[Goldfinger]

I'm interested in buying an IBM P275 monitor which is in essence a 21" Sony FD Trinitron (see thread with my other question ). Now the thing is that I'm a bit afraid of the size of this thing. Would having let's say 50-60 cm of desk space between me and the monitor suffice ? Or do I need more ? That comes down to a desk that is about 110cm deep (the monitor is about 50cm deep). I'll make my own custom desk for it probably.

[liquidtrance123]

At first i loved my 21" CRT but not its to the point where I MUST get rid of it, its too damn big. I'm in the process of switching over to a 20" ACD.

[dracoleb]

Really depends if the space behind the desk is open. CRTs extend some distance behind the base of it, mostly because all the weight of the thing is in the front. If your desk is up against a wall it will take a huge cube of space, if there is space behind it you can back it up more and not lose much. Just remember the viewing area on your 21" CRT is about the same area of a 19"LCD, so if you can swing the few extra bucks, and aren't doing anything gaming intensive or requiring precise color accuracy I would go that direction.

[liquidtrance123]

Originally posted by dracoleb:
Just remember the viewing area on your 21" CRT is about the same area of a 19"LCD.

o-reilly? LCD's have a larger viewable screen than CRT's? I thought it was the same?

[dracoleb]

yea, the screen size is measured diagonally from the edge of the plastic. On a CRT the image doesn't start until about half an inch to an inch from the plastic, making the viewable area an inch to two inches smaller than the stated size. On an LCD the viewable area starts right at the plastic boarder (or aluminum if you are talking Apple Cinima Display)

[Goldfinger]

Originally posted by dracoleb:
Really depends if the space behind the desk is open. CRTs extend some distance behind the base of it, mostly because all the weight of the thing is in the front. If your desk is up against a wall it will take a huge cube of space, if there is space behind it you can back it up more and not lose much. Just remember the viewing area on your 21" CRT is about the same area of a 19"LCD, so if you can swing the few extra bucks, and aren't doing anything gaming intensive or requiring precise color accuracy I would go that direction.

Colour accuracy is THE reason I'm looking at a CRT since I can't afford good LCD screens that cost 1000s of euros. I mean, you can get a 21" FD Trinitron for like �300. The cheapest Cinema is almost �1000 quite a difference if you ask me.

[tooki]

Originally posted by dracoleb:
yea, the screen size is measured diagonally from the edge of the plastic. On a CRT the image doesn't start until about half an inch to an inch from the plastic, making the viewable area an inch to two inches smaller than the stated size. On an LCD the viewable area starts right at the plastic boarder (or aluminum if you are talking Apple Cinima Display)

No, it's not measured from the edge of the bezel. CRTs are measured from the edge of the glass (which is hidden under the bezel). The visible area of the glass is usually 0.5-1 inch inset from each corner. Thus, the visible area is usually 1-2" smaller than the glass size.

LCDs are measured by visible area only.

tooki