The monitor and video card work hand in hand to give you a good picture. When shopping for a new monitor you must also take into consideration which video card you have and match your monitor to that card.
Video graphic standards: The most common video graphic standards include VGA and SVGA. If you have an older PC, you may have anything from MDA, Hercules, through EGA.
Color: The more the merrier. Today's monitors can display from 256 through 16 million colors which is called true color. The video card also has a lot to do with this. To get a high quality multimedia picture you need 16 million colors.
Resolution: Look for the highest you can afford. The higher the resolution, the better the picture.
Dot pitch: the smaller the number or the closer together the dots are, the better. A .28mm dot pitch will give you a sharp, crisp image.
Refresh rate: indicates how often the image on your monitor is updated. The higher the number, the less flickering of the picture. 60-70 Hz are good numbers here. You must match the refresh rate of your video card and monitor.
Interlaced vs. Non-interlaced: An interlaced monitor updates half the picture at a time. First the even-numbered rows, then the odd-numbered rows. This produces an annoying flicker of the picture. These should be avoided at all costs. Most monitors are non-interlaced which means the entire picture is updated equally.
Video bandwidth: This describes the "largest" video signal your monitor can use. The higher the number, the better. 65-75 MHz are good numbers here.
Flat screen: This provides a clearer picture. Most monitors have a convex surface that is curved toward you. This distorts the picture ever so slightly. The flat screen eliminates this problem. These cost more, but can reduce eye strain.
Multisync: This type of monitor can support different video graphic standards. These typically cost more.
Size: The bigger the better. However, the bigger the monitor, the more they cost. 15 inch is a good place to start.
Multimedia: Some monitors include built-in speakers right in the monitor. If you are limited on desk space this could be the way to go. However, if you are a sound connoisseur, you may want to purchase your speakers separately. These monitors do cost more.
Energy Star: These monitors conserve energy which saves you money. Since your monitor uses more energy than any other part of your PC, it is a good idea to get this feature.
Finally, you should treat shopping for a monitor like shopping for a car. Try it out before you buy it. Use it in the store and make sure you like it. Run some software and make sure the picture is crisp and clear. You should buy only when you are satisfied with overall picture quality.