brizad - 8:45 am on Oct 25, 2004 (gmt 0)

I'll preface this by saying I hope this is not too dumb of a question, but I have used the same 17" CRT monitor for 5 years, and for 5 years before that a 15" CRT. Now that I am looking for a new monitor I am finding myself a little confused.

I was/am having the problems with eyestrain. I work about 12 hrs/day on the computer (which probably has a lot to do with it.)

People say that and LCD monitor is easier on the eyes. So even though I had never used an LCD monitor before, yesterday I bought a highly rated 17" LCD.

The thing was that the native resolution was 1280x1024. For web design I use 1024x768 as my default setting. I wasn't comfortable using the 1280x1024 setting because there is so much extra space that I figured it would skewer my designs and I might start making the pages too wide. I mean, I know how to set a page to 800 wide but I guess you get used to seeing designs, pages, etc a certain way, and anything else looks strange.

Anyway, today I took back the LCD but now I am wondering was that a dumb move? Could/should I have gotten used to it? Would not being able to change resolutions really be that big of a deal? Would the lower potential eyestrain offset the "strangeness" of the larger screen?

Today I started looking for a high-quality 17 or 19 inch CRT. Then I thought about getting a 19" monitor and I wondered if this wouldn't be the same thing. If I got a 19" CRT wouldn't I be dealing wiht the same issues? Or if I just kept it at the same 1024x768 setting would It all just be relative?

It's been 5 years since I went from 15" to 17" and I just can't remember what the difference were.

Thanks for your help!