Flat-panel monitors: 5 things to know

Flat-panel monitors: 5 things to know: ".They still have some latency issues.
Traditionally, flat panels have had a problem with latency (which means time wasted in refreshing your screen). Movement on the screen cannot be shown until the screen is redrawn by the computer. This is done many times per second, and is called the refresh rate.
The standard for CRT monitors is 85 times per second. You'll know if a CRT monitor's refresh rate is too slow. It will flicker. Some CRT monitors can be refreshed more than 100 times per second. At these high rates, movement is smooth and the display is rock solid.
Flat panels don't redraw their screens this fast. Because of the technology, they don't flicker. You won't notice latency with office applications, such as a word processor. Nor will there be a problem surfing the Internet.
But if you like to play fast computer games in your spare time, you could see latency. Same is true for video editing. If you're into either in a big way, you'll want to check the response time on a flat-panel monitor. The lower the better. I'd shoot for a maximum of 20 milliseconds.
You may also notice black or bright spots on the flat-panel screen. That comes from bad transistors behind the screen that are stuck on or off. Manufacturers consider a few bad transistors normal. One or two bad transistors probably won't bother you. But check a new screen carefully. If bad transistors irritate you, take it back.
5.Know some basic specs before buying.
If you decide a flat panel is for you, here are some specs that I recommend you take to the store:
•Contrast: You want at least 300:1.
•Resolution: Flat panels run best at their native resolution. These are the numbers you'll see that will say '1024 by 768,' for "