Wonder why Sony stopped making the FW900 CRT monitor...

AMD64Blondie

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Apr 20, 2013
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I've often wondered why Sony stopped production on the FW900 wide screen CRT monitor.

(I own and still use daily a 2003 HP A7217A,it's basically a re-badged FW900-the best monitor I've ever personally used.)

I think it would be cool if Sony started making the FW900 again.(brand-new 2013 wide screen CRT monitors.)

Don't think they'd sell very well,as people are obsessed with LCD monitors now..but I would buy at least 2 more brand new (built in 2013) FW900 CRT monitors.


(Have no idea where I would store them,but it would personally be worth the size and weight for me having backup wide screen CRTs on hand.)


I'm a old-school kind of guy with computers-still use the venerable IBM Model M keyboard on both my desktop PCs.
 
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Genx87

Lifer
Apr 8, 2002
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You answered your own question. People prefer LCDs which is why they stopped making CRTs.
 

Imouto

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Jul 6, 2011
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Coming back in few years to complain about having trouble to get a printed newspaper.
 

Vesku

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Aug 25, 2005
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Killed by the form factor, same reason big box PCs are slowly dying. They'd already be mostly dead, imo, if it wasn't for the fact you can keep them under the desk.

Shame Field Emission Displays were never commercialized:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_emission_display

Even the offshoot SED which was supposed to be easier to commercialize has been abandoned:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-conduction_electron-emitter_display

Guess everyone has to wait for affordable and long lived large OLED panels.
 
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Magic Carpet

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2011
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120hz LCD w/ lightboost > CRT
Are you kidding me?

Even OLEDs can't match CRT superiority.

I'm a old-school kind of guy with computers-still use the venerable IBM Model M keyboard on both my desktop PCs.
I've been a Natural Keyboard Elite fan for 15 years and counting :cool:

Thanks for coming forward and starting this topic. For a change :thumbsup:
 
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Makaveli

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2002
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Killed by the form factor, same reason big box PCs are slowly dying. They'd already be mostly dead, imo, if it wasn't for the fact you can keep them under the desk.

Shame Field Emission Displays were never commercialized:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_emission_display

Even the offshoot SED which was supposed to be easier to commercialize has been abandoned:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface-conduction_electron-emitter_display

Guess everyone has to wait for affordable and long lived large OLED panels.

The market is definitely getting smaller for desktop pc but they are not going anywhere.

For anyone that needs power the space/heat limitation of mobile devices will prevent any extinction of desktops.
 

AdamK47

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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I don't think it's that people are obsessed with LCD monitors. People now expect to have LCD monitors. I'd never ever trade my 30" IPS LCD for an old CRT.
 

Black Octagon

Golden Member
Dec 10, 2012
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120hz LCD w/ lightboost > CRT

120Hz LCD w/ LightBoost did not exist when Sony stopped making this particular CRT. So even if your '>' claim was true, it doesn't answer the OP's question

In any case, it's a bit simplistic to compare 'CRT' to 'LCD.' The very best CRTs, especially this Sony, were legendary among hardcore gamers, but several CRTs were very very VERY average. In the same way, the first LCDs, like many of today's cheaper LCDs, were also very very VERY average. The very best and sought after LCDs are still the pursuit of enthusiasts. I imagine the vast majority of the consumer LCD market is taken up by lacklustre, laggy, 1080p eyesores that are lucky to sport more than a VGA connection.
 
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blackened23

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Jul 26, 2011
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Oh boy. CRTs. Don't get me wrong, trinitron and diamondtron were amazing back in the day, but if anyone asked me to go back to the days of buying a new CRT and worrying about bad geometry, trinitron dampening wires, degaussing, loss of clarity over time due to heat, and a power guzzling 60 pound hunk of junk that emits more heat than a space heater, I would say no thank you.

There are trade-offs with every panel technology, none are perfect yet. That being said, the trade-offs with CRTs tilt the decision far too heavily in favor of IPS/LCD - which is why CRTs are no longer produced. I would never get a 50 pound hunk of junk CRT regardless of the motion clarify. No thanks, this isn't 1999 anymore.
 
