Been asked before however...

[Geoff]

Hi All,
My current monitor is getting worse by the hour it seems, blurry almost beyond recognition! I knwo this as I just went from one monitor to another in a different room and the difference was amazing. A fellow D70 guru also commented on this clarity (or lack there of) of images and text on my current screen (looks towards JordanP)..so...my question is, it's time for a new monitor. I have a budget of ABOUT $500 (hopefully a bit less), I'd LOVE a flat screen if possible but don't know much about monitors these days and would very much appreciate input by some local resident experts. I watch with great anticipation. PS - I'd like either 17" or 19".

Geoff

[MHD]

I saw an LCD in a cagtaloge (domayne I think) for 399 today... (could be wrong though)

I will check

[MHD]

go here
http://www.cougar.com.au/
type lcd into the search

[gstark]

Geoff, you shjould be able to pick up a 17" LCD for around $360.

[gstark]

go here
http://www.cougar.com.au/
type lcd into the search

LG make a similar one to the Benq mentioned on that site, but it's faster and cheaper; I bought two this afternoon for $350 each!

[Geoff]

Hey thanx guys, I am hoping to get one tomorrow...Gary - do u have a model no. of yours (LG) and the 19" equivalent?


Geoff.
I'm excited already.

[gstark]

Mine's an L1750.

Don't know, but I guess 1950 for the 19"?

[Geoff]

go here
http://www.cougar.com.au/
type lcd into the search

Thanx Scott - quite helpful
Settling into BH well

[shutterbug]

Hi Geoff,

Get a Mitsubishi 19" CRT, cheap and very good colour, also get a matrox video card, great for 2D work (PS) if you are not into games.

vl

[birddog114]

Geoff,
I follow this thread from the beginning, I still prefer the CRT for PS or PP.
Cheap LCD won't help, if you want a good LCD screen, it's costly or at least you get the one with 8ms not 12 or 25ms

[shutterbug]

Make sure you get a good graphics card, most people forget about this.

[gstark]

if you want a good LCD screen, it's costly or at least you get the one with 8ms not 12 or 25ms

The LG's I've bought are 8ms.

[birddog114]

Yes, I noticed that model too, but it's the lower end one
LG has two other model in 17":
LGE L1780Q
LGE L193ST

But sure, LCD can't beat CRT in PP that why I still use and prefer my Mitsubishi 21" CRT

[shutterbug]

I recommend this card

http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/mill_pseries/p650_lowprofile.cfm

[birddog114]

I recommend this card

http://www.matrox.com/mga/products/mill_pseries/p650_lowprofile.cfm

shutterbug,
He has just got the "approval" to buy the monitor , cos he can justified it right now. Wait till he got the monitor and he next complaint is the existing video card then he'll submit a request for a new video card

[Geoff]

Geoff,
I follow this thread from the beginning, I still prefer the CRT for PS or PP.
Cheap LCD won't help, if you want a good LCD screen, it's costly or at least you get the one with 8ms not 12 or 25ms

I'm unaware of what this response time is, I'm currently looking at the LG 1910S for $568 (19") with 12MS. Is this unacceptable for PS work etc? Now I'm really confused LCD/CRT??! I just want a nice looking (preferably thin) functional monitor that's CRISP

[shutterbug]

[birddog114]

Geoff,
I follow this thread from the beginning, I still prefer the CRT for PS or PP.
Cheap LCD won't help, if you want a good LCD screen, it's costly or at least you get the one with 8ms not 12 or 25ms

I'm unaware of what this response time is, I'm currently looking at the LG 1910S for $568 (19") with 12MS. Is this unacceptable for PS work etc? Now I'm really confused LCD/CRT??! I just want a nice looking (preferably thin) functional monitor that's CRISP

If you want thing right with your photos and CRISP, only CRT not LCD.
CRT is not thin.

[Geoff]

Geoff,
I follow this thread from the beginning, I still prefer the CRT for PS or PP.
Cheap LCD won't help, if you want a good LCD screen, it's costly or at least you get the one with 8ms not 12 or 25ms

I'm unaware of what this response time is, I'm currently looking at the LG 1910S for $568 (19") with 12MS. Is this unacceptable for PS work etc? Now I'm really confused LCD/CRT??! I just want a nice looking (preferably thin) functional monitor that's CRISP

If you want thing right with your photos and CRISP, only CRT not LCD.
CRT is not thin.

Yup - I know CRT ain't thin...can u recommend a good 19" CRT then birdy?

[gstark]

But sure, LCD can't beat CRT in PP that why I still use and prefer my Mitsubishi 21" CRT

I won't disagree there, but my workarea precludes the use of a CRT. The LG is sitting very nicely next to the old 15" Mitsubishi LCD (I'm now running dual screens) and it's interesting to see the differences in colour between the two.

