Cathode ray tubes (CRT) are making way for liquid crystal display (LCD) monitors in the workplace and at home as economy of scale tips the balance between the technologies.
"CRT monitors are being phased out and replaced by LCD solutions for a very simple reason: CRTs are no longer profitable to make," says ViewSonic SA country manager Brendon Land.
"Uptake of LCDs has increased due to their obvious advantages and as demand has increased, they have become cheaper to produce, delivering economy of scale," he adds.
"Ongoing innovation in LCD technology and manufacture has also contributed to lower pricing [while] also introducing some changes, most notably in LCD screen sizes. Simply put, LCD manufacturers, intent on maximising profits and output, are getting more economical panel cuts from the substrate using the larger formats," Land says.
"They are driven by the fact that 19- and 22-inch monitor formats are, at present, the most popular purchase choices. However, which format users select depends on what they are going to use the monitor for."
All LCDs offer standard advantages over CRTs - they are slimmer, taking up less space; they are more ergonomically designed and offer a better viewing experience, contributing to comfort and health; and they use less energy and produce less heat, minimising use of aircons and lowering utility costs, says Bruce Byrne, visual communications specialist at distributor Drive Control.
"All of this makes them ideal in business and home environments where space is at a premium and costs (utility, energy, maintenance and support) must be conserved."
More to see
Byrne adds that the wider screen formats, which are proving more popular, also let business users see more (for example, more of an Excel document, or multiple applications). This eases their daily tasks by not having to switch between applications or manually scrolling through the page, so improving productivity.
In the home environment where a monitor must now do double duty, enabling business and entertainment applications (video, high-definition DVDs, gaming), the wider format LCD also fits the bill. Nonetheless, many organisations remain budget-conscious.
"As the price gap between CRTs and LCDs narrows, the greater benefits delivered by the LCDs tip the scale in their favour," avers Land. "However, ongoing technology advances and the discovery of new economies in manufacture and production have produced a plethora of formats.
"It all comes down to the applications in use and what corporates have standardised on. For example, a bank that requires 10 000 LCDs will start at the most economical point, which would be the 17-inch LCD monitor," says Land. "The application is also key. Many applications for banks, with the exception of financial software, are written for smaller monitors - 4x3 format - rather than the 16x10 widescreen formats."
Cheap choice
"Price also plays a large role in emerging markets where the current predominant seller is CRT. While these markets will migrate to LCDs, they will go with the cheapest solution, which is 15-inch. It will be based on the swiftness of the CRT monitor being made unavailable and a halt on production," Land adds.
"Once this happens, there will be a drive to adopt 15- or 17-inch LCDs. Given the price erosion of technology and the pace at which this happens, sales of 17-inch LCD monitors as the CRT replacement is not unrealistic.
"However, if customers can't justify the price gap between the 15- and 17-inch LCD, the trend will be to go for the 15-inch. If this happens, the 15-inch will be adopted in the SA PC-assemblers market and we will see standardisation on entry-level PCs," Land says.
Another looming issue is that the 20-inch LCD monitor may become obsolete. Says Land: "The choice is now between the 19- and 22-inch monitor. The difference between the two is a half an inch on either side. As the price point between the 19- and 22-inch has narrowed significantly in the last six months, the 20-inch has become almost redundant. People will stay at 19-inch or will jump to 22-inch.
Byrne and Land define the markets, and most beneficial application of the standard formats as follows:
* 15-inch: CRT replacement, entry-level PCs for price-conscious consumers
* 17-inch: ideal for home users and SMEs
* 19-inch: moving quickly into the major large corporates; almost becoming the de facto due to cost
* 22-inch: used by financial and senior management in corporate environments and by consumers for entertainment and gaming applications; this format works well in dealer rooms where users run many spreadsheets and applications at the same time
* 28-inch: ideal for graphics, software development, gamers and home users' entertainment; can be used as a TV
Related stories:
Pioneer reviews strategy
Flat screen TV popularity soars
ViewSonic appoints DCC
Share
