What makes a computer monitor good?

[WA]

I might be purchasing a new monitor soon, though all the specs on a monitor still baffles me somewhat. Some questions:

1) Is there any significant benefit to getting a 19' screen over 17'? Apart from the obvious difference in size, does it practically enable you to do more things than a 17'? I don't do graphic works often on my PC...

2) What is the biggest determinant to the visual quality of a monitor's display? Is it the .dot pitch (ie: 20 MM), refresh rate, both? I'm looking at two monitors, one is 17' and the other 19'. The brand and price are identical, except the former is .20MM and the later is .22MM.

3) I've heard LCD monitors (those thin panel ones) are not very reliable in the long term. Anyone have one of those?

Thanks,

[justame]

wa...
http://compreviews.about.com/library/weekly/aa-crtspecs.htm
seems to just a give® ya the explanations youre looking for til one of the 'forum pros' comes just a long® lol...

http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-2645871-8-20758352-1.html?tag=redirect
gives ya the just a top® five monitors...

n' on just a side® note??? /me has had her sony17"multiscanE200 for just a two® years n' just a loves® it...
n' the boys got just a samsung® with theirrr new comp n' nooo probs so far...:O)))

n' on yourrr questions...
1...ifin' you dont have 'multiple/multiple' windows open??? thennn the ol' 17" twould be just a ok®

2...for some reason??? /me thinks the 'refresh' rate is the mostest important part...aka it just a determines® howww much the screen 'flickers'...lol...

3.../me has worked on thossse kind before n' finds they just a lack® the clarity of the 'hard glass' ones...
n' tooo??? /me is one who tends to just a track® lines with her finger on some 'notepad' coding n' was getting told just a upteen® times...donnnt touch the 'screen'!!! with those flat ones...

[Spookster]

As for the flat panel ones the colors are a bit off as i've noticed when I create graphics on mine I have to check it on an CRT monitor to see what it looks like first.

[mouse]

I think the dot pitch is irrelevant tbh, I mean for a given resolution it'll be proportional to the size of the screen. So a 19" will have bigger pixels than a 17".

Personally I'd get the 19" as you will then be able to use a higher resolution, benefitting from more screen space, without the need for a microscope.

Refresh rate matters if you're interested in higher resolutions, some monitors won't do high resolutions as the monitor can't keep pace with the display adapter. You get an "out of frequency" alert along with large amounts of noise. A higher refresh rae should be easier on the eyes too but that's probably not that much of an issue these days as it'll be out of frequency before it gets too low.

[Thejavaman1]

Personally I really like the Samsung 955DF as it has one of the best price to preformance ratio's around (I managed to get 2 of them for $125 each through a combonation of coupons and rebates, but even at their normal price they are still good).

They use an invar shadow mask, so they are crisper than apature grill monitors, but they are not as bright or dynamic colorwise (not that most people would be able to notice). Its a 19" monitor and does 1280x1024 @ 75hz which gives you a lot of desktop real estate at flicker free refresh rate.

A 19" monitor is worth it over a 17" for both the higher resolution capability, and that things are just bigger when running at the same resolution.

LCD's have color issues (Even the pro level Wacom LCD/drawing surface which is 2k for a 15" still recomends checking the colors on a CRT) and unless your video card has DVI out (most new ones do) and the LCD has DVI in, there can be sync issues (although most have gotten a lot better)

[no way]

if you buy an LCD screen, you can take 1 to 2 iches smaller getting comparable quality. Also, you can set a higer resolution and sit nearer to the screen without damaging your eyes.
Fred