What type monitor do you prefer for all day use?

So what do you prefer? CRT or LCD? Resolution and refresh?

[stlouislouis]

Hi,

Many here use their monitor(s) pretty much all day every day. From a standpoint of personal productivity and minimal eyestrain, What type of monitor (and video card if you know) do you prefer and why? What are you using now?

Is it an LCD or CRT?

If LCD, is the connection to your video card analog or DVI?

Many say that an LCD is easier on the eyes and better for someone who mostly does text, reading and other 2D work. Do you agree?

What screen size?

What resolution and refresh rate do you find works best for all day use on what screen size?

Is an LCD easier on your eyes, or is a CRT? Which model?

If you know, what video card are you using?

Do you use one monitor or more than one? For dual head and higher set ups, what do you use each screen for?

Please share any specific models you find easy on the eyes after all day use!

Thanks,

Louis

[martinibuster]

It's well known (though brushed aside by the media) that lcd monitors provide a lower quality view than crt. A graphic designer told me recently that his $4k widescrenn apple monitor wasn't all that great.

I work on a flat screen crt myself.

[tedster]

Yeah - a 17 inch flat screen CRT works for me, too. Very bright, no glare/reflection problems, etc., even in my very sunny office with a southern exposure. I usually run at 1024.

Lots of visitors ask me about the monitor - they're impressed with how easy it is to view. Since I bought it, I find I read more on screen and print less.

[digitalghost]

I use a 19" flat CRT for the majority of my work. I own a 21" but the quality just isn't there.

The 19" can be refreshed at 110 Herz but I keep it at 85 and it seems to work just fine. No sign of flicker. It also has a "warm" setting which is really easy on the eyes and a "sunlight" setting for glare reduction. I use 1024x768 as my default. With a single click I can Degauss.

[Onza]

I use two monitors and cannot imagine working with just one anymore.

I have one 20' and one 17', both CRT. Works great for Dreamweaver and Co. Also very good for copy / paste work and IE Previews when hardcoding.

With Windows NT / 2000 / xp, all you need, is a dual head graphic card. Love it!

[stlouislouis]

Hi,

Thanks for sharing, everyone. If you don't mind, could the folks who really like their monitors share the make and model? Also share the make and models of those monitors that you have found are not easy on your eyes if you would, please. Knowing what to avoid is pretty important, too!

I'm planning to buy another monitor -- thus this thread. Since it will likely be a lot of money, I want to choose a good one.

Even if the one you find works really well for you isn't still available, I can at least look at the monitor specs for clues as to what specs to look for in what I buy.

I really need something easy on the eyes. I'm going to get at least a 19 inch, most likely a 21+ inch high end model if I get another CRT.

LCDs are under consideration too. Many people say they are easier on the eyes than a CRT, especially with a DVI connection from a good video card. But I've never used an LCD. I don't know how true this claim is.

I've read that LCDs do not work as well for graphics and color work, as has been pointed out above. I mostly need sharp text since I mostly read and do programming work, but do need to do graphics OK too.

I'm prepared to spend a lot of money on a good monitor and card combo. I'm planning to use a two monitor setup with a video card that will support an 85-100 refresh at whatever resolution I decide to use (not sure what that will be yet).

I really appreciate your sharing. Lots of folks here spend many hours looking at their monitors every day -- just the kind of real life experience that's so helpful in deciding what to get, since I do the same.

Thanks one and all for being so kind as to share on this,

Louis

[Key_Master]

I don't know if it's still available but I use a 19" Dell M991 [support.ap.dell.com] for the majority of my work. Screen resolution is set to 1024 x 768 with 32 bit color and the refresh rate is set to 100Hz. It has an on screen menu that allows you to degauss, zoom, change color settings, etc, without using PC resources. I've been very happy with it.

[gsx]

I use LCD. But I don't do much in the way of graphics, all text work really. LCD gives much less flicker than even the highest of refresh rate CRT monitors and are therfore better on the eyes.

One problem with LCD - you should only use the exact resolution recommended by the manufacturer, many will display higher and lower resolutions but the text becomes blurry and hard on the eyes.

[deltakits]

I use a 15" Ultra Sharp UXGA screen on my Dell laptop. While I would fully admit that it would probably not be the choice for most people, it is easy on the eyes, and it's 1600X1200 settings make it so you can see everything on the screen without scrolling. Unless you can't read small text, then you're in trouble :)

[mykel]

One thing to keep in mind if you plan on buying a new monitor. The CRT ones with Sony kinescopes have these two thin, horizontal wires that go across the screen and are visible on light colored backgrounds. At least they did when I last checked. Some people don't mind at all, but they drive me nuts (that's why I don't have a Sony)

[mat]

That's the case with more than just Sony monitors. I suspect it applies to most big 'flat-screen' CRT's, and is certainly the case with my Iiyama Vision Master Pro 454 - a lovely beast, incidentally.

Mat

[edit_g]

Anything that won't burn my eyes... ;)

[DerekJPreston]

Greetings,

Personally I use a dual output Radeon 8500 card with a pair of 20" crt's. I run them both at 1600 x 1200. The monitors are both Gateway VX900's; probably so out of date that they're not available any more.

A word of warning: Radeon cards are quick and produce high frame rates where appropriate, however historically I've had numerous driver related problems which have at times taken weeks to resolve.

I'd never select another Radeon card again. Go for the latest Ge-Force card. For a few quid extra, you can have the latest performance and much less hassle.

Best regards