Actual Size of Monitors ?

[Cruiser Too]

Greetings:

I'm in the market for a new PC.

Question:
If a monitor is labeled as: "22-inches, diagonal"
are they referring to the overall diagonal physical length
or just the actual "screen" part ?

I bought a "computer desk" ages ago, when 15" CRT monitors were common.
I had to "modify" (via sawing a section out) the portion where the monitor sits, to accommodate my newer monitors.

I'll need to ensure that whatever monitor I buy (largest that'll fit in the small space) actually "fits".

Thanks... Y'all !!!

 

[ausman]

Measurement is screen size only.

Measured diagonally.

22' now is small to me. I'm using a 26" monitor/tv that I use as a monitor and switch to TV to catch a football game series or two.

Shopping for a PC, good luck with that.

 

[Ken555]

During your research you'll find that the website should show the physical size of the display. There are many different models out all of which can be described as 22", but they are not the same physical size (different height, etc). FYI, the same is true for TVs. Good luck!

 

[Cruiser Too]

Thanks Ken555 and Basham !!!

 

[JeffW]

Just for some clarification, the listed measurement is definitely for the screen size. It doesn't include the size of the bezel, both top and on the sides.

Also, lot's of displays now (both HD tv and computer) list themselves as 'xx"-class', ie '22"-class'. That's an indication that the screen size is slightly small, typically about 1/2 an inch (so, a 21"-classs display might have an actual screen dimension of 20.5"). I don't know what the rules are, ie. how much larger than 20.0 inches does it need to be to become a 21"-class monitor.

In regards to your previous post of having to modify your desk to handle a CRT monitor, it wasn't uncommon back then to use a larger CRT tube, with a larger bezel, to get a given display size. That is, that '15" display' might have been a 17" CRT, with a 1" bezel all around. The logic was it's difficult to maintain picture quality at the far ends of the CRT. So, to obtain a consistent image, it could be easier to use the center 15" of a 17" CRT, then to try to that across 100% of a 15" CRT.

You often saw that in advertisement statements like, '17" monitor, 16.1" effective display area." This again was the manufacturer specifically limiting how much of the tube size they used.

Except for the '-class' notatation, LCD displays are much less confusing.

Jeff

 

[Mel]

The other thing to consider is the placement of the monitor, particularly if it is a flat screen. If the hardware of the stand fits in the enclosed space, it might be OK for the screen to be slightly bigger, as long as it can "float" in front of the pening.

 

[Cruiser Too]

The other thing to consider is the placement of the monitor, particularly if it is a flat screen. If the hardware of the stand fits in the enclosed space, it might be OK for the screen to be slightly bigger, as long as it can "float" in front of the pening.

Definitely something to look into !!!

Thanks !

 

[artringwald]

Has anyone bought a TV to use as a PC monitor? The cost of a high res TV has come down so much, I may do that next time I need a monitor.

 

[JeffW]

Has anyone bought a TV to use as a PC monitor? ...

If you'd do this, check the ports on the tv. It used to be that almost all HD tv's had VGA ports (typical computer video out port). However, for the new flat screens at our Aruba resort in October, no VGA, just HDMI. You'd computer would need to have either DVI or HDMI to use a tv like this.

The other thing to consider is size. If you want to get a known brand tv, you may not find anything in a small size. I was at my parents last week, they have a 9" Sony CRT tv in their kitchen (probably 20 years old). He was inquiring about replacing it with a flat screen. I went on the Sony site - smallest size HD tv they sell is 24". If he wanted a smaller screen (15"-17'), he'd need to go with a non-name brand.

There's also the fact that computer monitors likely to have a better stand (tilt/swivel), possible USB ports in the base.

Bottom line, once you decide what size you'd want to get, then you can see how monitors compare with tv's.

Jeff