Twenty years ago, monitors were not updated as often as processors
or software, but time has altered the way they are now viewed
Monitors are often seen as a part of the PC equation that is not
always as interesting as software or as regularly updated as
processors, but in the last two decades there have been several
steps forward that might not have been a revolution, but an
evolution that benefited all computer users.
On the face of it, the story of the last two decades is a story
that involves a move from monochrome to amber and green then to
colour. Stages of development have also seen a movement from CRT to
TFT and then beyond to plasma. The entry-level size has also been
moving a couple of inches every few years.
A large number of monitor vendors have their headquarters in Korea
or Taiwan, but there are expectations that the next couple of
decades will include much more activity from the Chinese.
The other developments that should appear in the next few years are
more widespread sales of TFT screens into corporate and home
customers and price drops on plasma screens, making home cinema and
wall screen televisions more common.
Bob Raikes, senior analyst at market research specialist Meko,
details the advances in the last two decades and the scepticism
that met each step of the evolutionary process.
"When I started, people asked why you would need graphics when most
machines were just running monochrome text. Then people said why
would you need colour? Why would you need high resolution? Who
would want more than a 14in monitor?" he recalls.
"It doesn't matter what anyone says, a monitor is the interface
between a computer and a person. Bob's second law [Raike's own
theory] states that anything that increases the visual bandwidth
will win in the end," he adds.
Dave Troughton, technical manager at NEC-Mitsubishi, believes it's
possible to draw out three key dates in the last two decades that
mark changing points in the monitor industry. The first is in 1984
when colour became available at a reasonable price; 1985 when Multi
Sync was developed allowing users to use a monitor on multiple
frequencies, and 1997 when LCD technology arrived.
Those breakthroughs are echoed by Dave Stevinson, managing director
of GNR corporation, who adds that the end of fixed frequency
monitors is also a breakthrough because it offers the chance to
have a monitor offering different resolutions at different
frequencies.
The history of monitors chimes in with other developments and
starts in earnest with the launch of the PC in 1982, but the
introduction of graphical user interfaces, first from Apple and
then from Microsoft, also increases the desire for a good monitor
to take advantage of those developments.
In the mid-80s, reductions in costs of PCs meant that more people
could afford to buy computers and the demand for accompanying
monitors increased. Things ticked over until the 90s and Windows,
through its many guises, became the de facto standard with Windows
3.1 marking a turning point for the graphics industry and people
doing things they never dreamed of before.
The need to buy a decent quality screen
Things
progressed with the increasing power coming from graphics cards and
the emergence of the Internet, providing users with even more need
to buy a decent quality screen. The importance of graphic card
developments have been there from the very early years of the 20
year review.
"When colour became available for a reasonable price in 1984, it
was combined with developments in graphics cards with Hercules and
with GUIs from Apple and Microsoft," says Troughton. "Colour could
be used to play games and that's when it really took off."
Like most in the industry, he believes the immediate future
includes more sales of LCDs because it is a practical answer for
people looking for new screens. Prices have dropped considerably in
the last few years and the ratio of difference between a CRT and a
flat screen is narrowing all the time.
Stevinson recalls when CTX offered its first LCDs when he worked
there in 1994 for £2,999. Now, a better quality monitor is
retailing for £199 and the costs in plasma are also coming
down.
Raikes believes there is still a long way to go in turning people
away from fat and onto flat: "When I started 19 years ago everyone
said they would have an LCD in five years, and that has been said
at almost any point in the last 20 years. But worldwide only about
25 per cent of monitor sales are LCDs.
"People will have flat screens on their desks, but it is not going
to be as rapid as they think. The high end and richer countries
will move to LCD, but CRT is not out and will sell 90m units
worldwide this year and will probably be selling 80m next year and
75m the year after," he adds.
The story of the last 20 years of monitors is a tale of small but
important steps. Although industry experts concentrate on three of
four key milestones, there have been advances on an almost annual
basis.
