Buying new Monitor 600$ limit - help

[Cyan]

I'm looking to buy a new 20" viewable surface Monitor
I play alotta games and read alotta text.
I need sharp text.

I'm not sure what's so great about flat screen - if you could tell me that would be nice -

With the other flat screen I tried it has two (small but apparent) horizontal lines running across the screen, I looked at some in the store and most of them seemed also to have this - so If they have that, both why? and why would It be worth having flat screen monitor?

On the other monitor I tried (perfect flat) I was having alot of trouble with the sharpness setting - I'm not used to this setting as I thought that all monitors come with sharpness in mind. Do all perfect flats (or most) have this setting? (I should note that the sharpness setting is one that controls the focus of the screen, like a camera does - which Is why I cant get it perfect)

What is dot pitch and what's a good number?
What is apperature grille and what's a good number?

What the diff between Shadowmask and Aperature Grille?

What is diagonal pitch, and why do some monitors not have it?

And then - Is this a good monitor?

G220fb
http://www.viewsonic.com/products/crt_g220fb.htm

I tried the P220f monitor, but I couldn't get a sharp picture (text was fuzzy) and it had those two horizontal lines running across the screen.

Thank you very much
-Cyan

[tony_j15]

Without going into detail, that is an excellent monitor you have selected.

[omega31]

That looks to be a good monitor. Those 2 horizontal lines are present on all aperture grille (Trinitron, Diamondtron) monitors. I had forgotten all about those 2 horizontal lines on my monitor until I ran across this post.

[Cyan]

Thank you for the replies

omega31 am I to understand that if the monitor is not (or does not in that case) an aperature grille then it should not have those two horizontal lines?

When I looked at the product comparison chart at Viewsonic they have the "CRT Type" listed as Shadowmask for the G220fb and Aperature Grille for teh P220fb. The G220fb has no mention of having any sort of aperature grille, instead it says dot pitch.

For the G220fb

.21mm horizontal dot pitch
.25mm diagonal dot pitch
This ultra-fine dot pitch produces clear, crisp images with precise picture definition, even at the highest resolutions.

For the P220fb

.25mm aperture grille [at center]
.27mm aperture grille [at corner]
This ultra-fine aperture grille pitch produces clear, crisp images with rich, vivid color, even at the highest resolutions.

I just wonder because those lines REALLY bother me. I know I'll get used to them... but I don't "want" to get used to them so to say.

[BadBadNeil]

Every good monitor i've ever used in my life has had those lines whether its Diamatron, Vivitron, Trinitron, etc and I've used quite a few. Its funny because I forgot all about those lines till I saw this thread then I noticed them

Best monitors i've used to throw in my 2 cents are from NEC/Mitsubishi. They make really great designer quality monitors with great anti glare, awesome text clarity, great color etc.

With the flat screens you dont get the distortion and pinching at the corners of the screens as in rounder ones and on all flatscreens i've used they use an antiglare system. Most high quality ones you see nowadays are flat.

As for dotch pitch, all monitors have a dot pitch rating. Typically the lower the better and typically .25 and under is best.

Good Luck

[omega31]

This says the G220F and G220FB are Shadow Mask:
http://www.viewsonic.com/pdf/compchart_crt.pdf

As for what those 2 lines are, check these readings on aperture grille:
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/monitors/grille.html
http://www.necmitsubishi.com/css/Tec...ure_grille.pdf
http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/accessories.../aperture.html

[Recordlord]

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/P...=19&iCompatid=

[Cyan]

So then...

From what I read then, a shadowmast CRT should not have those two horizontal lines because it does not need the two stabalizing wires as does the aperature grille (no shadow of the wire?).

And since dot pitch ratings of .25 and under tend to result in sharper images (text rather maybe), then a shadowmask of .21 - .25 should be sharper than a aperature grille of .25 - .27?

The problem with the P220f is that I couldn't get text to appear as sharp as I was used to it being with my 19" CRT (not flat). Maily due to the ability to controll the "focus" of the screen vertically and horizontally.

[Recordlord]

If I were you I wouldnt buy another monitor. You seem to be the type that wouldnt be satisfied with anything. The flat screen Trinitron is about the best out there relative to CRTs. Its a hell of a lot better than to trying to read Text on a basketball. If it aint flat its distorted.

[Cyan]

The problem (main one) that I had with the P220f is that I could'nt get the dang thing into "focus" It had controlls there which let you controll the positions of the focusing on the screen - While I could get one part in GREAT focus - the rest of the screen would be muddy ****. Basically what I'm asking for in this post is if most (if not all) Flat Screen 20" CRT's have a function on them that make you focus the screen??

The best I could do with the other monitor is get it to the point where the overall sharpness was moderately acceptable - but It was inconsitent across the screen and VERY very annoying - If I was reading a webpage or the like, (for example) Part of the text would go from sharp to blurry.

I'm not sure if the G220fb has the focusing function or not, if it does, I'll probably not buy it. If ya peeps out there can tell me monitors (20" flat screen) that don't have that function, that would be apprectiated.

[ConfusedAlien]

there is so much difference between flat...TRUE FLAT, and a regular tube. As somebody said, crts are distorted. also, it is sooooo easy to read. No more cramps, and glare? NONE.
Get the Trinitron tube.

Viewsonic is nice, but that for under 600? no way, not yet. You should get the DELL OEM part trinitron tube 21 inch for only 300 bucks. merkortech.com

I bought a 22 inch sony trinitron 3 years ago for like a 1000 bucks.
still works like a charm. Turns on in less than 3 seconds. I mean when you turn on crts it takes about half a minute to warm up. These just seem to snap on.

So good luck on your search. BUT if I were you, I would look at those goggles for gaming. Its sweet. And later 3D and Imax screens are coming out. I'll probably get one of those goodies.

[Cyan]

Wait... so ConfusedAlien, what your saying is that there is no way that the G220fb is under 600$?

Well... If that's what you mean by your post, I should tell you that it IS 500$.

That is... if I understand what you're trying to say... but your post sounds... well... abit "confused".

[Cyan]

Okay - I called Viewsonic and the tech guy said that the shadowmask G220fb does not have the horizontal lines (no shadow of the wire) and that shadowmasks TEND to be sharper than aperature grille, However, the G220fb does have a focus function and he tried it out and said that he couldn't get the text to be as sharp as his 19" monitor (that he was using at work)

So I'm looking to buy a shadowmask 20" (viewable) monitor perfect-flat without a setting for "focus" - - 600$ limit give or take 30$

Now I'm looking for suggestions

[DocEvi1]

I haven't read the whole post but:

I bought a Viewsonic P95F a while back (check the link here) and was very cagey about the shadow lines. Suffice to say I agree with BadBadNeil, I completly forgot those lines exist, the computers at UNI are the same and I didn't even notice, the lines just disappear into the background.

I like Viewsonic, the quality of the monitor has shone through against the crappy Iiyama 1451's and SMT900's that I had before it. The quality of text is brilliant and I was completly shocked by the quality of DVD playback - it is that far removed from the poorer 19" I had before (they broke lots of times and were replaced frequently). I say get an AG tube and don't worry, I paid £352 for mine and have loved it since (apart from an annoying clunk as it starts up).

Stefan

[Cyan]

I called Viewsonic's tech support (again) and asked about WHY the perfect flat wasn't as sharp as my normal 19" CRT, they explained that the 'nature of the tube' makes flat screen CRT's "softer" on the focus.

Does this mean that all flat screens are basically softer on focus?

and... for this reason, should I get a 20" non-flat CRT? or just grit and bear the G220fb?