[XCSSA] Getting another CRT

[X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio]

X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio wrote:
> My incredibly classic Viewsonic 21PS (mid 1990's) started emitting  
> blue smoke on Monday.  Originally costing several thousand dollars  
> (not bad per pound) you might recall I bought it at the computer swap  
> meet in Dallas around 2001 for $60.  Getting it home was fun.  Since  
> then, it's topped my list of hours used per dollar spent.
> 
> I've been researching the options.  Almost all LCD computer monitors  
> use "TN" LCD technology which has limited contrast, viewing angle,  
> and color accuracy (though it's been getting better).  Only a few  
> computer monitors use better technology, such as IP*, at twice the  
> price and up, and only in sizes 24" widescreen (shortscreen) and up.   
> Even then, no LCD computer monitors are specd at more than 1:1000  
> static contrast (LCD TV's above 32 inches can do twice that, and  
> Plasmas do 20x that, thanks to blacker blacks, LCD is plenty  
> bright).  Dynamic contrast is BS.
> 
> I don't have room for 24" widescreen on the corner of my kitchen  
> table where the 21PS now sits, and a 4x3 monitor would make much  
> better use of available space.
> 
> So my current thinking is I'll get another CRT while I still can.  I  
> see I can get a high end "Graphics Series" Viewsonic as "new", a  
> refurbed Sony GDM-F500, or a midline NEC.  The Sony might have the  
> best color but it's notoriously unreliable, particularly as a refurb  
> (see reviews at Amazon).
> 
> And what about fixing CRT's ???  The picture tubes last forever on  
> the good and unabused ones, it's power supplies, V/H amplifiers, and  
> flyback transformers that always fail first.  Anybody fix these  
> things?  I'm thinking of mothballing the 21PS in case someday I can  
> get it fixed, though that's treading water on such an old unit.  My  
> Viewsonic P810 ("professional" series, I paid $1900 in 1999) is still  
> going strong and just as sharp and bright as new, but eventually it  
> will probably need refurbing too.
> 
> I've already recycled dozens of puny or otherwise worthless CRT's  
> (including a very disappointing 19" Radius which was blurry and dim,  
> and not much better when new I was told).  But the good CRT's may be  
> worth keeping alive.
> 
> Charles Peterson
>   
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I just had that problem last year.  My monitor died and up until then I 
has refused at buying anything but a crt.  I had alot of trouble finding 
a new one though.  What I did find out was that many of the value brand 
manufactures sometimes use IPS lcd panels.  They just go with what ever 
they can get cheapest and sometimes that are actually IPS.  This is also 
known as "playing the lottery" since the manufacture does not guarantee 
any specific panel technology and can sometime change suppliers of 
panels at will.  Dell had many panels like this and the one I bought was 
an hp lp2065.  I think I paid less than $400 for it.  It is really 
awesome.  I don't have any complains except for the typical bluryness 
when at a non native resolution.  I am not sure if there is any panel 
that can get away from that though.  I don't think they make this hp 
model anymore but spend a few days reading on here and I am sure you can 
find a good cheap IPS model: http://www.hardforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=78

Sam