That progress shows no sign of slowing down in the future as there
are a range of technologies being readied for the market, including
light emitting polymer screens, and next year there will be a range
of Windows Powered Smart Displays that will be touch-sensitive and
wireless communicating with the PC via 802.11b. Partners so far
lined up for the technology are ViewSonic, Philips and Fujitsu
Siemens.
Once compiled in the form of a 20-year timeline, the progress of
monitors is a story that involves a series of leaps forward that
should be of interest to all users, because a monitor is still the
medium to view computer applications.
A portion of the companies that operate in the PC market also
operate in the home television space and there should be more of a
crossover there in the future.
A timeline for monitors starts when there is something to actually
view and the arrival of personal computers from Apple in the late
70s and the IBM PC at the start of the 80s is when the story really
takes off.
The launch of the PC in 1982 provides the world with a reason to
want a monitor and alongside a number of vendors that have been
operating in the television market since the 50s, there are some
new entrants. To celebrate being one year old, CTX chooses this
year to launch its operations in Europe.
ADI grabs the headlines in 1983 as it launches the first 14in
monitor in Taiwan. A year later in 1984, Goldstar, which later
becomes LG Electronics, starts its monitor operation in Gumi. Teco
announces its first colour monitor in the same year. Mitsubishi
launches a colour CRT display.
CTX is busy establishing itself with the launch of the EGA colour
monitor in the US in 1985. At the same time, Eizo pitches its tent
in Europe and starts selling its products in the UK. Mitsubishi NEC
delivers a real breakthrough with its MultiSync technology that
allows a monitor to receive multiple frequencies.
LG Electronics increases its monitor production to a 13-line
operation in 1988. NEC Mitsubishi introduces a smart concept with
the MultiCable Connection system, which means one cable will attach
a monitor to both a Mac and a PC.
The invasion of foreign companies continues as Taiwanese
manufacturer AOC sets up its European channel in 1989.
NEC Mitsubishi keeps up its inventive track record in 1991 with the
launch of AccuColour-Control System, which means a user can adjust
the colour on their screens.
Teco launches its 17in colour multi-sync in 1993. NEC Mitsubishi is
at it again and delivers its OtiClear Screen, which has a
glare-absorbing coating that reduces loss of focus or
distortion.
NEC Mitsubishi relies again on the expertise and heritage both
companies have built up in the monitor arena to deliver another
stage of the CRT evolution in 1996 with its CromaClear technology
improving the focus, brightness and contrast of a screen.
First LVD flat screen launch
The rise of digital
television starts to attract the talents of LG Electronics and the
firm develops a reception IC for digital television in 1997 and
launches its first LCD flat screen. Meanwhile, Samsung proves that
size does matter and releases a 30in TFT-LCD monitor. Teco, which
introduces the Relisys monitor line into Europe, develops the
Visual Flat Tube that allows a CRT to become a flat CRT.
1998 is a year of digital television developments with those
vendors that have a foot in both monitor and television camps
putting a lot of effort into delivering products to take advantage
of digital television technology. Among those keeping its research
labs busy is Samsung, which starts mass production of a digital
TV.
Just a year and a half after working on its own digital TV
technology, LG delivers the first Korean-type digital television in
1999. Elsewhere, CTX measures the amount of stock coming off its
production lines and discovers it is shipping annually an estimated
three million units. Yet to appear on everyone's desks, Samsung
develops the 3D TFT-LCD monitor. Size matters again as LG sells a
40in plasma screen.
The last two years include signs of a consolidating market as LG
Philips Displays is born in 2001 and the joint venture between NEC
and Mitsubishi is unveiled in 2002. The World Cup is used as a
selling platform by audio-visual specialists promoting monitors,
plasma screens and projectors.
Leading UK distributors
Micro P - Established in 1980, it claims to be one of the
longest running distributors with divisions covering printers, PCs,
memory and storage
C2000 - Started life in the UK in 1983 as First Software
then changed its name to Frontline Distribution in 1988 before
becoming Computer 2000, which is owned by Tech Data
Ingram Micro - Handles a large number of vendors including
CTX, NEC Mitsubishi, Sony and ViewSonic
Midwich - A dedicated trade-only distributor of
computer-related products and peripherals, formed in 1986