Are Flat Screen Monitors Worth It?

[adams]

For those who have used both regular and flat-screen monitors(I'm not talking about LCD), do you find that the flat-screen monitors make a big difference? Could you comment on particular models?

Thanks,

Adam

 

[Pocatello]

I have both a perfectly flat and somewhat-flat 17 in monitors. I think the perfect-flat screen is a bit better, there is less glare and no distortion of letters.

 

[Vegito]

I think flat screen looks weird but once you use it, it's nice.. the perfect flat ones that looks like it's caved in. But I got a nice 18" LCD, equivlent to a 20" monitor and I love my LCDs...

 

[Phuz]

there is NO competition!
Flatscreen is the ONLY way, I wouldn't go back.

 

[bighurtx82]

Flat screen is the way to go. I went on my old computer with a slightly rounded screen for a few minutes and it sucked so much after being on this new system that has a flat screen monitor.

 

[WD40]

There is a huge difference, especially in terms of glare and distortion. Flat montiors provide way better image geometry than the regular curved screens. Most high-end flat monitors are build with aperture grilles, which have two thin faint lines that are slightly visible. I have two 17" flat models - MAG 796FD and Samsung 700NF. The MAG uses a SONY Trinitron FD CRT and Samsung uses a DiamondTron NF. Both have crisp text quality and good image quality, although samsung is a little better in my opinion. If you intend to buy a 17" model, you should look into ones that can do 1280*1024@85Hz and have sophisticated OSD controls.

Good 17" models:
NEC FE750
Samsung 700NF
Sony G200 - This one is really good, but expensive

I don't like flat shadow masks such as the samsung 700IFT because they are NOT really flat. They use curved screens with spacial flat glass.

Good 19" models:
NEC FE950
Samsung 900NF
Sony G400

 

[Wingznut]

I went from an average .28 Sylvania monitor, to a Viewsonic .25 ap grille monitor.

There's no contest. Flat is all that, and a bag of pretzels.

 

[bluezebra1098]

Once you go FLAT you never go BACK!

 

[Doctorweir]

I use an LG Flatron for a year now and believe me, every time I look into my old monitor attached to my second PC it's like lookin' through the bottom of your beer-glas

Flat rocks, FlatRON even more (least reflections of all Flattys! )
Watch out for the 19" Flatron released soon!

That reminds me of opening a thread on gaming with TFTs
So long...

 

[lenjack]

Having never seen one, I didn't think it would make much difference, but at a computer show, I walked past a row of monitors and one of them caught my eye. I was stunned by the sight of a flat screen. It jumped out at me from 30 feet away. The curved screens next to it looked miserable in comparison. I have a curved screen at home, but I'm looking for excuses to dump it even though it is very good.

 

[adams]

Hmm... Pretty positive responses. Anyone else? Particular models you like?

 

[Wingznut]

What size and price range are you looking for?

For $500, I have absolutely no complaints about my 19" Viewsonic PF790.

 

[adams]

I'm looking for a 19 inch, and I'd love to keep it less than $400. But I'd consider spending more if need be.

 

[Lore]

adams:

KDS AV-195TF and Samsung 900NF.

 

[stingygrrl]

I'm looking at the new NEC Accusync 95F--- .25 DP, 1600x1200@76, flat screen, 19". I just can't find one in the area to go look at. But the specs sound impressive to me. $333 at Onvia, minus any coupon you might find..

 

[RayEarth]

the people that say "once you go flat, there's no going back" is a lie, everyday i look at my $359 "17 flat screen viewsonic PF77 & then i go use my other computer, a "15 .28mm dot pitch big bubble screen, i go back & forth flat to bubble everyday without a problem, so i'm here to say there is going back! also, all the new monitors today, tube or flat have some glare to it, especically the tube ones, but back in the days, like my old "15 monitor has no glare at all & geometry problems didn't even exist, but now, as monitors get bigger & technology changes, the chances of getting a droop in the middle of the screen seems to get higher, good thing? i really wonder what happened on the way to improving monitor size & technology, i hope a 2nd generation flat screen tube comes out soon & has no glare at all & a lower chance of geometry problems. only if i had a time machine, i would go 2000 years ahead of time & grab a monitor & bring it back, but 2000 years is a long time & by then all of earth's resources could be gone & might be a savage land where humans fight for whatever resources they can find.

 

[snow patrol]

I've had my 19" trinitron flat screen for around 2 months now, and it has to be said that the flat screen is fantastic. It does take a little qhile to get used to, and as someone has already stated, initially you think that the monitor is concave. It isn't though, it's nice and flat, just like a good monitor should be.

My fathers 17" monitor looks unbelievealbey curved whenever I use it now, and I'd have to say that now I have flat, I couldn't go back (unless I was absolutely forced to of course! )

 

[PliotronX]

My Sony is perfectly flat but has those dang geometry problems

 

[Jumpem]

PliotronX, geometry problems? Please explain further! Thanks.

 

[tonyou]

I kind of miss the feeling of looking at my flat screen monitor and thinking that it's concaved. Now my eyes are adjusted to looking at my iiyama Vision Master Pro 450, I can actually look at every monitor without distortion. I know this sounds weird, but its true!

Tony

 

[zuffy]

Once you go flat screen you can't go back... you look at traditional monitors and TVs as weird. Love my Sony F400 and my Sony WEGA.

 

[Shudder]

I've had a 17 inch acer at work and it seemed fine to me. Not too bad at all really. Then I get other PCs to set up for people and the only monitor to use is a flatscreen Mitsubishi Diamond and man, everytime I look at my regular monitor right away I think I'm looking at a computer hooked up to a TV. After a few minutes I'm used to it again, but dear god it's so obvious it's not even funny. I thought I'd hate those faint lines, but you really don't notice them after a while

 

[Geeforcer]

Hey people, I read a lot of good thing about ViewSonic G790 but I have never seen one. Is it a Flat Screen or not?

 

[Doggiedog]

Love the flatness of my Sony G500 but like PliotronX said I've got geometry problems too.

The picture cannot be made into a perfect square so you are always wasting some edge space.

There are also some convergence problems too where the right corner of my monitor is slightly red while the opposite side is blue. I've gone through 5 G500s (returned 3) so I know what I'm talking about.

 

[MasterMind]

Flat screen technology still needs some work but no real geometry or convergence problems with my Sony E400. The adjustment controls do a good job sizing the display. I really like the in/out enlargement control that expands all sides of the display.

I returned a few flat screens before I went with the Sony. I tried 2 Viewsonic PF790's but returned both because the corners were green. The NEC FE950 went back because the damper wires weren't straight. Also a little brown in the corners but not as bad as the Viewsonic.

The color on the Sony blows both away. The whites are whiter and colors are brighter plus the sharpness is amazing. My only complaint is the damn wires!