If budget or desktop size limits the size of the LCD monitor you want to buy for your computer you may have considered buying a smaller, cheaper LCD monitor. Should you?
When it comes to purchasing technology like lcd monitors, the choice between different models or manufacturers can add up to a big price difference. Even small LCD monitors from established name brand manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony, Dell, or LG look great but often come at a great cost to the consumer. The same size small LCD from an off-brand manufacturer can sell for as much as fifty dollars less than a comparable name brand monitor, but do LCD monitors from such companies as Acer and Megavision perform as good as their blue-blood cousins?
All Small LCD Monitors are Not Created Equal:
15 inch or smaller LCD screens are not the biggest sellers in the LCD monitor category. As such the prices and competition for sales are not as dramatic as those for the more common sizes such as 17 and 19 inch LCD monitors. Small LCD monitors from off-brand manufacturers also often come with rebate opportunities. Recently a 14 inch LCD monitor from Megavision was seen on sale for less than $100 after rebate but was also the only 14 inch LCD in the category. An extra inch in screen size drives the price up to $140 while the name brand models such as Viewsonic and HP will cost as much as 20% more.
Small or Cheap LCD Monitors Usually Equals Lackluster Features:
The price difference between name brand and off brand manufacturers is most often made up in the lack of features. Cheap LCD monitors will usually be devoid of special inputs for things like HDMI or DVI. Often the only connectors on the monitor are the VGA input and the power cable. The speakers on these small flat panel monitor may be tinny sounding or may not even be included at all. Controls for adjusting the image on the screen are often limited to basic contrast, brightness, and size adjustment. Remember, the LCD monitor that you select may be used for hours at a time. If this is the case, you owe it to yourself to find one that does not produce eye fatigue. Own up to the fact that you probably won't be able to stand using it to watch movies or HDTV content. If possible, always try out any lcd computer monitor in a store before buying.
You may get what you pay for when you invest in a cheap LCD monitor:
The old saying that you get what you pay for rarely rings as as true as it does when buying new gadgets and technology for use in your home. Chances are that if you go out and buy the cheapest LCD monitor on the block you will find yourself wishing you had saved up the extra fifty or sixty bucks to buy a larger monitor from Samsung or LG. While you may be happy with the price tag on a small LCD monitor, chances are that that happiness will fade over time as your eyes grow more and more weary.
