Displays for your business

LCDs now affordable

Not long ago, the sky-high prices of LCDs kept them mainly in the boss's office, as well as in high-profile places, such as reception areas and conference rooms. But prices have dropped so quickly that flat panels are now a viable option even for small businesses.

Although there are many companies selling LCDs -- Dell, Samsung, HP and NEC-Mitsubishi are the biggest -- the actual panels themselves all come from a handful of manufacturers, including LG.Philips and Samsung. That means you can shop for a vendor based partly on the best price for the size you need, with 17in. and 18in. LCDs representing the sweet spot in the market.

Look for an LCD that has both analogue and digital (DVI) inputs, a wide viewing angle, and a high contrast ratio. Some pricier models include multimedia extras such as wide-aspect screens, picture-in-picture, built-in speakers plus composite and S-Video inputs. However, most small businesses will have little need for these.

CRTs still an option

Although LCDs are fantastic, CRTs still make up the bulk of the business market for several reasons. Despite price cuts, LCDs are remain far more expensive than CRTs, especially at larger sizes. A 21in. flat panel will cost you some £1,500 (perhaps twice the cost of your PC); by comparison you can find 21in. CRTs for under £500. And CRTs are still a better choice for graphic design or digital-video editing because they represent colours more accurately and are better at keeping up with fast-moving footage.

As long as you can squeeze it into your budget, though, a flat panel is a worthwhile investment for most small businesses.

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		Product	Date	Editors' Rating	Readers' Rating
		Samsung SyncMaster 173P	[16 Apr 2004]	8.3	9.5
		ViewSonic VP201b	[27 Apr 2004]	7.7	8.5
		Sharp LL-T17A3-H	[27 May 2003]	7.4
		Eizo ColorEdge CG18	[03 Mar 2004]	8.5	9.5
		Product	Date	Editors' Rating	Readers' Rating