And my Colorvison Spider doesn't support dual monitor operation.

[shutterbug]

CRT, go for the Mitsubishi 19" same tube as NEC and Leica (spelling)

http://umart.net/au/product_info.php?cPath=45_209&products_id=1564

[birddog114]

MITSUBISHI 19" FLAT SCREEN CRT-997FD

[birddog114]

CRT, go for the Mitsubishi 19" same tube as NEC and Leica (spelling)

http://umart.net/au/product_info.php?cPath=45_209&products_id=1564

This 93 model is discontinued since Nov 2004, johndec ordered one in January but I could not get for him. It's old fashion.

[Nnnnsic]

As a video card junkie, I would personally not recommend a Matrox card unless you're a video editor.

A video editor who also happens to be a Matrox enthusiast at that.

[Geoff]

Thanx all for your help - I have some homework to do but I think the CRT is the best way to go (and much better for the pocket!!)

[birddog114]

As a video card junkie, I would personally not recommend a Matrox card unless you're a video editor.

A video editor who also happens to be a Matrox enthusiast at that.

Leigh,
please hold the talk about the video card, geoff is not settled on the monitor yet! Give him few hours for his breath after he made a decision on the monitor, then we will talk about the video card.

[birddog114]

And the new mobo, new Hdd with larger size etc......

[georgie]

MITSUBISHI 19" FLAT SCREEN CRT-997FD

Cworld have it for $356 at the moment - certainly will help with the under $500 budget.

http://www.cworld.com.au

Hold the phone - Umart have it for $289 - gee mine isn't even broken but I might get one of these.

http://www.umart.com.au/newindex2.phtml?bid=2

[Geoff]

Hehehe to birdy and the graphics card, I currently have a radeon 9600 or something, it seems ok!

I think I have chosen the flatscreen LG T910B (http://au.lge.com/md/product/prodcategorylist.do?actType=detail&currPage=1&categoryId=0000060502&parentCategoryId=0000000605&categoryLevel=4&productId=1100000430&productImage=&selectModel=1100000430

Found it for $342! Now I have to wait until the morning to see if they have it in stock!

Thanx again everyone!

[sirhc55]

Geoff just check georie’s suggestion and look at Umart - they have that model for $319.00

[Geoff]

Awesome!! Now I can't for the life of me see where I can pick it up from?

[Nnnnsic]

I'd take the LG over the Mitsubishi... the placement of the parts in Mitsubishi monitors seems to allow for two lines of pixels to go missing.

I know Birddog's has it that way and the Sony monitors I use at work (and for those not aware, a Sony Trinitron monitor is just a Mitsubishi) have the exact same line of pixels missing.

Two lines of pixels, about an equal distance from the top and bottom of the monitor.

[Onyx]

Geoff, I'd suggest going to Hardly Normal or other retail places and take a look for yourself at the differences between monitors before you buy. Specs may look good on paper (eg. I like how everone fell into the fallacy of LCD response times: fast = better), and user recommendations (even those you trust are inherently biased) - much of your computing experience is viewed through the monitor, make sure you get one that suits you and that you're happy with.

[birddog114]

Hehehe to birdy and the graphics card, I currently have a radeon 9600 or something, it seems ok!

I think I have chosen the flatscreen LG T910B (http://au.lge.com/md/product/prodcategorylist.do?actType=detail&currPage=1&categoryId=0000060502&parentCategoryId=0000000605&categoryLevel=4&productId=1100000430&productImage=&selectModel=1100000430

Found it for $342! Now I have to wait until the morning to see if they have it in stock!

Thanx again everyone!

Geoff,
I haven't brought up the video card update to your lust. Shutterbug and Leigh recommended them to you and I ask them to put it on hold until you have the new monitor

[-=Monty=-]

I would deffiently recomend an LCD. I find them a lot clearer and more colourful than CRT's.

You can pick up a benq 19" 12ms monitor for $530.

Or you could buy quite a few 19" monitors for under $500 that have a 25ms response time.

Response time only matters when gaming. It is how fast pixels can change from one colour to another, and in 2d, you are not going to notice the difference between 25ms and 8ms.

[birddog114]

Monty,
Geoff has the budget to spend on the monitor!

And on CRT! have you had a chance to compare one photos on two monitors LCD & CRT as Mitsubishi or LGE or Samsung at the same time?
To do work on photos or PS or PP, CRT is recommended and it's cheaper than the LCD, though it's bulky and look not mordern design as LCD.

[johndec]

CRT, go for the Mitsubishi 19" same tube as NEC and Leica (spelling)

http://umart.net/au/product_info.php?cPath=45_209&products_id=1564

This 93 model is discontinued since Nov 2004, johndec ordered one in January but I could not get for him. It's old fashion.

