easurement. LCDs, although they have similar rims, are not measured in terms of the overall diagonal measure, by rather only the picture-viewing portion. So, an 18" LCD monitor is the same size as a 19" CRT monitor (although will generally cost two- to three-times as much, as I have already stated). If you look close enough on an ad or specification sheet of a CRT monitor, it won't be hard to find the viewing size (although, like I said, it will most likely be about one-inch less).

As for what you want, it varies from person to person. I like big huge monitors (21" would be ideal, however I am limited by my wallet to 19"), however not everybody requires such proportions. I'd recommend at least a 17" monitor (both LCD and CRT), but I'd say if you have the money, go to a 19" CRT (a 17" LCD should be perfect for most). If you really have money to burn and don't mind the space on your desk, go for a 21" monitor. They will last you a long time and are a great investment.

CRT Details
If you choose to go the CRT route, there are some specifics that you should know about. The main one is the curvature of the glass. Older monitors (and your television screen, most likely) were curved because it was cheaper and easier to make. However, these days, it has become cheap and easy to make flat CRTs. Please understand that these are not thin, but rather the glass on the screen is not curved. This makes for a better viewing experience. When you buy a flat CRT, however, you might notice two faint lines running the width of your monitor. These are called