crystal Display.
- Technical Architecture:
  - Pros
    1. Perfect sharpness at native resolution.
    2. Excellent longevity.
    3. No practical screen burn-in effect.
    4. Silent with no moving parts or fans.
    5. Relatively lightweight with flexible mounting options.
    6. Very thin.
    7. Available in smaller sizes. (26 inches onwards)
  - Cons
    1. Fixed resolution.
    2. Not proficient at producing black and very dark grays. Not appropriate for use in dimly lit and dark conditions.
    3. Expensive cost-to-size ratio compared to other technologies.
    4. Notorious “screen door” effect on smaller models like in mobiles.
    5. Sooner or later will have dead or bad pixels.
    6. Slow response times and scan rate conversion result in severe motion artifacts and image degradation for moving or rapidly changing images.
    7. The aspect ratio and resolution are fixed.
    8. Considerably more expensive purchase price than comparable CRTs
    9. Restricted viewing angles. Viewing angles affect the brightness, contrast and colors shown. Wide angles can lead to contrast and color reversal. .
Plasma Monitor:
- Plasma monitors are created by sandwiching noble gases between two sheets of glass.
- Technical Architecture:
  - Pros
    1. Excellent contrast ratios and black levels.
    2. Excellent color reproduction.
    3. Excellent viewing angle with no real loss of color or contrast.
  - Cons
    1. Fixed resolution.
    2. Although thin, plasma TVs are fairly heavy.
    3. Susceptible to screen burn-in.
    4. Lower real peak brightness.
    5. Uses a lot of power compared to LCD.
    6. Minimum screen size of a plasma screen is around 42 inches.

So whats the conclusion ? Well in my opinion all three of them are winners. They all serve a specific purpose and may not be replaced by the other in their area of expertise. The only thing you need to do is pin point the specific reason you want to buy a monitor for and then with they help of the above data, choose which one is best suited for you.

Good luck !

If you liked my post, feel free to subscribe to my rss feeds

Post meta

This entry was written by Rochak Chauhan and posted on 12 September 2007 at 2:32 PM and filed under Discussion, Entertainment, Technology. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment(Latest is displayed first) or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

Share with others

3 Comments so far (Add 1 more)

Bear in mind that CRT computer monitors work better at multiple resolutions (as opposed to LCD monitors, which are designed for one optimum resolution). CRT monitors are also better at displaying full-motion video. Gamers and video editors are two groups that haven’t completely abandoned the CRT. While a small handful of LCD monitors are judged better than others at displaying smooth movies and games, they don’t yet trump CRT displays as gaming monitors for those who like to play fast-action and first-person-shooter games.

CRT computer monitors give you more pixels for the money compared to an LCD. More pixels allow you to see more detail on the screen, and you’ll be able to view more of a document or web page without scrolling. A 19-inch CRT monitor with 1600 x 1200 resolution can easily display two full-sized documents side-by-side, but to get that same resolution in an LCD, you’ll have to spend upwards of $350 on a 20-inch or larger model.

Another area of concern, especially for graphic artists, is color fidelity. Again, improvements have been made to contrast ratio and the number of displayable colors in LCD displays, but many photographers and graphics pros still feel that they get truer color, for the most part, on a CRT. Still, this is a segment that has begun to move to LCD in growing numbers.

Finally, there’s the viewing angle issue. If you’ve ever looked over someone’s shoulder onto a laptop or LCD, you’ll understand this problem immediately. The best view on an LCD monitor is always straight on. The primary user will get the best screen image. People who might be sitting to the left or right won’t get the best color or clarity, and if they are sitting too far to one side, the image disappears from view entirely. Again, in this area, LCDs are improving, but CRT monitors still have the upper hand. CRT images look virtually identical from wherever you are viewing the scree

1. puneetbrar on October 15th, 2007 at 9:51 AM
LCD monitors may grab all the attention, but many discriminating eyes still gaze fondly at monster CRTs. They remain the standard for the graphics and video industries (though LCDs are gaining), and their speedy image-response times guarantee smooth motion on video and games. CRTs also continue to be a great bargain.

