January 22, 2009

Guide to Choose Cheap Computer Monitors

Filed under: Hardware Infos — admin @ 9:11 pm

Your monitor is the single most expensive component in your pc system. This means that a lot of money can be saved if you make the right decision and choose the right cheap computer monitor.
There’s a lot more to computer monitors than just the size of the screen. Read on to find out what to look for when choosing cheap computer monitors.

The features of a computer monitor:
A computer monitor is like a high quality TV set. The difference is that with a computer monitor you sit very close and try to make out fine details such as words.

This means that a computer monitor must have very fine definition and an image that is nice and stable on the screen so you do not get eye-strain. You will spend a great deal of time staring at a computer monitor so it is important that you get one that suits you perfectly.

When you are looking for cheap computer monitors you will be given different specifications. These numbers can be confusing so let us look at what the specifications mean when you are sitting in front of your monitor.

Resolution:
This is the number of pixels on the screen. Say your screen is set to 1024 by 768 it means that there are 1024 along the top of the screen. This means that if you had a picture that was 1000 pixels wide you could see the whole picture without zooming out and losing details.

Monitors will be described as having a maximum resolution. This will be the highest setting possible. Usually the monitor will have an optimum setting slightly below this resolution.

High resolutions are great if you want to look at graphics because more of the picture will fit on the screen at once. However if you are looking at text a letter 5 pixels high will get smaller and smaller as the resolution increases. This means that if you are only going to surf the net and do email then you will be wasting money and straining your eyes with a high resolution monitor.

All new 15 inch monitors will do 1024 by 768. If you are looking for a cheap computer monitor then get one capable of this resolution.

If things are too small then you can always lower the resolution to 800 by 600. You may also be able to raise the resolution but doing this will lower the vertical refresh rate. Read on to find out why you must spend more to get a monitor to run high resolutions.

Vertical Refresh Rate:
This is a very important specification. The speed that a monitor draws an entire screen, called the “vertical refresh rate” or “frequency,” is measured in hertz (Hz).

To prevent eye-strain you want your monitor to be running the current resolution at around 85Hz. This will make the image stable. At lower refresh rates the screen will flicker and you may not notice it at first but you will notice the splitting headache you get after about an hour of use at a low refresh rate.

The vertical refresh rate dcreases as the resolution increases. In the monitor manual look for the resolution that has 85 vHz next to it. This will be the optimum resolution for the monitor. Setting the monitor any higher will damage both your eyes and your monitor over time.

Monitor size:
This is easy to understand. Bigger monitors make the picture bigger so that you can have higher resolutions without text getting too small. This makes less work for your eyes. Buy as big as you can afford. Currently 17 inch monitors are great value. If your interested in having a look at some great prices for computer monitors then click the ad on both the right and left sidebar to find out the monitors that match your need.

Dot Pitch:
In trying to evaluate a monitor’s quality, most people will usually talk about dot pitch. In general, the lower the dot pitch (measured in millimeters), the better the monitor. The problem is that dot pitch can be measured in many different ways, and therefore doesn’t necessarily mean much.

A low dot pitch will make text crisp but as I said there is no standard measurement to compare. Usually spending more money will increase the monitor quality.

I found the best way to ensure that a monitor has a nice crisp image is to buy a good brand. I found an excellent deal on Viewsonic 17″ monitors. Viewsonic is a trustworthy brand.

Choosing cheap computer monitors should take time. There are some excellent bargains out there at the moment. Remember if you don’t have a huge demand for a high resolution monitor then get a 15 inch. It will still display sharp graphics at low resolutions and at these low resolutions things will be nice and big for your eyes.

I am David Au working part-time with my online business selling other people’s stuff … Selling * Computer Notebooks…. * Software and the *Ad Space for Google AdSense in my own websites http://www.clicksbucks.com/index.html
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Inkjet Printer Tips to Select Proper Printer

Filed under: Hardware Infos — admin @ 7:06 pm

If you are tight on budget, go for Inkjet Printer. Inkjet Printers are more economical compared to Laser Printers. You have wide choice of Inkjet Printers. There are varieties of Inkjet Printers available in the market to select from. You can select your own printer based on the kind of print
quality you require.

If you are graphic designer and have more concern with
quality of images and graphics, you must go for Inkjet
Printer. It gives excellent quality of images
and graphics. If you need better text printouts then
go for Laser Printers. It is essential to confirm your
requirements before buying your Inkjet Printer. Check out these important tips before you buy Inkjet Printer.

Things to check before buying Inkjet Printers

* Speed is the main criteria to be checked before buying
any printer. Always check the speed in normal mode as
speed rated by manufacturer is always tested on
fastest print mode.

* Buffer Memory plays important role while you share
the printer over the network. For networked printer it
is always recommended to go for higher buffer memory.

* Computers nowadays mostly have USB ports therefore
buy a printer with a USB interface to get higher speed
of data transfer.

* Never overlook total cost of ownership. Depending on
pages you print, even a small difference in ownership
cost will save your sizeable amount over the lifetime.

* Ensure to get required quality of photo printouts if
you are buying the printer for photo printouts. If
needed you have to also purchase an extra ink
cartridge, as photo printouts need more ink.

* Check compatibility of printer with software.

* You must check the manufacturer’s Web site for the
type of support offered. Check whether they offer
regular software updates, patches for new operating
systems.

* Check the dimensions of printer so that it will
comfortably fit on your desk.

* You must place the cartridges in the right
packaging. Use factory-supplied containers to store
extra cartridges. If you use both color and black ink
frequently, store the swapped-out cartridge in
zip-lock bag.

* Never use the switch on a surge protector to switch
off your printer instead of that use your printer’s
power switch.

* Paper jam is the common problem with printers. To
avoid it clean the rollers and the internal mechanism
with mild alcohol. Place the paper carefully in the
tray to avoid paper jam.

* Before placing the paper stack in the tray confirm
that you have to loosen the paper stack to separate them
from each other to avoid paper jams.

* Use a mild glass cleaner on a soft cloth to clean
exterior side of the printer.

* The quality of printouts depends upon the quality of
paper you use. The standard A4 size paper is most
ideal for inkjet printers. The poor quality paper
absorb the ink resulting in smudge images. To get the
best possible images refer your printer manufacturer
recommendations. Also while printing photos, use
manufacturer-recommended photo paper for better
results.

* Use nozzle cleaning function to restore the original
print quality. As printer become older it will deliver
faint prints and you will see lines running across the
page. A nozzle cleaning function blows ink through the
nozzle and unclogs it.

* Don’t be a penny-wise and pound-foolish. Always use
an original ink cartridge. Temptation of using cheap
refilled cartridges will prove expensive in long run.

* Avoid shaking the ink cartridge as this can create
bubbles in the cartridge that can shut down the
printer.

* Call an authorized service person if you find ink
leakage. Never open the printer on your own.

Krishna Pai is a webmaster and a writer.

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