LCD Monitor Sizes
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When shopping for an LCD monitor, the issue of how large a monitor you'll buy always pops up. Usually it's just a question of budget -- thrifty consumers go for the smaller monitors, while those who can afford go for the giants. However, you should also consider your work space; if it's cramped, then there's no use in buying a 22-inch LCD monitor!
One thing you need to remember about the different LCD monitor sizes: they display information well at only the resolution they were designed for, which is known as the "native resolution". CRT monitors don't have this problem. If you change your LCD monitor's resolution settings, the display scales the image and the quality suffers (but not by much, though). Listed below with each monitor size is its respective native resolution.
15 Inch
The smallest LCD monitors you'd usually find nowadays would be the 15 inch LCDs. These monitors are available for only a few hundred dollars, and they have done well in flooding the market with LCDs and bringing down prices.
15 inch LCD monitors have a 1024x768 native resolution. These monitors are great for CRT switchers, but not for gamers, graphic designers, and serious computer users.
17 Inch
17 inch LCD monitors are a step up the ladder. These monitors have a native resolution of 1024x768 to 1280x960, and are more comfortable for older people. However, they're also a tad more expensive than smaller monitors.
There are also high quality 17" LCDs that are good for gamers; some models feature pixel response times as low as 12ms. This allows gamers to enjoy their games without the ghosting/blurring problem that plague lower end LCDs.
19 Inch
The larger it becomes, the more expensive it gets. But if you've got the money, 19 inch LCD monitors are worth it -- they can take the burden off the eyes greatly. These models are excellent for those who need to read and write a lot as well as concerned about eye strain.
19 inch LCDs usually sport a native resolution of 1280x1024 or 1600x1200.
20+ Inch
20 inch and larger LCD monitors are for those demanding the best and can afford to shell out the money. These massive screen real estate monitors are the top choice for avid gamers, graphic designers, CAD designers, and movie makers/fanatics.
20 inch LCD monitors usually boast of 1600x1200 native resolution, and screens above 22 inches can easily reach 1900x1220 resolution.
These extremely large LCD screens pose some problems, though. For example, the 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display requires two DVI inputs to properly function. If you're prepared to spend cash on large LCDs, be prepared to shell out more for powerful graphics cards, too.
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