2. puneetbrar on October 15th, 2007 at 9:42 AM
CRT IS THE BEST

Which Monitor is the Best to Buy?

Introduction

This question is actually much less valid than it was several years ago. Many companies have cut the production of CRT monitors except for the extremely high end and the very low end. In fact, most desktop computer systems sold now by default come with LCD monitors. Still for those that what to know the difference and which they would be better off purchasing, I have updated this article to be more relevant to the current technologies and products offered today.

CRTs

The primary advantage that CRT monitors held over LCDs was their color rendering. The contrast ratios and depths of colors displayed were much greater with CRT monitors than LCDs. While this still holds true in most cases, many strides have been made in LCDs such that this difference is not as great as it once was.
Sponsored Links

PC & LCD All in One17 or 19 inch with touch option OEM/ODM design availablewww.cybernet.com.tw

LCD Monitors Buying GuideComputer Shopper Helps You Choose. Reviews, Ratings and Prices.www.ComputerShopper.com

AMD Opteron ProcessorTo Offer Quad Featuers,Computer Industry Has Been Waiting For!www.amd.com/quadcore
Many graphic designers still use the very expensive large CRT monitors in their work because of the color advantages. Of course, this color ability does degrade over time as the phosphors in the tube break down.

The other advantage that CRT monitors held over LCD screens is the ability to easily scale to various resolutions. This is referred to as multisync by the industry. By adjusting the electron beam in the tube, the screen can easily be adjusted downward to lower resolutions while keeping the picture clarity intact.

While these two items may play an important role for CRT monitors, there are disadvantages as well. The biggest of these are the size and weight of the tubes. An equivalent sized LCD monitor is upwards of 80% smaller in size and weight compared to a CRT tube. The larger the screen, the bigger the size difference. The other major drawback deals with the power consumption. The energy needed for the electron beam means that the monitors consumer and generate a lot more heat than the LCD monitors.

Pros:

* Multisync Capable
* High Refresh Rates
* Color Clarity and Depth

Cons:

* Very Heavy and Large
* Use Large Amounts of Energy
* Generate Excess Heat

LCDs

The biggest advantage to LCD monitors is their size and weight. As was mentioned earlier, the size and weight of an LCD monitor can be upwards of 80% lighter than an equivalent dimension CRT screen. This makes it possible to users to have larger screens for their computers than was possible before.

LCD screens also tend to produce less eye fatigue to the user. The constant light barrage and scan lines of a CRT tube tend to cause strain on heavy computer users. The lower intensity of the LCD monitors coupled with their constant screen display of pixels being on or off produces less fatigue for the user.

The most notable disadvantage to LCD screens is their fixed or native resolution. An LCD screen can only display the number of pixels in its matrix and no more or less. It can display a lower resolution in one of two ways. Using only a fraction of the total pixels on the display or through extrapolation. Extrapolation is a method whereby the monitor blends multiple pixels together to simulate a single smaller pixel. This can often lead to a blurry or fuzzy image particularly with text when running the screen below is native resolution.

Video was problematic with early LCD monitors because of lower response times. This has been overcome by many improvements, but there are some that still have low response times. Purchasers should be aware of this when purchasing a monitor. However, the improvements are often work arounds that can actually lead to another problem of reduced color clarity. Unfortunately, the industry is very poor about properly listing the specifications for monitors to help buyers understand and compare monitors.

Pros:

* Smaller and Lighter
* Energy Efficient
* Causes Less Eye Fatigue

Cons:

* Blurry Images Outside Native Resolution
* Motion Blur on Fast Moving Images
* Come Models Have Reduced Color Clarity

Conclusions

At this point and time, most consumers will likely be purchasing LCD monitors over CRTs. There is almost no difference in the cost to consumers thanks to production improvements in LCDs and the reduction in the production of CRTs. Typically CRTs will only be seen sold with the least expensive of desktop computer systems or by those with special imaging needs such as graphics and medical professionals.

3. puneetbrar on September 14th, 2007 at 3:28 PM