After nine areas of interest, we are tied at 5 points apiece. However, I have a feeling LCD monitors are going to come on strong during the second half of the article.

Let's start the final stretch with the size and weight of a typical CRT monitor compared to LCD displays. Everyone who has ever owned an older TV or computer monitor knows just how large CRTs can be. They need to be very deep, to accommodate the electron gun, which means there will be a lot of desk space taken up. Furthermore, they are very heavy to lug around. Even the strongest among us need to use both hands, and put our legs into the lifting of them just to move them around. On the other hand, LCD monitors are normally very thin (as in only a few inches), and can easily be mounted to a wall. It's a great way to conserve some desk space for when we need to use the old standby, paper. Plus, LCD monitors only weight a few pounds, and are easy to carry with only one hand. Therefore, 2 points go to the LCD monitors here.

Figure 3. Apple's monster 30 inch display (2560x1600 resolution)

The best way to examine power usage is with an example. A normal 17" CRT monitor will pull between 90 and 120 Watts of power. In comparison, a17" LCD only uses 35 to 50 Watts of power on average. Obviously, the CRT monitor pulls two to four times more power than the LCD monitor. With larger sized displays, the gap widens even further. Your power bill (but not the power company) will thank you if you get an LCD monitor. 1 more point for LCDs.

It's not just the pollution caused by generating electricity to run a CRT compared to a LCD, but also the materials that make up CRT monitors are harmful to mother nature as well. For instance, CRT monitors contain several pounds of lead, mercury, and barium. These chemicals are highly toxic, and are a problem when disposing of CRT monitors. LCDs only have mercury in their backlights (only a few milligrams), but do not contain those other harmful chemicals, so it definitely gets the point here.

Not only are LCD monitors better for the environment, but they are also better for your eyes. Personally, I have experienced sore and tired eyes after using a CRT monitor for a few hours. On the other hand, I have never felt these symptoms when using LCDs for the same length of time. This is mainly due to the flicker of CRT monitors, which is present even at high refresh rates. If you need to be looking at a computer screen all day, you seriously need to look into getting a LCD monitor. Yet another point for LCD.

With CRTs, when ever your turn them on, they are automatically degaussed, which makes a ton of noise. Likewise, when switching resolutions, there is normally a loud clicking noise. Moreover, on more than one occasion (more like over a hundred occasions) some of my CRT monitors will start making a high pitched squeal. All three of these noises are extremely irritating, and are not present in LCD monitors. Mark up another one on the LCD side.

CRT monitors are big, dull boxes which are normally beige, but do come in other colors as well. On the other hand, LCD monitors are thin, sleek things that will impress your friends, especially if you mount it to your wall. We will give LCD monitors 0.5 points for this one, as it is purely cosmetic.

Adding up the points for each category, we see the CRT only gets 5 points while the LCD gets 11.5. To me, it's obvious that anyone in the market for a new monitor (excluding those that need perfect color representation), should seriously consider an LCD display. I have gone LCD, and I will never look back.