Monitors are the most direct connection you will have with your computer, so it is important to find one that is appropriate for your needs. Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors use the same technology as tube televisions, where three electron guns light up colored phosphors on the screen to make a display. These tubes can create pixels of different sizes, so a CRT can display images with different resolutions without much loss in image quality. CRTs are an analog technology that has been refined to high-quality displays over the years, but the monitors also take up a lot of space and can often be bulky with larger screen sizes. Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) use thin layers of glass with a liquid-crystal material. A display is made by exciting this material with an electric current. LCDs boast a thinner, smaller footprint than CRTs, but usually cost more than CRTs with similar screen sizes. LCDs also are capable of displaying a digital signal for a crisper picture and more accurate colors. To take full advantage of this, you will need a graphics card that supports a DVI cable connection. Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) use thin layers of glass with a liquid-crystal material. A display is made by exciting this material with an electric current. LCDs boast a thinner, smaller footprint than CRTs, but usually cost more than CRTs with similar screen sizes. LCDs also are capable of displaying a digital signal for a crisper picture and more accurate colors. To take full advantage of this, you will need a graphics card that supports a DVI cable connection.

My wife is a fan of movie and I like to watch basketball games very much. So I can choose a LCDs monitor for my family.

If you are primarily interested in basic word processing and Internet browsing, then it's probably a straightforward decision for you based on your price point and how much desk space you have available for your display. Cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors require a great deal of calibrating screen geometry in order to display shapes and objects accurately. Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) do not have this problem and will be ready to display out of the box.