Used IBM P260

[UltimaBoB]

I am teaching in Korea and am getting a new computer. So far, I simply have not been satisfied with all the LCD monitors I have looked at here. I do a lot of gaming and now feel a CRT would be best for me for now.

It costs over $600 in shipping and special handling alone to get an overstick or refurbed aperture grille CRT to Korea from the US. And you run a serious risk of damaging it while being shipped. However, refurbed *aperture grille* CRTs are not an industry here like in they are in North America. Finding one is very hard.

I have a line on a used IBM P260 21" Trinitron that I can check out at the guy's house. He says he bought it in 2001-2002 and used it very intermittently because shortly after getting the monitor for work purposes on his home PC< he got a new work PC with an LCD screen that was much better than his home and ended up doping most of his work at the office from there on in.

I don't know much about CRT tech. WIthout being refurbished, can the phosphors etc... still be ok after 5 years of light usage? The price is only $250 (good for over here) and even if it only lasts a year it will be worth it (maybe find better LCD to my liking by then). I am checking it out tomorrow, but even if the picture looks good can CRTs be okay after 5 years - even if used lightly?

 

[SonicIce]

I would definately check it out. Doesn't sound too bad if lightly used.

 

[MDE]

I have the same monitor and I love it. At least check it out, I picked mine up for $200 a couple years ago and don't regret it a bit.

 

[Kyanzes]

Bought one in 2002 and I'm using it since. Tried to convince myself several times to replace it with a 24+ inches TFT but I've yet to find a single TFT monitor that can actually match my P260. Hopefully the new mini component CRT monitors (or how the heck they call it) or the new LCD technology will be significantly better than today's selection so I can move to widescreen. Yeah, that's the sole reason I want a new monitor actually, widesreen. Till I find one I'm sure as hell I'll stick to my P260. Check if the brightness is not too high when you set it to zero. If it's still high at minimum setting then either don't buy it or prepare to do a small repair that consists of replacing a single resistor on a panel inside the monitor. Nothing serious. Will cost you like $1

A few other things:

1., the problem with brightness can be caught easily when the monitor is at standby/off for a longer period and then switched on. Diagonal lines are visible. That's because the brightness is too high. Well, they call it G2 but the important part is that it's a problem.

2., don't judge the monitor instantly after switching it on (except for the diagonal lines ofc, those shouldn't be there even at startup) for it takes about 20-30 minutes for the monitor to warm up completely. It doesn't mean you can't use it or anything, but make sure that you start playing with the settings only after this time has passed else you'll notice that - despite you've already set everything - the picture changes slightly. I'm just mentioning this so you won't misunderstand this phenomenon.