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PUBLISHER’S LETTER www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Production Manager Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Peter Smith Ross Tester Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc, VK2ZLO Rick Walters Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Advertising Enquiries Leo Simpson Phone (02) 9979 5644 Fax (02) 9979 6503 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Rodney Champness, VK3UG Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Bob Young SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 003 205 490. ABN 49 003 205 490 All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Hannanprint, Noble Park, Victoria. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $69.50 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 8, 101 Darley St, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax (02) 9979 6503. E-mail: silchip<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 CRT video monitors have had their day A few months ago I wrote that the VCR was coming to the end of its life cycle, not only because VCRs are very cheap but DVD players are also coming down in price. And while DVD burners, the ultimate replacement for VCRs, are still not cheap, they are starting to come down too. Now it is becoming clear that CRT video monitors for PCs are on the way out too, being rapidly replaced by LCD monitors. In this case, the price parameters are a little different. CRT (cathode ray tube) monitors have not drastically reduced in price but LCD monitors have done so, and so large numbers of companies and public institutions are re-equipping with LCD and to a lesser extent, plasma monitors. If you need any evidence, drop into your local supermarket, insurance company office, court house, library or virtually any large public company or government institution – they are buying LCD and plasma monitors by the thousands. Apart from the price factor, you can readily understand why CRT monitors are falling out of favour. LCD monitors take up far less desk space, use less power, are much lighter to move around, have no flicker and do not present any latent hazards such as exposure to X-rays or intense magnetic fields (from the CRT sweep circuitry). In the longer term, LCD monitors are bound to be more reliable and much less of a fire hazard because they do not contain high-voltage drive circuitry. It is true that the ultimate screen resolution of LCD moni­tors is not quite as good as the best of the larger CRT monitors but in practice that does not seem to matter for most applica­tions. And there is a further benefit in that the viewable area of LCD monitors is greater than CRT monitors with the same nomi­nal diagonal measurement. Actually, we suspect that the real reason why so many organisations are changing over to LCD monitors has little to do with the factors listed above; it is just because they look “cool”. Mind you, I think that in our own office at SILICON CHIP we won’t buy another CRT monitor either, but of course we are not likely to be motivated by the fashion aspects (serious nodding all round, I see). Seriously, for those organisations who persist in running their computers 24 hours a day, often without power saving moni­tors, the changeover to LCD monitors will lead to major energy savings and for that reason they will represent a worthwhile investment. For domestic users, the situation is not so clear cut. Typical PC video monitors seldom wear out when they are not left on for long periods every day. Nor is energy use a major factor. Unless you are well-heeled and can cope with the price of a new LCD monitor, you will probably have to make do with your present computer monitor for some time to come. But if you use a computer with a CRT monitor at work, you can console yourself with the thought that the monitor’s days are numbered and that sooner or later you will have a snazzy new LCD monitor. Leo Simpson * Recommended and maximum price only. 2  Silicon Chip www.siliconchip.com.au