LCD Flat Panel vs. CRT Monitors

[JaysonFromMaine]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img] Macs are cool..

[Marko]

General computer use = LCD flat screen. Much better in almost every way. Less eyestrain, less heat, less energy, less desk space.

Color profiled environments (such as Photoshop work for output) or anything which requires precise color management = CRT monitors. They're calibratable (the better ones, such as the La Cie monitors, are). Theoretically LCDs are too, but because they change apparent color as your head and eyes move in relation to the position of the screen, it is nearly impossible to know exactly what color you're looking at. This remains a problem even with "extended viewing angle" LCDs. I mean, you can't calibrate the position of your head, and even if you could it would be pretty uncomfortable. If Photoshop is important and you want your output to match what you see on screen, stick with the old technology. If its only for web output, though, I'd be inclined to go with an LCD.

I use a mid-level 15" LCD on my Windows machine, which I use primarily for word processing, web surfing, and gaming. For all these purposes, LCDs are the way to go. However, all my Photoshop work is done on my Mac G4, with a 19" hardware-calibratable CRT.

[JaysonFromMaine]

its a flat screen CRT...thay are a classic graphics moniter...well recpected

[Richie]

Thats cool... I thought you were refering to an LCD.

-Richie

[hawkspring0]

Thanks Marko, this sounds like very good advice. This seems to be consistent with advice that I've heard elsewhere that the right answer is to have two computers. Oh well, over time maybe.

Lonnie