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Luca Rescigno · Nov 20, 2002, 03:14 AM

I have a clear Apple Studio Display 17" CRT on my PowerMac G4 and today I was pondering replacing it with a 15" LCD. Although I can do 1280x1024 on this monitor, it's not very comfortable and I prefer the (strange) resolution of 1056x792. I measured the viewable area on this monitor and it was only about 15.5". If I replaced it with a used Apple 15" LCD (for the sake of an all-digital interface with no new adapter required) I would get essentially the same results but a much nicer image, as well as less energy consumption and occupied desk space. But I don't know if it's worth the $150-$200 or so it would require for me to upgrade - I'm guessing my monitor is worth about $150-$200 and a 15" LCD is about twice that.

Anyone think it's worth it? Not worth it? How much better is an LCD compared to a CRT (and this is a nice CRT)?

Boochie · Nov 20, 2002, 09:15 AM

Tough question to answer without knowing how you use your computer. LCDs are very nice in that they take up a lot less space on your desk, and produce a very sharp image (at least the good ones do).

Some of the older ones (and the Apple 15" model might fit into this category, I've never seen it) may not be ideal for applications such as gaming because of pixel response time. Another consideration is color fidelity: you'll probably get better results with a CRT if you're doing extensive photo/video editing and color matching is a must. For general desktop use it doesn't much matter.

Something else to consider is that LCD monitors look best at their "native" resolution, and decidedly sub-par at other settings. I have a 17" Apple LCD monitor, which looks fantastic for text and general graphics at its native setting of 1280x1024. If I drop it to 1024x768 it has to interpolate and text looks awful. Not quite as noticeable in graphics-heavy games.

The best thing to do would be to go to a store and take a look at a variety of LCD monitors. Make sure that they're connected directly to the computer, and not via some sort of distribution system in which one computer drives many different monitors.

daimoni · 12:33 AM

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SimeyTheLimey · 09:57 AM

I notice on the LaCie website that they have a reconditioned 18" Photon Blue LCD screen available for $799. That sounds like quite a deal to me. I wish I had the spare cash.

It's here in case anyone is interested. I suppose I should add that I have no connection to the company other than the fact I bought a reconditioned 21" CRT from them.

littlegreenspud · Nov 20, 2002, 10:30 AM

Apart from the lovely sharp text right across the screen, the best thing is NO FLICKERING at all!

Eotku · Nov 20, 2002, 10:51 AM

This is my 2 cents worth. I am about to upgrade my whole out of date PowerTowerPro G3-400 mhz dual monitor system with the new DP867 and have been researching my monitor choice. I have the option of the 17in Apple display at the $799 price but I really want a larger 19 to 20 in display. Since the bulk of my work is going to be 2-D illustrations for print, photo manipulation and some graphic design I want the image to be as accurate as possible. I know that CRT's are much more "True to color" for print than LCD's and have used them for years but want to make the switch anyway. The quality of LCD's seem to have improved dramatically in the last 8+ months so I am trying to make the best informed decision that I can.

This is what I have found so far on quality 19 and 20 inch LCD displays.
20 inch displays are still a little too expensive in compared with the 19 inch models but I am looking at them anyway. The 20.1" Formac 2010 with it's supposed "Pantone standards" sounded like the best candidate for accuracy but is still a little expensive at $1570 and I wasn't able to find one in my area to look at. I did some digging and it looks like the Viewsonic VX2000 uses the same screen as the Formac at a cost of $1395. Both use Fujitsu's MVA technology Which is considered by many as the best image quality right now. But spec's aren't everything. When I looked at the Viewsonic VX900 at CompUSA the other day (They didn't hav3e the VX2000) I didn't like the the picture quality at all. Afterward I did some thinking and went back to the store and found out that they had the display plugged into the analog port. Big difference when switching to the digital port.

These are the 19 in. displays I am considering.
Samsung Syncmaster191T 19in. $769.
Planar PL191M $759. (Might be MVA. same specs.)
Viewsonic VX900 $748 (MVA)

So that's it so far. I plan on going back to CompUSA in the next couple of days and have them hook up the Viewsonic next to the 17in Apple on a DP867 and compare them the way they should be compared. On the same computer with the same image.

G4ME · Nov 20, 2002, 11:06 AM

you have to take in account that CRTs have been around for ages, older then I know and they have really mastered the technology, with perfectly flat screens, homogonous color, and huge life spans.
Where LCDs have been around for a shorter time span, and they haven't really worked out the kinks, yeah their sexy because there a few inches thin, and they get great contrast, but you are limited on refeshrates, (try playing a game) and the resoultuions, usually only one.

So, you just have to weight your options, do you need the sexyness of an LCD or would you rather save a crap load of cash, about 1/5 the price and get a really good CRT.

I will take the latter, also my dual head card only supports VGA, and my ADC port is taken up by my sweet CRT, same as yours.

