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Desktop space has always been a problem in Hong Kong, but, until recently, the most attractive solution - replacing that huge heap of a monitor with something a little more slim and sexy - has been hugely expensive and risked moving to an inferior product.

But with great improvements in quality and performance, and a simultaneous sharp fall in prices, flat-panel displays have gone a long way to eliminating the market for cathode ray tubes (CRTs).

Apple, the doyen of the arts world, has completely eliminated CRTs from its line-up, satisfied that liquid crystal displays (LCDs) will do the job.

Anybody looking for a flat-panel display will not be left disappointed after visiting the majority of Hong Kong's computer malls.

There are numerous models available to suit all pockets.

The benefits of an LCD monitor are clear given the cramped nature of most Hong Kong apartments. But, besides saving space, an LCD has other advantages over traditional CRTs.

First, it gives a crisper image than a traditional monitor.

Also, the flat screen means less glare from sunlight or overhead lights, making it easier to see the screen and reducing the prospect of a headache caused by staring at the screen for too long.

Furthermore, while LCD monitors were once seen as high-priced peripherals for the business user, prices have fallen sharply in the past year, helped by lower manufacturing costs for LCD panels. Today, even the larger, 17-inch displays are becoming the standard choice for the home user.

According to technology market research firm IDC, last year LCDs generated more revenue than CRT displays.

This was partly due to an LCD still typically being more expensive than a CRT monitor.

But the firm expects LCDs to overtake CRTs next year in terms of the number of units sold.

The falling price also means LCDs are no longer found only in Hong Kong's high-end malls.

We began our search for an LCD monitor at that monument to Hong Kong's 'pile them high and sell them cheap' mentality, 298 Computer Zone in Hennessy Road.

There we found several 17-inch displays for under HK$5,000.

The models on offer ranged from a monitor from European manufacturer Targa for HK$2,790 to the Sony SDM-X72 for HK$4,790.

The X72 is one of the first LCD monitors to use Sony's FD Trinitron technology. The product line also includes 15-inch and 18-inch models.

To get a look at the complete product line, go to the SonyStyle shop on the 16th floor of the East Point Center in Causeway Bay (above Sogo).

Meanwhile, the older SDM-S71 is available in the 2C store in Star Computer City in Star House. The monitor costs HK$2,998.

The store also offers the 17-inch monitor from ComeMon for HK$2,998 and the Proview J17P3H for HK$3,288.

Despite the wide selection of monitors on offer in Hong Kong, the product line is surprisingly under-represented in Causeway Bay's Windsor House.

However, computer malls are not the only place to shop for LCD monitors.

Local electronics chain Fortress is stocking an ever-greater range of computer products. The company's Melbourne Plaza branch on Queen's Road Central has a wide range of LCD monitors.

Among those on offer are the Philips 170B2B for $5,790 and the NPS 870 for HK$4,390.

For some reason, most local stores seem unconcerned about advertising the specifications of their monitors, preferring to concentrate on price and size.

Consequently, the shopper is forced to pose technical questions to the shop's staff. While this can be a daunting prospect, there are several key points to bear in mind.

One specification you will often hear mentioned in relation to monitors is the refresh rate. That is the number of times per second the image on screen can be refreshed.

This information is really only relevant for conventional analog CRT displays.

In short, the higher the refresh rate, the better the picture quality on the CRT.

LCD monitors meanwhile are governed by the pixel response time, usually between 20 and 50 milliseconds.

The lower the pixel response time, the faster the screen's pixel's are turned off and on, meaning the faster the image is updated, an important factor for game players.

Many screens can be adjusted to give a portrait or landscape view.

This can prove a useful feature, depending on the type of applications you plan on using the monitor for.

Also, would-be buyers should bear in mind that not all monitors have built-in speakers, which means a pair of external speakers are needed.

Not an ideal situation, if you are trying to reduce the clutter on your desk.



As prices fall, slim monitors oust CRTs