Well, I did it. After months of research and fretting. Yep. I gots me a flat panel LCD primary monitor for FS2004 after SWEARING they were a crock. I admit it, I am impressed!!I got a DELL Ultrasharp 2001 FP (404 square inches of visual real estate) which I use with a DELL Ultrasharp 1800FP (that I've had for almost 2 years to run FSNavgiator, radios, and cockpit panels) using a DELL factory standard Ti4600 card with 56.72 drivers. Both monitors are analog. The image of FS2004 is, to put it simply and frankly, fantastic. The colors and the reflections are stupendous, especially at dawn and dusk. Night colors and lighting look very realistic and exciting. In particular, aircraft lights and lighting of the cockpit and panels, strobes, etc. is amazingly realistic and far exceeds my expectations. I did not realize how much my older CRT had deteriorated with time and also while the tones were fleshy and lifelike, they were half dead compared with this new LCD where the reds, yellows, and blues are stunningly real and deeply saturated.The res is 1600x1200x32 bit, no FSAA, no aniso. There are no visible jaggies. With the FS-GS tweak I did last spring and some additional tweaking, I have a frame lock at 22 which it holds much of the time except for dense cumulus when it falls to half of this figure.If this keeps up, my trusty DELL P1110 21" Trinitron will be retired honorably, peacefully, and permanently, and I will be an LCD convert. In addition, I may not have to spend another $700 to upgrade my video card, processor, and power supply. If you saw FS on my PC now, you'd think I had a brand new $3000 system.So far, this is looking like a deal well done with DELL. I got it for $549 + tax. Plus it weighs 19 lbs which my back enjoys. And I have reclaimed about 4 square feet of desktop space.JS

I have the same monitor you just bought. I also swore I'd never have an LCD, but it's great! :-) The key is in the 'ultrasharp' I suspect. 20.1" of real estate...lol

Indeed! It is ultrasharp even in 1280x960 which is my default Windows XP desktop. The boldness and saturation are superb. Off to test Fs9 one last time before beddie-byes. Wow, thank you to the PC-gods. It all installed well, functions great, and every pixel shines!JS

I don't want myself to sound rude but what is that? An advertisement to Dell??Many people move to LCD's today and they would never go back to CRT's. It looks like a discovery of America to me...

Not to be rude myself, but this is a message board and this meesage is just about general chit chat.Maybe it is also discovery for some people. There's nothiing wrong with that either.Thanks for playing.

Two things I have heard with LCDs is 1) Ghosting win panning or moving quickly about and 2)You cannot achieve true Black. Maybe that is only with the first generations but could you guys verify those are no longer an issue?

I just got the Dell Ultrasharp 20.1 as well. It's great! I can't decide which might be better frame rates 1600X1200 and no AA or AS, or 1280X960 with 4x AA and 4x AS.Any thoughts?Lee

The black is just fine for me.

If I had money like hay, I wouldn't hesitate to buy me the biggest LCD available as well. Or a beamer, or better a couple of them...Honestly, I'm in the IT business, and employee of one of the biggest monitor producers (CRT and LCD in every fashion) worldwide.And even our technicians couldn't convince me of the "big" advantages of LCDs that would justify the giant prices they cost.They can have pixel errors even when brand new (and I tell you, even a _single_ wrong pixel would drive me mad), they have a shorter lifespan than CRTs (correct me when I'm wrong here), and they cost a #### of a lot of money.I currently have one of the best 21" CRTs available, costing well around 1400 US$, I got this for free (I'd be crazy if I'd buy something that expensive), and I'm completely satisfied.I like LCDs, admitted, especially the new Sony black...something series, but I guess it's about personal preferences as well.Every day I have to deal with monitors and laptops, and while I always can see the black gaps between the transistors on any LCD (I currently have a 1600x1200 laptop with a screen diameter of only about 14-15" to my right, and even there I can clearly see them), they are not so visible on a CRT. CRTs "blur" somehow, which makes the picture more appealing to me.But when prices drop to CRT levels, I'll probably reconsider buying an LCD...Andreas

I'm also a recent convert.After months of a reading reviews I've finally took the plunge and bought the Samsung 172x and the diffrence is stunning .I for one will never go back to CRT.The images are incredibly sharp and the colours are ...well you'll just have to see for yourself.One more thing,I can't detect any ghosting at all which was my biggest concern as to the move to LCD.The monitor is partnered to an ATI X800 PRO if anyone wants to know.

Hi thereI have the same monitor and agree it is very good.But you must put a vidro card with DVI on your shopping list, if you think the image is good now you will be amazed when you see it on a digital output.Belivee me these monitors are only at full potential on a DVI port.

If your video card and/or processor are stressed, chop the FSAA and AS and keep the 1600x1200x32 res. It is stunningly sharp for me.JS

Hi, Mad Dog:Yeah, I think I read the same thing. If I got an nVidia 6800GT, would that do it?That said, I am frankly amazed at the image rendered by my humble old Ti4600. It really is remarkably better and very handsome. (Actually, I am not sure I really understand what makes DVI "tick" and why it is reportedly so much better than analog.)JS

I guess I do like DELL. I have 3 of 'em and they last forever and are reliable workhorses. I have always been impressed with their monitors. I have 7 monitors and the DELL Trinitron CRT series was superb. This new LCD is also superb and for the money, it's hard to beat, I think.JS

(Actually, I am not sure I really understand what>makes DVI "tick" and why it is reportedly so much better than>analog.)>>JSDigital vs analog,like comparing a record album to a CD of the same music.David