Due to the limitations of tube technology, it's difficult for larger monitors to match the focus, brightness, and color of smaller monitors because the beams must cover a larger area. If your work demands precision, consider only 19-inch monitors that scored high in our sharpness tests. A sharp image is crucial if you do lots of word processing, number crunching, or any work that requires focusing on small details or characters. Sony's GDM-400PS also drew top marks, reflecting the advantages of its Trinitron tube technology. A Bright Picture A bright monitor is better at displaying rich detail and clear text, and can compete more easily with light from a window or overhead fluorescent bulbs.
Many factors can affect brightness, from the tube type to general differences in manufacturing.
Macworld Lab measured the brightness of these monitors with a Minolta CA-100 color meter. A score of 25 footlamberts or more is ideal for a monitor in a well-lit office. Most of the other monitors had acceptable levels of brightness, except for the Mag Innovision DJ800. Although these monitors are not intended for color proofing or similar high-end color processes, they need to provide color quality that satisfies for everyday graphics and general use. Our judges looked for rich, life-like color in our test Photoshop images, which displayed a range of primary colors and flesh tones.