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nitromullet

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2004
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The FW900 is a legend for sure. I think you hit the nail on the head that there is simply not enough demand for them to still be produced.

I'm a old-school kind of guy with computers-still use the venerable IBM Model M keyboard on both my desktop PCs.

I use a Model M at work, and it's great. The good news about this though is that keyboards are not like monitors in that there is a significant enough demand for 'vintage' style keyboards with mechanical switches. There are a number of really good modern options available to fill that need.

I like my Deck Legend just as much as my model M. It is also high quality and pretty weighty for a keyboard, but it has 'modern' features such as native USB and a Win key. Whether you prefer the old beige keyboard with the coiled cord vs. black with back lighting is a matter of preference I guess.
 

Makaveli

Diamond Member
Feb 8, 2002
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Oh boy. CRTs. Don't get me wrong, trinitron and diamondtron were amazing back in the day, but if anyone asked me to go back to the days of buying a new CRT and worrying about bad geometry, trinitron dampening wires, degaussing, loss of clarity over time due to heat, and a power guzzling 60 pound hunk of junk that emits more heat than a space heater, I would say no thank you.

There are trade-offs with every panel technology, none are perfect yet. That being said, the trade-offs with CRTs tilt the decision far too heavily in favor of IPS/LCD - which is why CRTs are no longer produced. I would never get a 50 pound hunk of junk CRT regardless of the motion clarify. No thanks, this isn't 1999 anymore.

lol I had a friend back in the day that use to play one of those stupid sony online games and then he filled his bedroom with PC's and CRT so he could farm and make money to sell online and I swear when I walked into that room after he first set it and it felt like I was in the middle east.

And he actually slept in the room.

I told him if he wants to have children he shouldn't :)
 

Grooveriding

Diamond Member
Dec 25, 2008
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If I could get a brand new FW900 I would pick one up, but you can't any more, so that is that. My last good CRT was a Mitsubishi Diamondtron. They deliver superior IQ when brand new, but have their own obvious drawbacks. Most notably size, radiating heat and the picture degrades quickly in my experience.

The next holy grail of monitors will be 120hz IPS panels in 27"+ sizes with high resolutions. There are already some models that this can be done on with modifications, eventually we'll get them from reputable vendors out of the box with those specs I hope.
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
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Aug 23, 2003
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My biggest problem with CRTs was geometry. LCDs have perfect geometry by design.
 

Stuka87

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Dec 10, 2010
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CRT's are big, heavy, and expensive to manufacture and ship.

I LOVE all the desk space I gained when I moved to LCD's.
 

dualsmp

Golden Member
Aug 16, 2003
1,627
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Oh boy. CRTs. Don't get me wrong, trinitron and diamondtron were amazing back in the day, but if anyone asked me to go back to the days of buying a new CRT and worrying about bad geometry, trinitron dampening wires, degaussing, loss of clarity over time due to heat, and a power guzzling 60 pound hunk of junk that emits more heat than a space heater, I would say no thank you.

There are trade-offs with every panel technology, none are perfect yet. That being said, the trade-offs with CRTs tilt the decision far too heavily in favor of IPS/LCD - which is why CRTs are no longer produced. I would never get a 50 pound hunk of junk CRT regardless of the motion clarify. No thanks, this isn't 1999 anymore.

I used to have a 19" Diamondtron too and it would start to heat up the room after about 2 hours. The Diamondtron used 80 watts on a low brightness setting, my 24" LED LCD now uses around 15 watts on low brightness, I would never go back just for that reason alone.
 

nitromullet

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2004
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My NEC LCD gets pretty warm too. Really, all of my LCDs have... Dell... Eizo... NEC... All got pretty warm. Couple that with a gaming card, and I only rarely need to run the heat while gaming.
 

Stuka87

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Dec 10, 2010
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My NEC LCD gets pretty warm too. Really, all of my LCDs have... Dell... Eizo... NEC... All got pretty warm. Couple that with a gaming card, and I only rarely need to run the heat while gaming.

An LCD will get warm, but a CRT gets hot. My old trinitrons would nearly burn my hand if I touched the top of them. My LCD's are just barely warm to the touch.