Flat Panel vs Flat Screen

[tcc2f6]

Besides bulk and price, is there much difference in quality?

All i've seen are the crappy displays at Best Buy which all run off the same computer with a bad video card. And the flat panels all looked fuzzy, so I'm figuring it's the computer that is hurting it.

When looking for a flat panel, are their any numbers or stats on it that I should be aware of? I'm looking at picking out one or the other. I do a lot of video/photo editing and such, so I really want something that is sharp. I'm pretty good with computers, just never had to monitor shop before, so I have no clue as to what to look at.

Any advice out there? please?

 

[heliomphalodon]

Well, that's a hard question. A lot of it depends on how much you want to spend, and what you plan to do with the display.

The real strengths of CRTs are, IMHO, their high brightness, high contrast, fast response times, wide viewing angles and relatively low price. Their weak points are size, weight, power consumption, edge-to-edge focus and geometric accuracy.

LCD panels (when driven by a digital video card -- the only way to go, really) have perfect focus and perfect geometric accuracy. They are smaller and lighter, and use less power. Their weak points are relatively slow response times, narrow viewing angles and higher cost.

All that being said, I myself (not being a gamer) have switched to LCDs. I sold (or gave away) all my CRTs. I spent some serious $$ but I couldn't be happier. I'll never go back. Fully-digital video is what a computer display ought to be, and now it's here.

If you get a high-resolution (at least 1280x1024) panel with a fast (sorry I can't quote a good figure here) response time and a digital (DVI) input, together with a video card with a DVI output to drive the monitor -- I think you'll be very pleased with the results.

Take a look at the Dell 2000FP and 1900FP. I love mine, and Dell offers a total satisfaction guarantee.

 

[tcc2f6]

I'm not a gamer either, rather I will do a lot of work with video/3d/still images.

As for money, i'd like to stay under the 500 if possible.

I'm currently running a 1.3 AMD with a ATI Radeon 8500, which I believe has a digital out.

The dell's do, indeed, look nice.

Tough decisions to make for me I guess, the price...ahh the price...hehe

thanks a lot for the quick response.

out of curiosity, do you recommend any other brands?

 

[heliomphalodon]

Prices seem to be coming down pretty fast... Of course, if you save your pennies the intersection of your rising funds and the falling prices must eventually arrive

As to other brands, I've seen good-looking displays from Samsung, Sony, Iiyama and ViewSonic.

For myself, I just couldn't beat Dell's pricing and service. When a 1900FP arrived with three stuck pixels, I called them up and they immediately shipped me a brand-new replacement at their cost, together with a prepaid shipping label to return the defective unit. They never even asked me what was wrong with it -- they just shipped a replacement, no questions asked.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

The real strengths of CRTs are, IMHO, their high brightness, high contrast, fast response times, wide viewing angles and relatively low price. Their weak points are size, weight, power consumption, edge-to-edge focus and geometric accuracy.

Not right.
Today's LCDs have higher birghtness and contrast than CRT, and 170/170 viewing angles which makes no different to CRT.

 

[shr]

Originally posted by: Kingofcomputer

The real strengths of CRTs are, IMHO, their high brightness, high contrast, fast response times, wide viewing angles and relatively low price. Their weak points are size, weight, power consumption, edge-to-edge focus and geometric accuracy.

Not right.
Today's LCDs have higher birghtness and contrast than CRT, and 170/170 viewing angles which makes no different to CRT.

Not to say LCDs arent great, but the contrast rate of a CRT is teoretically infinite, which is certanly superior to 400:1, also I have never come accross a 170/170 viewable LCD.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

There are a lot of 170/170 viewing angle LCD:
Eizo L565, L665, L685, L685EX, FA-2090
NEC 1850X, 1880SX, 1920NX, 2010X, 2110
Samsung 172T, 181T, 191T, 170MP+, 241MP
etc

 

[Eman1]

I have the Dell 1900fP (same as the Samsung 191t, basically). I highly recommend flat panals if you are not a hard core gammer. I would have a problem going back to CRTs.

I'd look for contrast of 400 or better and response of 30ms or lower (if not a gammer). It may be difficult for you to find one 17" or larger for less than $500, however.(with decent specs)

Good luck