KidRed · Nov 20, 2002, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:
I have a clear Apple Studio Display 17" CRT on my PowerMac G4 and today I was pondering replacing it with a 15" LCD. Although I can do 1280x1024 on this monitor, it's not very comfortable and I prefer the (strange) resolution of 1056x792. I measured the viewable area on this monitor and it was only about 15.5". If I replaced it with a used Apple 15" LCD (for the sake of an all-digital interface with no new adapter required) I would get essentially the same results but a much nicer image, as well as less energy consumption and occupied desk space. But I don't know if it's worth the $150-$200 or so it would require for me to upgrade - I'm guessing my monitor is worth about $150-$200 and a 15" LCD is about twice that.

Anyone think it's worth it? Not worth it? How much better is an LCD compared to a CRT (and this is a nice CRT)?

LCDs give you a much crisper image. The colors or vibrant but not 100% (sometimes, but this is changing). So if you do print work and need 100% color accuracy then you might stick to a CRT. If not, LCDs rock for everything else, not to mention they just look cool.

zigzag · Nov 20, 2002, 07:51 PM

Originally posted by G4ME:
Where LCDs have been around for a shorter time span, and they haven't really worked out the kinks, yeah their sexy because there a few inches thin, and they get great contrast, but you are limited on refeshrates, (try playing a game) and the resoultuions, usually only one.

So, you just have to weight your options, do you need the sexyness of an LCD or would you rather save a crap load of cash, about 1/5 the price and get a really good CRT.

You're correct that CRTs have their merits, but LCD's aren't merely "sexy" - they're much easier on the eyes because of their perfect geometry and lack of flicker. IMO, there are only two types of people who are better off with a CRT: ultra-serious gamers, and graphic designers who need optimal color fidelity. I would recommend an LCD to everyone else.

Luca Rescigno · Nov 20, 2002, 08:39 PM

You're forgetting the price. At this point, it would be somewhat of a stretch for me to sell my monitor and get a digital 15" LCD, and I wouldn't gain any screen area.

If I could afford a 17" LCD, I would buy it. But it would have to be $500 or less, and you can't get a digital 17" LCD for that little.

Maybe when Apple drops prices on their LCDs or releases new monitors, I'll be able to afford one. AFAIK, Apple uses the same screens as Dell, but the Apple monitors cost $200 more apiece. Of course, they have the ADC port which my computer has, but $20 will get me an ADC-DVI adapter.

chipchen · Nov 20, 2002, 11:06 PM

just a few things...

Luca Rescigno, you need to measure from one corner to the opposite corner. In general.. the CRT viewables are one inch less than what the size of the monitor is. This means.. your viewable is about 16 inches... The LCD viewables are the size they state.. so a 15inch LCD should be 15inches viewable. Most people will hardly notice the difference from a 17inch CRT to 15inch LCD.

SimeyTheLimey, I would go with an extablished LCD monitor manufacturer if I were you. I'm not sure who makes LaCie LCD monitors... but you should check. Also, there are ALWAYS deals around for cheap LCD monitors.. you just have to look and find. My friend just bought a 19inch (yes 19inch viewable too) Dell (made by Samsung) LCD monitor for $6xx... this is REDICULOUSLY cheap. It has both VGA and DVI inputs... Some sites to check would be techbargains.com and fatwallet.com (forums).

LCD screens are indeed easier on the eyes... but there is one bad thing about them... GHOSTING... bad for gaming... but then.. why would we be using our Macs for gaming anyway right? (unless you have a monitor switch that you would use from PC to your Mac)

Luca... again, remember, prices are always fluctating. Remember there are a few ways to get great deals. No tax (out of state), no shipping (some stores do this, especially office supply stores), coupons, sales (at times, Dell.com has up to 20% off LCD monitors), pricematching, rebates, etc... Some of the best deals can be had by pricematching another store to get the price lower, while using a rebate, and getting it shipped for free.

good luck all...

BTW (I've seen prices AS LOW AS $175 for 15inch LCDs, $350 for 17inch LCDs, and $5xx for 18inch LCDs. These are the good brands too... not GEM or SYLVANIA or any junk like that.... I would say the cheapest digital LCD, with DVI, would be about $5xx, and it would be a 17inch LCD)

chipchen · Nov 21, 2002, 12:27 AM

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...p;refurbished=

chipchen · Nov 21, 2002, 01:10 AM

here's a better deal.. officedepot.com... search for "170B2T"...

Philips 17inch LCD monitor, does DVI. $479.99 after rebates.

Don't forget.. go to http://www.gotapex.com/deals.php?store=277 and add at one of the coupons for an additional at least $20 off.

davidflas · Nov 21, 2002, 08:38 AM

This18" Dell LCD looks like a great digital display at a good price. Its more than you want to spend, but still a better deal than Apple's product. Its not as cool as an Apple display though....

TimmyDee51 · Nov 21, 2002, 09:39 AM

From my opinion, I have a 17" Studio Display after my 15" iMac CRT and the difference is night and day. Honestly, I love the LCD. It's incredibly bright, sharp, and easy on the eyes. I'm never looking back.