While I am struggling with my own financial demons about upgrading my PC altogether, I may as well throw in a question about monitors.I've believed for years that CRTs are the be-all and end-all and no LCD can touch a good CRT. Truth is I am fed up with 75 lb monsters on my desks (I have half a dozen of them at home by now) and I am seriously ready to consider an LCD that weighs 18 lbs. I didn't think I'd be ready to think like this, but I am. (And my back is killing me from those CRTs!)I already have a DELL Ultrasharp 19" and it's nice, but not amazing. A good workhorse. I use it for instruments, radios, FSNav maps, etc. But I want a great LCD monitor for actually flying the FS a/c inside the 2D or 3D cockpit, and for spot viewing.Can anybody recommend a killer LCD for FS9 for under $1,000? I was looking at the Viewsonic range of LCDs (they seem to make great everything), but maybe I should broaden the search.Appreciate any posts on this, thanks!JS

I have a Dell Ultrasharp 1600x1200 max resolution (approx. $900). Being a CRT guy for years I didn't think I could ever convert. Boy was I ever wrong. What a beauty this is. Flying with FS9 has never been better. Since I always fly at 1600x1200 the clarity is spectacular and frankly put my Dell CRT 19" to shame.

Len:Now THAT is the kinda post I needed to see!!I am looking at this right now:DELL UltraSharp 2001FP 20.1-inch Flat Panel LCD Monitor with Height Adjustable Stand $799.00 Diagonal Size: 20.1" Viewable Size: 20.1" Display Type: Flat panel display/TFT active matrix - desktop Depth: 9.67" Height: With stand: 25" (fully extended in portrait mode), 18" (compressed/locked in landscape mode) Weight: 18.72 lbs (with stand and head) Width: 17.6" Image Max H-View Angle:

My brother bought the Sony 19" with the XBRIGHT screen and they are the gaming machine currently with a true black to black response time of something like 12ms. It is only 1280x but he says doesn't matter for FS as it looks great. I am inclined to wait until I can get 12ms at 1600x. I do FSP's so want the true fast response time. They say even teh 16ms screens can show ghosting. The XBRIGHT screens are truly remarkable.Noel

That is a lovely set of specs but I don't see the most important one for a gamer. (Yes, FS is a game even if we don't like to admit it. ;)) You must have a good response time or you risk blury images. My 19" ViewSonic VX910 isn't near as fancy on many of those specs but it has a 16ms response time and displays FS04 just great at 1280X1024. Bob "FlyBert" Stiles has a Samsung 17 incher with 12ms response... the fastest there is so far as I've heard. Usually if they don't brag about the response time they are 25 or even 30 ms... not fast enough for gamers IMO. BTW if you shop around a bit you can find my ViewSonic for under five hundred bucks. Not trying to rain on your parade but something you may want to consider. :)

These are a couple of pics of my ViewSonic:http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/105047.jpgOK... I'm not the greatest at using my digital camera yet... blotted out the screen with the flash. But you can get a general idea.http://forums.avsim.net/user_files/105048.jpgWith my finger over the flash. It is great... much better in person. I couldn't go back to a CRT. I had to do some stuff on my wife's 17" CRT a few weeks ago and could hardly stand it.OK... I'm not trying to talk you into the ViewSonic. I love it but I will admit there are some downsides to it. For one the stand will not adjust any lower than what you see here. A sixteenth of an inch higher and I would have had to raise that shelf rendering it useless.But please consider response time in your calculations. :)

Noel,"They say even teh 16ms screens can show ghosting."I haven't had any problems with my ViewSonic 19" at 16ms and I run a lot of racing sims and pinball games. But I surely wouldn't want to risk going any slower. That Sony does sound like a great monitor but my wife would kill me if I replaced the ViewSonic so soon... or in the next couple of years for that matter. :-lol

I am using an LG flat panel > http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/in...oduct_uid=54716In my eyes its an awesome piece of kit, extremely crisp and clear, lovely bright colours, and a nice dark black, plus, even though it "only" states 25ms refresh, I play CS:Source with no ghosting or anything.Dan.

