STACK #231 January 2024

TECH FEATURE

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Tech isn’t just important at school – having a good homework station can help students succeed.Whether they’re using a PC, Mac, laptop, Chromebook, or tablet, a decent monitor is the core of the setup. And if more screen real estate is important on the go, a portable monitor might be the answer. MONITORS

Words Michael Irving

What's in a monitor?

Portable productivity Not all monitors need to be anchored to a desk. Sometimes it’s handy to have the benefits of a second screen while working on a laptop, Chromebook, or tablet at school or in a library. Just plug in the device and you’ve got more room to have multiple apps open at once. They can be powered directly, or take some juice shared by the device that they’re plugged into.

Monitor specs can sound like random jumbles of letters and numbers, so how can you know what’s important? Here are some key terms you need to know:

Resolution: Perhaps the most noticeable difference between monitors, this is a measure of how many pixels are in a display, and as such how clear the image is. Common resolutions include 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) and 3840 x 2160 (4K). Refresh rate: How often the monitor refreshes the displayed image, measured in Hertz (Hz). So 120Hz, for example, will refresh the image 120 times per second.

Response time: How quickly pixels in a monitor switch from one colour to another, usually measured in milliseconds (ms). Contrast ratio: The difference between the darkest black and brightest white that a monitor can display (eg. 1000:1). Input: How devices can plug into the monitor. Common ports include HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-A and USB-C.

OUR PICKS

Lenovo ThinkVision M15 This lightweight, free-standing Full HD portable monitor plugs into a device via USB-C. It can be set to a tilt of anywhere between 0 and 90 degrees, as well as a retractable lift to lean it back up to 10mm. 15.6” Full HD 60Hz 6ms 1000:1 2x USB-C

OUR PICKS

Samsung S39C This simple monitor means business. It curves into your peripheral vision to boost focus, helped along by its slim borders. 27” Curved Full HD 75Hz 4ms 3000:1 2x HDMI DisplayPort

LG 34WP65C-B This one may be a gaming monitor, but there’s no reason a homework station can’t do both. The curved ultrawide display boasts a resolution approaching 4K, plus a silky smooth refresh rate of 160Hz.

Lenovo L32P-30 This eye-popping 4K display will really help creative students showcase their work. Plus, a built-in webcam can stream in Full HD for remote schooling or presentations. 31.5” 4K 60Hz 4ms 1000:1 HDMI DisplayPort USB-A USB-C

Asus ZenScreen MB16ACE Weighing just 710 grams, this portable monitor can plug in via USB-C or USB-A, providing a comfortable viewing experience thanks to its flicker-free tech. The included smart case can fold into a stand to prop the monitor up in either portrait or landscape mode. 15.6” Full HD 60Hz 5ms 800:1 USB-C USB-A

34” Curved WQHD 160Hz 1ms 3000:1 2x HDMI DisplayPort

16 JANUARY 2024

jbhifi.com.au