Computer Monitors, CRT or LCD?

My monitor is becoming blurry to the point where I have to move the window to the center of the screen to read small text. This is madness. So I'm going to buy a new monitor.

I do everything with my computer; watch TV, DVD's, graphic design (requires accurate color), engineering (requires MATLAB and coffee), writing papers, reading PDF's, gaming (3d fast-paced stuff usually), etc.

1. Under $1000
2. design/photo quality color. I should be able to tell the difference between Pantone swatches. This doesn't mean PERFECT color, but pretty close.
3. Fast. Games, movies, TV... it should all have no ghosting. I hate ghosting.
4. Ability to do 1600x1200 at ~100 Hz refresh. Even more would be nice.

I'm having a hard time finding reviews on CRT's. Do you think there is an LCD that will fit this description? Do those of you that have LCD's miss things about CRT's? I'd rather have a huge monitor that has no compromises elsewhere, than an LCD that has dead pixels and ghosting issues.

Thanks!

I still don't like LCD monitors. People buy them because they look cool and are "flat" not because they are necessarily better than CRTs. Even with the best monitors today you still run into these problems:

Native Resolution = LCDs only look good at one resolution. This is one of the worst problems. Any other resolution is going to look suckier.
Limited Viewing Angles = I hate this. This problem is so 1990s.
Ghosting = The worst for playing games or motion video. Though this has generally been eliminated on all the recent high response LCDs it can still be an issue.
Dead Pixels = Nothing is worse then having a $1000 Monitor with 1 dead pixel.
Lack of a Glass Shield = This is the worst. Ones with no glass shield suck ass since the crap plastic does nothing to protect the screen, gets easily smudged and scratched. Nothing like a ten year old CRT that looks brand new simply from some Windex.

Overall I am holding onto my CRTs until I cannot buy them anymore.

The reason you cannot find reviews is because next to no one is making them anymore. Joe idiot consumer doesn't understand the things I pointed out.

The ONLY good thing about LCDs for graphic designers is that they are perfectly flat.

CRTs also generally have a higher contrast ratio then LCDs.

Also LCDs need to be below 3ms response time to even come close to CRTs.

Also refresh rates are not an issue on LCDs. The response time is locked and is only related to motion.

I understand those issues, but I was wondering if they still have those problems. When a review says 'so fast you can hardly tell it's ghosting', I'm not sure if I should believe it.

My main problem is to find a CRT for sale. I really am having trouble finding one, much less the one I want.

They will always have those problems so long as they are LCD. The one issue = ghosting is reduce and for the most part noticeably eliminated on the ones with very high response times 3-4ms or less.

I would chance to believe the reviewer is blind.

The fastest LCD's can only compete with the slowest phospher CRT's. And those kind of persistance phosphors were never used on computer monitors.

Arugh. The more I look, the more annoyed I am. It's tempting to buy a cheap(ish) LCD knowing that I'll get something better later.

My only beef with a CRT is the size and weight issues.

There really seems like no perfect solution here.

No there isn't and that is problem. Now if I knew that you did not want to do graphic work on it, it would be easier. I have the same issues with CRTs:

Size
Weight
Power Consumption
Lifespan (LCDs should last much longer dead pixels aside)

Honestly if you only big problem is ghosting and you can deal with the native resolution, then getting something with a 2-3ms response time should be acceptable. Go to some stores and have them play back the Matrix Reloaded Fight Scenes on DVD and a recent racing video game. If you cannot notice anything then it should be ok. The real new LCDs are not too bad and are nothing like the horrendous ghosting when they first came out.

From what I can find, a 2-3 ms response time is only available on 19" LCD monitors, with resolutions far below what I want. Even the widescreen 20" monitors don't have the resolution I want. The regular 20" monitors would work, but the response time seems to max out at 16ms.

I think it's clear that I'll only be satisfied with a CRT. I don't mind my current computer setup, even though the monitor takes up a TON of room. Also, I went shopping for a new monitor last year and decided to wait a while for the LCD's to get better. But, they still have a ways to go and I can't wait any longer.

Now to find a CRT that works...

Thus far, this is the one I want.

Viewsonic G225fB
[website]