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Computer Monitor for small business

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Are you staring at a laptop screen trying to work on a large spreadsheet? An attached monitor may be just the tool you need to increase your productivity. But which one? A good basic monitor sells for around $400, but some the same size might be $1000 more. Why? This guide will explain what you need to know about a computer monitor and help you understand the key features you should consider when making your buying decision.

A computer monitor, screen or display is a piece of hardware that displays the video and graphics information generated by a connected computer. Monitors are like TVs but usually display information at a much higher resolution, showing more detail and making them easier to read.

WHY should I buy a better computer display?

If you have a desktop, then you need one. If you buy a laptop, it is a handy addition (for more information on choosing a desktop or laptop, see our PC guide).

Most laptops and desktop computers can run more than one display, and the display can be spanned across several external monitors. Additionally, a laptop display can be mirrored or “cloned” to appear on an external monitor.

Having one or several monitors expands the workspace for a variety of tasks. An external monitor can deliver improved image quality and much more screen real estate if you have a small laptop.

Getting a new monitor is a bit like getting a new TV. It will look better than the old one with a sharper picture and better colours. Generally speaking, the more you pay for a monitor, the better-quality image you will get.

WHAT do I need to know about computer screens?

The size of a monitor is measured in inches from one corner of the screen to the other, not including the outer casing.

The monitor will require its own power supply and will need a connection cable to connect to a computer.

The connection options include:
  • HDMI – preferred method, same modern standard as a TV. Both a modern PC and monitor should have one. It will carry video and audio and support up to 4K video.
  • DVI – older standard for HD video
  • VGA – old standard using those blue plugs with pins
  • Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type C) – high-speed cable with a very small connector that will carry data, ethernet, power, video, and audio. Sometimes the only video connection port on a smaller laptop. 
  • USB – USB 3.0 is the modern standard, and although it can carry video, it generally does not.
  • Wireless – normally referred to as screen sharing or Miracast.  It uses a direct Wi-Fi connection to stream your PC image normally to a TV.

A monitor may not run to its best ability if you do not load the drivers on your PC for that monitor. Look for some instructions in the box.

You can adjust the settings of the monitor display, although most don’t. If you work with graphics, photos or video, you should explore these adjustments.

Some monitor brands provide software that will turn one monitor into many. When using a very big screen, you can trick the PC into thinking it is looking at different screens even though they are on one screen. Useful when you need to keep certain apps open all the time, and you don’t want to be resizing windows.

HOW do I choose a computer monitor?

Computer monitors can be bought online, at Officeworks and the likes of JB-HiFi and Harvey Norman. Not knowing your particular needs, it is hard to recommend a monitor beyond suggesting a 27-inch monitor with Full HD resolution.

When choosing, you should consider:
  • Size – measured in inches. The screen becomes a much longer rectangle the larger the size. It allows you to do more on one screen. As an alternative, some people may buy two screens to get the same effect.
  • Resolution – The more pixels, the better the picture. 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels is Full HD (1K) or FHD, double that is QHD (2K) and four times is 4K
  • Response times – (preferred by gamers) is the time it takes to change a pixel colour. Shorter is better, and it reduces the blur effect when watching fast action like sport on the screen.
  • Colour reproduction – Panel and processor quality will affect colour reproduction. Better is more expensive but simply look at quality instore before buying. It is important for those working with images that consider a monitor certified as colour accurate.
  • Base Mount – is the base adjustable, and how will that work with the way you will look at it.
  • Thunderbolt 3 laptop power – Some monitors support powering your laptop from the monitor. This same cable will carry the video and USB traffic (keyboard, mouse, USB drive etc.) Thus, only one cable is required for everything simplifying laptop power and connection to all your other devices.
  • Touchscreen – If the monitor supports this feature, you can control actions with your fingers on the screen.
  • Inbuilt speakers – allows sound to be projected from inbuilt speakers in the monitor.
  • Microphone and Camera – If installed it helps with video calling.

HINTS

Visit the Gadgetguy website to see reviews and recommendations on various monitors.

If you need to connect an older cable to a newer port (such as HDMI to VGA), there are adapters for this purpose.

Watch out for specials. As this is such a competitive market they are always around and will save you some money.

SUMMARY – best computer monitor for your small business

Having a good computer monitor will help you be more productive and enable you to see more clearly. When buying, you should have some sort of budget in mind then see the size you can get for the quality and resolution of the picture you need for your job. Ensure you have the right cables and that the display stand will work with your needs.

Which computer should I buy?

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You need a new computer, some are $300 others are $3000. Where do you start?  What do you need?  In this guide, as we don’t understand your circumstances we cannot recommend the right computer but we will help you make that decision yourself.

PC is an abbreviation for personal computer. Personal computers allow us to write papers, create spreadsheets, track our finances, play games, and do many other things. If a PC is connected to the Internet, it can be used to browse the Web, check e-mail, communicate with friends via instant messaging programs, and download files. PCs have become such an integral part of our lives that it can be difficult to imagine life without them!

WHY do I need a new or different Computer?

The fact you are reading this guide means you are already considering a new PC. 

The most common reasons for a new PC are:

New staff member
Old PC is too slow
Old PC has failed
Existing PC will not run the program you need
PC has been written off from a financial perspective or deemed too old to continue being reliable.