Geoff,
I ended up getting the 997FD off Birdy and I'm very happy with it.

[stubbsy]

I'd take the LG over the Mitsubishi... the placement of the parts in Mitsubishi monitors seems to allow for two lines of pixels to go missing.

I know Birddog's has it that way and the Sony monitors I use at work (and for those not aware, a Sony Trinitron monitor is just a Mitsubishi) have the exact same line of pixels missing.

Two lines of pixels, about an equal distance from the top and bottom of the monitor.

Leigh

The 2 pixels thing is actually a ghost image of two stabilising wires that are in the path of the electrons being fired at the screen. They slightly deflect the beam, hence the line. These are a feature of all trinitron monitors and TVs. Basically the wires stop the frame from being distorted as I understand it. I never notice them unless I go looking.

I remember getting my first Macintosh with a Trinitron monitor and taking the "defective" monitor back when I noticed the lines only to be told it was a "feature".

Despite the lines, I much prefer Trinitron monitors as I find them sharper and flatter than other monitors. Sony until recently had a patent on the technology and so only Sony sold them. Now other manufacturers also make and sell them.

And Geoff, my 2 cents is I'm glad you've decided on a CRT rather than an LCD. They may not have the current wow factor, but for photo work they still beat LCDs.

[Nnnnsic]

That "feature" would irritate me to no end. I'll stick with my Philips, thank you.

Monty, LCD's by no means are any where near as good... or at least as "true" as a CRT will be when it comes down to PS/PP work.

That said, yes... most LCD's are easier to read off of than a CRT.
It helps to have a light-panel behind the screen.

And Birdy... he's got some form of a 9600 gpu... you'd be pretty hard-pressed to tell him that he needs anything else if he isn't playing games, working with 3d applications, or editing video.

[birddog114]

That "feature" would irritate me to no end. I'll stick with my Philips, thank you.

Monty, LCD's by no means are any where near as good... or at least as "true" as a CRT will be when it comes down to PS/PP work.

That said, yes... most LCD's are easier to read off of than a CRT.
It helps to have a light-panel behind the screen.

And Birdy... he's got some form of a 9600 gpu... you'd be pretty hard-pressed to tell him that he needs anything else if he isn't playing games, working with 3d applications, or editing video.

Leigh,
Please note: I have never recommend him to u/g his video card cos I didn't know what he got Shutterbug and you brought it on first and I asked both of you put it on hold until he got his new montor.
And I will never ask people to u/g anything from their inventory unless they seriously asked me for.

[Nnnnsic]

Fair enough.

[Geoff]

Again, a huge thank you to everyone involved in this thread for your input. I just purchased the LG Flatron CRT 19" T910B for a crazy $270 - couldn't be happier. Took a bit of a gamble, the shop wasn't answering my calls at all, so I drove nearly 40km's to see if they had it in stock, I was luck! I feel like I have new eyes . Wooohooo! One happy camper! A special thanx to Leigh and Gary for putting me onto fluidtek here in Sydney...unbeatable prices http://www.fluidtek.com.au (but don't expect them to answer the phone if u call)


Geoff.

[shutterbug]

That is sooo cheap...what a bargain

[Geoff]

That is sooo cheap...what a bargain

I was very happy with the price shutterbug yeah, he had at least one more in the shop, I'm soo happy..I now know how crappy my other monitor was...just hoping I have enough room in the wheely bin for it hehe


Geoff.

[Geoff]

That "feature" would irritate me to no end. I'll stick with my Philips, thank you.

Monty, LCD's by no means are any where near as good... or at least as "true" as a CRT will be when it comes down to PS/PP work.

That said, yes... most LCD's are easier to read off of than a CRT.
It helps to have a light-panel behind the screen.

And Birdy... he's got some form of a 9600 gpu... you'd be pretty hard-pressed to tell him that he needs anything else if he isn't playing games, working with 3d applications, or editing video.

I have a radeon 9800 XXL graphics card, I assume this is good?!

[shutterbug]

[quote="Geoff
I have a radeon 9800 XXL graphics card, I assume this is good?! [/quote]

It should be fine, but if you get a chance, get a matrox card, even an older model on ebay...cheap. The diff is huge, like wearing glasses and not wearing glasses.

[MCWB]

unbeatable prices http://www.fluidtek.com.au (but don't expect them to answer the phone if u call)

Yup, you nailed it. Fluidtek are great... until you have to RMA something, at which time it becomes an almighty pain in the arse trying to even contact them to find out about. Cheap prices but zero service. I am now happy to shop elsewhere, pay a bit more, but know if something does go wrong, I'm not going to have to spend a lot of my own time chasing up after people who couldn't care less.