The output devices are the one that are giving us a result of the computation of the computer. They are the "'what you get out" of what we put in.

Colour monitors are the standard nowadays, they have beautiful resolutions and large visible areas.

They are of the SVGA type (Super Video Graphic Array ), and are rated by dot per inches ( how many dots of the tube are fitting in an inch ) , smaller the number higher the quality. So a 0.25 dot per inch is a better monitor than a 0.27 dpi monitor.

Size also counts. They are available in 14" , 15" , 17" , 19" ,20" and 21".normally the really viewable area is smaller than the rated one. For example a 17" monitor has in effect a viewable are of maybe 15.5". Remember the size is measured diagonally on the glass.

Other rating are the refresh frequency ( 60-70 Hertz )and the max resolution supported by the monitor ( 800x640 , 1024x800 and so forth ).

Non colour monitor are seldom used today , but still available for file servers where they are used only once in a while, saving few cents for one otherwise unused monitor.

The new monitors on the block are the colour flat screen , manufactured with active LCD ( Liquid Crystal Display ) technology , the same used in notebook computers ,which offer the advantage of being cooler , less obstructive and totally digital.

Quality is improving to an extend that soon we all will have a flat screen monitor.

Printers have been around for long, and they are the hard copy of the computer work par excellence.

They are available as Dot matrix, normally used for printing on carbonised paper as they have an impact on the actual paper, as Bubble jet or Inkjet ( same thing ) which they produce the output by spraying liquid ink on the paper , or as Laser printers , where they "burn" toner powder on the paper.

All of them can give an output in colour but because of quality the dot matrix does not really fit that bill and the colour laser printers are still too expensive, the only real colour printer at the moment is the inkjet which can offer excellent colour output for an affordable price.

Lately, printers are fitted with USB ( Universal Serial Bus ) ports which are slowly replacing the traditional parallel port for printers. USB is a new powerful way to connect computer devices.

Well, there is not a lot to say about computer speakers , but to say they are getting more powerful, more sophisticated and reliable by the day.

A good choice is self-powered speakers with at least a 60Watts output.