The question that needs answering here is what is the difference between a PC for home versus a PC for work? Not a great deal depending on what you do for work.  These days a lot of home PCs have features built in to support gaming which is not much use at work unless you are doing graphic or video work.

A PC will not last forever and any moving part like a disk drive or fan is the most likely component to fail.

WHAT do I need to understand about a PC?

Walk into a retailer or go online and you will be presented with lots of choice and price points.  There are some key decisions you need to make upfront before we look at how to evaluate a PC.

  1. Desktop or Laptop – Laptops may also be called notebooks, which are generally slightly smaller. A Laptop is portable whilst a desktop is not.  A desktop can be more powerful, have more connection port options and upgradeable but few people except for gamers ever upgrade their desktop by replacing components. Historically desktops are cheaper for similar specifications but not always.  If the user will work away from the office they should have a laptop.
    1. Desktop – come as either a tower unit which is large upright box, compact or small form factor which places everything in a sandwich sided box, or an all-in-one which combines the components into the back of a monitor.
    1. Laptops –  are a self-sufficient solution with battery including screen, keyboard and touchpad (mouse).  Features, screen size and weight distinguish models.
  2. Operation system – Today there are four main types:
    1. Microsoft Windows – most common and will run almost every software.
    1. Apple Mac OS – traditionally favoured by creatives or anyone who has gone down the Apple ecosystem.
    1. Google Chrome – a cheaper solution that combined with a lower specified hardware set without a hard drive will perform most functions via a browser and the internet.  Popular in education today.
    1. Linux– an opensource operating system which is very cheap and generally only used in specialised applications.
  3. Tablet as PC replacement – Some modern tablets are so powerful they could be used as a laptop replacement.  When combined with a keyboard they are essentially the same with a different operating system.

As more and more applications and solutions go to the cloud, the operating system is becoming more irrelevant and all you need is to run a browser connected to the internet.  However, you do need to ensure that any specialist software or application your business will use can run on the device you buy.

HOW do choose which Personal Computer?

Now you have picked your form factor and operating system this starts to narrow down your selection.  Next, you can compare at various retailers instore or online, alternatively visit a specific manufacturers website who sell direct like HP or Dell.

Very simply the higher the specification on each of the below technologies the more expensive the PC will be. If your needs are basic the most basic solutions will do the job but we will make some recommendations below based on value for money and suitability for 3 to 4 years usage.

Key technologies include:

Screen or Monitor:  built into a laptop and often bundled with a desktop.  Similar technology as a TV.  Two factors to consider are screen size measured in inches and resolution.  For desktops, we recommend a 27-inch display with Full HD (1920×1080 pixels) resolution.  Those doing graphics or video work should consider a larger display with a 4K resolution.  More money will also buy more accurate colours.

Processor or CPU: This is your brains of the PC and will be an Intel or AMD product. The bigger the number the faster it will complete a task but at a higher cost.  A good sweet spot is an Intel Core i5. Those doing complicated mathematics or graphics should spend more money here.

Memory or RAM:  This is the PC’s short term memory. It controls how much it can remember in real-time.  8GB is the sweet-spot, however, most devices can be upgraded if not enough.

Storage or hard drive:  This is the long term memory and the place you store all your applications and files. A standard hard drive has moving parts and is cost-effective and can store large amounts of data.  A modern alternative is a solid-state drive or SSD which essentially uses computer chips to store data.  An SSD is very fast to boot and access files.  If you are using a laptop we recommend using an SSD of 256GB, if using a Desktop SSD would be good but 1 TB drive is the sweet spot.  In a desktop having both an SSD and hard drive will give you speed and greater storage.

Graphics card:  Unless you are using graphic intensive programs, we don’t suggest you need this functionality as the basics are built into the processor.  Graphics cards are very popular with home gamers.

Connections:  This is how you connect devices to your PC.  We recommend you ensure you have the following ports-

  • HDMI to connect an external monitor.
  • USB 3 to connect keyboards, mouse, printers, memory sticks, camera’s etc. Two or more ports recommended.
  • Thunderbolt (not essential but replaces both of the above).
  • WiFi is how you might connect to the internet wirelessly (see Set up a WiFi network guide).
  • Ethernet will only be required if you want a cable connection to the internet from the PC.
  • Bluetooth allows you to connect wirelessly to a mouse, keyboard or your smartphone.
  • Speakers are included in a laptop but generally needed to be added to a desktop.
  • SD card slot (not essential) makes it easy to transfer from this medium used in cameras and phones.

You will need to consider software for your new PC and further details on this can be found in our guides on office productivity software and internet security.

HINTS

Visit the gadgetguy website to see reviews and recommendations on various PC products.

How to choose a Windows laptop – a guide for home and office use 2021

Watch out for specials. As this is such a competitive market they are always around and will save you some money.

Next year’s technology will always be better so just accept your PC is out of date soon after you buy it.  However, most 3-year-old computers can handle any solutions currently available today.

Ensure you also read our guide on Backup- keeping your data safe.

Your IT support business or computer retailer can also recommend suitable models.

SUMMARY – understand the computer jargon

Buying a new PC can be a daunting task with lots of jargon and so much to choose from.  If you stick to reputable brands and understand the implications the various technologies have on the performance of a PC your decision becomes easier.  Make sure that what you buy will support the applications and solutions you need to run within your business.