budgeted 19" monitor

[faye]

hi, want to buy a 19" monitor to replace my 5 years old Sony 200ES

around $300, any clues?

btw, my sony starts to flash just like when changing refresh rate.
don't know if it is time to change.. but it happens once a while...

thanks

 

[manly]

$300 actually buys you a lot these days. I think periodically, Dell.com has a 19" FD Trinitron Dell-branded monitor for a touch over $300. I bought my Samsung 900NF a while back for about $325 or so. It's an excellent, professional-grade monitor but hard to find at a low price.

Honestly if you can afford to spend $300ish, then I'd go w/ Trinitron/Diamondtron which is a nice flat screen. If you're on a true budget, then you can probably spend about $250 for a good 19" shadow mask CRT monitor (more curvature). Samsung has a great line of products at affordable prices these days.

Monitor the Hot Deals forum from time to time (or search). A while back, a clearance Compaq AG 19" CRT was something like less than $250, which is a steal.

 

[faye]

i haven't use a non-flat monitor before...

so , what is so great about the flat monitor?
why everyone wants a flat more than a curve one?

 

[manly]

If you live in the vicinity of Micro Center (or possibly SAMS Club), this is a great deal on a mid-range shadow mask CRT from a name-brand manufacturer.

Personally, having used an aperture grille flat CRT (Diamondtron & previously Triniton) for years now, I can't go back to a curved shadow mask CRT. Newer (nearly) flat shadow mask CRTs (such as Samsung 955DF) are fine. I've love to use an LCD, but they are still too costly.

Usually, Trinitron-type CRTs are sharper and the flat tube is virtually distortion-free at the corners. The main drawback vs. shadow mask tubes is that Trinitron monitors are bigger and heavier. Good luck with your decision; I would suggest aperture grille (Trinitron or Diamondtron) as long as you find a good deal.

 

[manly]

Looks like the Samsung 900NF is now on sale at Dell.com.