Monitors: thin is in.

If your computer's monitor is hogging the top of your desk, you can reclaim much of the space by replacing it with a liquid-crystal display (LCD). But doing so will cost you about $200 to $300 more than if you bought a new cathode-ray tube (CRT) monitor. That's about how much more an LCD costs than a CRT of similar image size.

Despite their price premium, LCDs have become the dominant type of monitor in the U.S. In 2003 alone, their market share jumped to 63 percent, according to Synovate, a market research firm.

Some of that is attributable to fallen prices over the past few years. But their sales are just as much a result of advantages such as a sleek profile and a weight around 15 pounds, compared with 30 to 50 pounds for a CRT.

As a group, LCDs also outperform CRTs. Our Ratings, which take into account display quality ease of use, and a variety of features, reflect that.

A consequence of lower LCD prices: Stores now stock more, larger models-17-inch and 19-inch--and fewer smaller ones. In March, a 17-inch LCD averaged about $525 and a 19-inch LCD about $725, according to Promodata Leemis Services, a market research firm.

If space isn't an issue but budget is, CRTs can still be attractive; their prices have fallen, too. A CRT with an 18-inch viewable image, slightly larger than that of a 17-inch LCD, averages about $235-nearly $300 less than the LCD.

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