Switching from CRT - Your opinions please

Hi,

I am new to this website, and a programmer by profession. For the last 14 years I have been using CRT monitors. I am/was reluctant to switch to LCD monitors and still rely on my 2 x 19" Sony Trinitrons. But, being the old they are it is probably time-up from them.

So, after a lot of search I found this website full of knowledgeable persons who have used LCDs and can guide me on this.

Since I am a progammer I have to spend long hours infront of my computer reading and writing text. Sometimes I have to do graphic-related works like splash screens and stuffs. And when I am bored I play a movie or play a 2005 old game.

I do not want to compromise on any of the sectors and I am prepared for a budget of $400.

I did some research and all I know that what is obvious on a CRT like fast response, crisp colors, rich blacks are a privilege on LCD (SAD!)

I would have bought new CRTs but unfortunately they are not available anymore specially the 19" ones.

So folks please enlighten me what should I do/settle for.

Thanks to all of you in advance.

Pete

 

Welcome to the best tech forum on the web, are you looking to get 2 screens at $400 each or just 1 at that price?
AFA the system you connect to do you know the highest resolution it can do?

 

Thank you.

Just 1 screen for now. The current one supports 1280 x 1024 (NVIDA GE Force 7300 SE).

 

Well for one, is choosing between matte or glossy finish

Glossy has more vibrant colors but a lot of reflections and if you don't dial the brightness down kinda hurts the eyes. Great for graphics, movies and gaming though.

Matte on the other hand has almost no reflections, easier on the eyes, a bit less vibrant. This is my choice of screen when coding for long hours.

Next would be the size and resolution (which depends on your gpu) and how many you'd need.



Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using Tapatalk

 

Anything that would closely resemble a CRT experience.

 

There are a lot of variations in LCD panels.

First most recent panels have LED backlighting which tends to give a very slight blueish hue to the monitor if it uses WLEDs. It's something you won't notice unless you have a different monitor to compare to and it shouldn't bother you too much. CCFL backlights are getting rarer, but don't give that slightly blueish hue on whites.

The type of lcd panel also has an impact, TN, VA, IPS. IPS usually offers the best color range and accuracy, but they tend to cost more. e-IPS panels are somewhat of a middle man in that they are cheaper than pro grade IPS panels that cost a fortune (which you don't need unless you need absolute best color accuracy) and have overall decent colors, but not as good as their more expensive brothers.

The first i think you should do, is go in a store like best buy and look at the panels on display just to get an idea of what they look like. I'd suggest getting a dell ultrasharp which is a good balance of price and quality. I'm typing this on a LG IPS226V and i have to say i'm pretty satisfied with this monitor. Also since you are a programmer, i'd go for the highest resolution possible to get as much screen real estate as possible. Dual 1920x1200 or 1920x1080 panels are awesome to have a lot of windows opened if your graphics adapter can drive them. It might take some time to get used to the higher resolutions, but when you have a lot of windows opened, you always end up being a high resolution junkie.

 

I have also decided on the e-IPS thing, my 2 main concerns being:

1. It should not strain my eye.
2. The colors should be OKAY.

I will still have the trinitrons to watch movies occasionally.

The entry level Dell Ultrasharps are they good?

 

To me yes, but i'm mildly colorblind so the colors being right for me don't mean that much in certain areas. I can still the difference in quality between the panel in my G73 and my LG e-IPS at a glance though. IPS also has the advantage of having better viewing angles too. There are quite a few of our members that swear by them though.

Oh, one more thing, running a lcd monitor at anything other than it's native resolution in full screen mode won't look good.

 

Currently I am used to 1024 x 768 resolution. I am old school.

 

1024x768? Are you kidding me? Why?

 

By taking a look at your adapter's specs, if you have a DVI or HDMI out, you should have no problem running a recent monitor with a 1920x1080 resolution. VGA will also work, but the image will be crisper with DVI/HDMI.

You will appreciate the higher resolution for sure.

 

I have been using this resolution since 2007 and never bothered to upgrade.

 

The card has got a DVI port.

 

This would technically make your question a desktop question, but since accessories is mostly about peripherals and those can be used on both notebooks and desktops it shouldn't be a problem.

Anyways, hook it up through the DVI port since you have one, DVI carries a digital signal whereas VGA is analog and on LCD panels that makes a difference in overall image quality at higher resolutions. Seriously, once you get to the high resolutions like 1920x1080, you'll wonder how you did without them before.

 

Pete the discussion may also be of some help, but AFA comparing CRT with flat panel - I really am not sure.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/accessories/567303-best-24-tn-panel-monitor-2.html
I realize 24 is way larger than you want, but ViciousXUSM makes some good points

 

interested in a samsung 997df? heh

 

Oh man, switching from CRTs to LCDs was the best thing that happened for my eyes - after working for hours on a CRT, my eyes would hurt like hell (kind of like when doing a lot of welding).

Seriously, from a CRT any decent LCD released in the past 3 years will look fantastic. I recommend Samsungs - never had a problem with them.

 

Upgrade? It takes literally 5 seconds to change to something.... better. You are seriously missing out and wasting the capabilities of your monitors. Are you sure you are only using 1024x768? It sounds pretty ludicrous.

That really depends on the CRT. 60Hz can strain your eyes, but with higher you shouldn't notice. The ONLY reasons I went from CRT to LCD was because the size and weight of my CRT became unmanageable and the 4x3 ratio was severely handicapping me in gaming vs everyone with their widescreen LCDs. In many instances a good CRT is still superior to most LCDs.

God, I miss my old 21" CRT. Could do like 2000x1500 or something like that. And 1600x1200 at 100Hz.

 

Both of which couldn't hold a candle to equivalent-res LCD's if you don't like squinting at fuzzy text.

The tang of Ludditism is pretty palpable. And looking at areas where CRT's still shine over LCD's - well, I wasn't aware any of you were Scorsese's in the making

Could I have been the OP had my life taken another route?

*shudder*

 

A CRT television, or even a generic crappy CRT monitor, doesn't hold a candle to a decent CRT monitor if those are what you have in mind when you think of a CRT. I'm not sure what you mean by fuzzy text because it wasn't like that at all. I stayed with a CRT so long not because I'm a luddite, but because LCDs could not match a CRT in many respects for a long long time. I stuck with my last CRT until 2009, when I was reasonably satisfied that it was worth replacing it for gaming without losing too much.

You might take decent LCDs for granted now, but for a long time they kind of sucked. What I gained from the LCD over the CRT is this; lower power consumption, widescreen, a larger screen, much smaller footprint and less weight. And my CRT had one dead pixel at 1600x1200 and above while the LCD I replaced it with did not. Nothing else. Also note that I used LCDs with my CRT for a long time, just as a secondary monitor.

 

You may have used an LCD you could afford with a CRT back then. But how about now?

It's also probably fair to say I've probably gone through *way* more Trinitrons and Diamondtrons than you - and I absolutely stick by the fuzzy text factor, especially at higher resolutions (and yes, with BNC feeds). I remember when I dumped pretty much all my CRT's bar some floating around in less-used roles was with the upgrade to the 2000FP's as my general-purpose monitors. The difference at the time I remember was pretty profound, I have to say.