How Does an HDTV Flat Panel Monitor Work?

Monochrome Green to High Definition

Computer monitors have a come a long way since the monochrome green screen of the 80s. There was a time during the early 90s when a 17" monitor seemed huge; nowadays it's almost the standard size. High-definition flat panel monitors are now creeping into the market more than ever. It seems that people are demanding the same clarity they get with HDTV for their PCs. So how does high definition work on computers?

High-definition television is technology that hit the public market in 1998. HDTV broadcasts an ultra-clear sound and visual appearance via a digital conversion of signals. The video definition boasts 1080 lines of pixels on a screen versus the standard television's 480. There's also a wider aspect ratio that gives you more picture for viewing.

Applying this technology to a computer monitor really isn't a giant leap. Computer monitors have almost always been a step ahead of television in terms of developing better viewing aspect ratios and resolution. A good, base resolution for a computer monitor is over 1000 pixels per line, at 1024x768. Even a 19-inch LCD monitor displays at least at 1280x1024 resolution. Some computer monitors are developed for wide screen viewing since people do more than just create programs on their computers; they play interactive console games and watch DVDs as well.

High-definition technology works the same way on computer monitors as it does on standard television monitors, with a few exceptions. One difference between a standard LCD monitor and an HDTV flat panel monitor is the amount of connections and plugs you can put into it. HDTV flat panel monitors have additional high-definition computer-to-monitor plugs as well as the same viewing adaptations an HDTV would have: S-video capability, TV-in, DTV-in, high-definition audio in/out, and others. The HD-to-VGA plug is important because it's what can transform your computer into a worthy entertainment center. Also, HDTV monitors do not require tuner technology since they aren't designed primarily for actual television tuning. The enhanced display of HDTV on a flat panel monitor requires widescreen viewing, since high-definition television is inherently wide screen.

The pixel response time is a metric used to measure an HDTV flat panel monitor's effectiveness. The response time calculates how long it takes for an LCD pixel to change from black to another color to black again, and it's measured in milliseconds, or ms. A standard LCD response time, according to CNET in 2005, was 16ms. This translated into good playback of a DVD movie. Nowadays, response times for HDTV flat panel monitors can be in the single digits, such as the Acer 22" widescreen flat panel monitor. It claims a 5ms response time and up to 1650 x 1050 resolution. If you purchase an HDTV flat panel monitor, make sure that your PC is able to handle the translation of technology. Check to see that your graphics card is capable of displaying on high definition monitors or else you'll get a watered-down visual output. It would be like dropping a Ferrari engine inside a '76 Beetle and only letting it go 45 miles per hour.