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When purchasing the monitor along with your
desktop PC, the monitor warranty generally is incorporated into any
on-site warranty coverage with the PC. That means, if your monitor
needs replacement during the on-site warranty period, your PC vendor
usually will arrange to cross-ship a replacement monitor.
This provides a few very compelling benefits.
No need to store and retain packing
materials -- You don’t have to worry that you’ve thrown
away the box and packing materials for the monitor. There’s no
need to purchase return shipping supplies as you’ll be able to
return the broken monitor in the same box your replacement comes
in.
Save time with freight logistics --
You don’t have to locate a shipping outlet. In most cases, the
PC vendor includes return shipping labels (call tags) for a
specific freight carrier – generally the same freight carrier
used for shipping the replacement to you.
Save
money on freight costs -- If the PC vendor supplies return
shipping labels, you won’t have to pay for return freight.
Depending on the monitor size, origination and destination
shipping points, this easily can save you $25 or more.
That third bullet point affects direct
out-of-pocket costs, but the first two can be labor-intensive chores
for your internal computer administrator (“internal guru”) or
small business computer consultant.
So buying a monitor along with a PC, and
getting both purchases folded into on-site warranty coverage, easily
can save a half-hour to an hour (or more) every time a
monitor needs replacement.
What’s the “best” video monitor size for a small
business PC?
The best value today tends to be standard
17” and 19” CRT-based monitors, with 21” monitors and flat
screen LCD panel displays rapidly approaching attractive small
business price points. Even if your office space is cramped, or
you have a very limited budget, there are some definite
productivity reasons to steer clear of any monitor
smaller than 17”.
With a 17” monitor, most people configure
their video display adapter for an 800-by-600 pixel resolution.
This allows you to get substantially more content onto your
screen, without eyestrain, than on a 14” or 15”
monitor running at a lower video resolution setting.
To configure video display adapter settings
of 1,024-by-768 pixel resolution, the next popular upgrade from
800-by-600 pixels, you’d likely want a 19” monitor. Some
people prefer to squeeze more onto a screen, but frankly that
makes me squint.
Others with very poor eyesight may prefer
less information on the screen and larger displays. This
alternative is the equivalent of large-print books for the
visually impaired.
Generally, the more you see on the monitor
simultaneously, the less scrolling you’ll need to do. This
ultimately helps you get more work done faster -- less time
scrolling means more time to be productive.
Action Items
Does each PC system price quote you receive
list the price of the system both with and without the recommended
monitor?
Is there more than one monitor size and
model available that's worth consideration for purchase at the time
of the complete system?
If you have an on-site warranty that comes
with the PC, or that you're purchasing for an additional cost, is a
monitor purchased with the PC system folded into the on-site
warranty coverage?
If the PC vendor does not include or offer
an on-site warranty, will the PC vendor cross-ship you a replacement
monitor before the defective monitor is sent back and repaired?
For a monitor replacement during warranty
coverage, will your PC vendor make arrangements for and cover the
cost of return freight (i.e. provide call tags)?
Do you know which video resolutions work best with your employees'
software applications? Have you factored this information into the
selection of video monitors?
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