Not ready for an LCD yet, but I'm sure I'll get there eventually. I am blessed with one of the best CRTs every to become available at $1,700 from Sony:GDM-F52021"2048x1536.22 aperture grille pitch (very very fine)--my diabetic eyes can read 3 point font at that resolution--from 16" away!perfect symmetry & colorbeautiful image from any angle.Hopefully, when it dies, one will be able to find tigher grained LCDs with XBRIGHT type displays, at 1600 minimum, with 12ms response times or better. It would have to hit this before it outperformed this CRT.

Unfortunately, you are blessed with extreme 'Gamma' radiation also by using a CRT.One of the advantages of using a LCD flat screen is, very very low radiation risks.No offence intended, each to their own?All the best,Dave.'Three greens and soft landings'

Well I have been a convinced CRT supporter with a 19 inch monitor that gives what I thought was a very sharp display very similar to that Sony (I used one of these at work and my son has one). Needing to replace my old second monitor I borrowed my wifes 17 inch LCD and was amazed at how much sharper its display is compared to the 19 inch CRT next to it. Now I am considering getting a 19 ich LCD and making it my main monitor. With the prices of LCDs continuing to fall and the specs getting better the days of CRT monitors have just about passed.Bruceb

Tom and others:Thanks for jumping in with comments and pix.Yes, I actually did review response time for several LCDs and I decided already that it has to be at least 16 ms or less. It seems that many LCDs do produce "ghosting" at higher times and that would be annoying.Viewsonice seem to make some great stuff and I am always checking back with them. Great prices for them at New Egg as well.I am intrigued to note how longtime CRT simmers have been fully "converted" to LCD'dom after expressing fears or anxiety that LCDs might disappoint them. For my part, I still find LCDs quirky, but maybe it's just a question of time sitting in front of an LCD for long enough to realize the benefits.I do like the idea of being bombarded with lower doses of radiation with an LCD as well.I'll keep surfing and might go out and look at some LCDs this weekend.Cheers!JS

Noel:Surely that CRT is keeper for years to come? Wish I had that !!JS

JS,"I am intrigued to note how longtime CRT simmers have been fully "converted" to LCD'dom after expressing fears or anxiety that LCDs might disappoint them. For my part, I still find LCDs quirky, but maybe it's just a question of time sitting in front of an LCD for long enough to realize the benefits."I had long figured that the LCD monitors were something I could leave for the far off future. I was very content with my old 17" (15.9 viewable) CRT. Then I attended the AVSIM Conference last September. In the vendors room there had to be a hundred LCDs of various sizes. At some of the tables you could see LCDs & CRTs side by side. From then on I had to get a LCD. It was like 6 weeks later that I got my ViewSonic. Like most new LCD users I had visions of using both... the LCD over the digital line... the CRT over the analog one. This can be done and FS is one of the more usful applications for it. But I was like all the other LCD users I've talked to. Once you have them side by side you don't want anything more to do with the CRT. 15.9" viewable to 19" viewable is only slightly over 3" but that is a massive 3" on your desktop.For about a week the ViewSonic was connected analog until I could find a digital cable. I was already sold on the brighter colors and crisper appearance. But the difference in the brightness of the colors once I put it on the digital cable was amazing.If you try it you wont be able to go back! :) Good luck with your decision. ;)

Thanks again Tom. I am actually using the LCD + CRT setup for FS9 and have used it this way with FS2002 as well for about 2 years. I was at AVSIM Denver myself (guess we didn't meet, hah!) and I observed how the Captain Sim fleet of aircraft did look sensational on those LCDs and that's when I started asking myself, hmm, could I get incredible images like that at home?I tried running FS9 on my DELL Ultrasharp LCD but the image look excessively clear and like a sort of vivid waking dream. It lacked the "warmth" of my 21" CRT monitor which also displays fleshy tones pretty well. So I have used the LCD entirely for maps, radios, pedestal, etc., the undocked stuff of FS. And that works well and looks good.I've been thinking about buying the giant Viewsonic CRT p225fb which seems to have won high acclaim from many; but I dread another 70 lbs of deadweight on my desk to replace the existing beast. I want lightweight if possible and something I can move around and switch and add to easily. So, thanks for your posts and words. It's all part of my journey. I'll get there eventually but I still don't honestly know my destination!JS