Which 21" CRT?

[d2tu]

I've narrowed it down to these 3 choices...

NEC-Mitsubishi FP2141SB-BK
Viewsonic P225f
Sony CPD-G520P

I can't really find any solid comparison reviews for these monitors out there where they use a tool or piece of software to compare the bunch. I've already read Tomshardware and PCWorld but their reviews aren't that in depth. Also read a couple on Amazon and Epionions and other random places but no definitive answers. So, I figure its time to ask the crowd who would actually be using these monitors...

Btw, I'm not gonna go for an lcd because for the same price of these monitors (500-600) I would only be able to get a 17" LCD that has 15ms response time or a 19" LCD that has 25ms at 1280x1024 resolution. I need at least 1600x1200 which is why I'm going for large CRT.

 

[mikeford]

Keep in mind on a LCD the inches are the real viewable inches, ie 19" lcd has about the same viewable area as a 20 or 21" CRT (which goes by the entire face of the tube even if its under the front bezel). What the CRT has a slight edge on is the dot pitch, but you better have some good eyes.

I use a Lacie ElectronBlue 22, a 22" excellent monitor sourced by Mitsubishi , and I couldn't go back to a smaller monitor. OTOH in the morning that 1600x1200 needs some caffine before I can read it.

OTOH clearly in a few years LCD will rule. Just look at the Apple Cinema display and you can see its just a matter of prices dropping.

Great deals are out there for used big CRTs, I found mine for $65 at a swapmeet, and recently bought a Compaq P1100 for $80.

 

[Excelsior]

I say the NEC/Mitsu. You might also wan't to check out the HardOCP forums.

 

[nRollo]

I just got a NEC FE 2111 SB-BK, love it. I have a 19" Sony I bought last year also, I think the Diamondtron offers comparable IQ. The Superbright modes are nice, although in my opinion unnecessary on the aperture grille type monitors. They seem much brighter in normal operation anyway.

Keep in mind on a LCD the inches are the real viewable inches, ie 19" lcd has about the same viewable area as a 20 or 21" CRT (which goes by the entire face of the tube even if its under the front bezel).

This may be true, but :
21" monitors are 20" viewable, and if the NEC he mentions is like mine, it's actually a 22" with 20" viewable. (and perfectly flat)
19" lcds with decent response time are still a lot more than 20" viewable crts
There's the whole "native resolution" issue on lcds