The monitor: Once purchased, you spend much of your time staring into it. So, it deserves some extra attention before you buy it. On the cutting edge,The flat-panel LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), is catching lots of attention because of its sleek profile, crisp display, and high price tag. For most small businesses however, CRT monitors are still the most cost effective and practical way to go.

THE EDITOR'S PICKS
The Skinny On Monitors
The market for thin displays is getting quite fat.

19-Inch Monitors
PC Magazine Labs tests 37 large-screen models

High-Resolution 17/19-Inch Monitor
Sony GDM-F400 Multiscan

High-Resolution 20/21-Inch Monitor
Iiyama VisionMaster Pro 502

MONITOR SPEC CHECK

When buying your next monitor, be sure it has the following minimum specifications: No less than a 15-inch monitor, a dot pitch no greater than .28, and a refresh rate of 75Hz. Depending on the nature of your business, particularly if it's graphics or desktop publishing, you may want to spend extra for a much bigger display.

For complete information on buying a monitor, check out our Buyer's Checklist.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
For small businesses, the big question is, what type (and size) of monitor will allow you to perform a variety of tasks while saving you money? You should expect to spend around $400 on a 19-inch monitor. An average 15-inch starts at $200.

Of course, if your business merits it—or if you just think they're cool—you could spend the extra cash on a new, lightweight LCD monitor. They weigh about 15 pounds as compared to the 50-pound CRT and save desk space. The dilemma is that LCD monitors cost several times more than traditional CRT monitors. An average 15-inch CRT starts at $200 while the same size LCD can be as much as $1,000.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Read more about monitors in the ZDNet Products Guide.