A couple of local computer dealers have told me not to go for a flat screen monitor because their refresh rates, or as they see it lack of adequate refresh rates, will just drag FS9's performance down another notch.I would appreciate any feedback from users of these screens.Thanks.David

I've got two NEC 18.1" flat screens and think they're great. No problems whatsoever with FS.Refresh rate is 72 at 1280x1024. Don't notice any flicker or artifacts, etc.Matt

Not true. Try this for reference:http://www4.tomshardware.com/display/20030626/index.htmlAllcott

Hi David,If you've followed the link to TomsHardware you will note that this is no longer true, providing you go for a monitor with a 20ms recovery time or less.My guess is that the vendors you have spoken to are either not yet up to speed on the latest TFT LCD monitor technology or else they are worrying that they may find themselves lumbered with old CRT stock. I kid you not, LCD flat panels are rapidly becoming very popular and for three very good reasons - corner to corner very sharp, vibrant display, perfect onscreen geometry and price. Also the viewing area is larger than on a comparable CRT.When I purchased a 25ms Samsung for my wife I was so depressed at the quality of the image on my beloved Sony 17" CRT in comparison. Within 2 weeks my desk proudly boasted the Hyundai ImageQuest Q17 with DVI and I have fallen in love all over again ;)When I fired up FS2004 and, indeed, FS2002 I saw both sims as the designers had intended for the first time :) My computer sits in a room where the sunlight can be a problem during certain times of the day. On the CRT the screen image becomes washed out and difficult to see unless I draw the blinds. TFT LCD flat panels virtually resolve this problem for me.There ain't no way I could be persuaded willingly to return to using a CRT. Doubtless there still are still many good CRTs out there but you'll pay through the nose for a great one.Mike (A TFT LCD flat panel convert - in case you haven't guessed!)

Hi David,Absolute bull....I'm running FS on 3 Iiyama 19" Flatscreens.Works very nice !!!Jaaky

For what I have seen for price comparisons it seems you will still pay thru the nose for a GOOD LCD. While the technology is rapidly advancing (great article at Toms BTW) I still like the CRT option much better. We use all LCDs at work and my girlfriend has a 19 in NEC1960NX LCD and I still find the quality of my 19 in Sony trinitron CRT much better than what she has, and she payed $640 for it last month where as I payed $395 for mine 6 months ago.I think it comes down to personal preference, go try both out and make up your own mind. obviously many factors come into play, i.e. desk space, the sunlight issue with Mike, price, etcRegards, MichaelKDFWhttp://mysite.verizon.net/res052cd/mybannercva1.jpgCalVirAir International VAwww.calvirair.comCougar Mountain Helicopters & Aviationwww.cgrmtnhelos.com

David, you're being taken for a ride. I have an older samsung 19" LCD, it is absolutely awsome for FS. and I would NEVER go back to CRT. ever.

Same sentiments here. I have a newer Samsung 19" SyncMaster 191T running in digital mode. Its always bright and sharp...flying in mountanous areas almost looks 3D-like. Details are fantastic as I use SRTM 1 degree mesh at LOD 10. I too would not go back to a CRT. I have a perfectly good Sony 19" CRT gatering dust. I keep thinking I should hook it up as a second monitor but...its soo biiiggg!!!Also, I find the flat screen easy on the eyes and never have any strain after hours every day in front of it.Larry S.

We are adding to the confusion here by using the term "flat screen" to apply to flat panel monitors. Flat-screen monitors are CRT monitors, just ones where they've worked to reduce the front curvature on the CRT to a minimum. Please do not go in to a store and ask for a flat-screen monitor if you really want a flat-panel one.Thanks for doing your part to keep computer sales droids as uncontaminated as possible!sjKEWR

We are adding to the confusion here by using the term "flat screen" to apply to flat panel monitors. Flat-screen monitors are CRT monitors, just ones where they've worked to reduce the front curvature on the CRT to a minimum. Please do not go in to a store and ask for a flat-screen monitor if you really want a flat-panel one.Thanks for doing your part to keep computer sales droids as uncontaminated as possible!sjKEWR

I currently use a 18.1" Mitsubishi/NEC LCD panel and could not be more pleased. This LCD replaced a 19" Viewsonic flat screen CRT which recently failed. I have been amazed by the quality of color and text and have also been surprised by the good showing with FS2004. This unit is not even one of the latest LCD panels, but using the DVI interface it works very well with little to no ghosting effect even during rapid attitude changes. Although I had always agreed with the traditional CRT ONLY gamer mentality, I find that I have become another LCD convert.I would say that if you need the space, can live with the native resolution, and have the money, there is nothing wrong with using a good quality LCD panel for FS2004 and other games. Just my humble opinion!Chris

I'm at that point too that I need a new monitor, but I know I will take a CRT monitor again. Why? Because it still has the best image.I am also one of those guys that has to sell these things, just like crt tv's, plasma tv's and lcd tv's. I have to look at these things all day. And my opinion is that lcd still looks like "crap".The only advantages it has, is that it has perfect geometry which is pretty difficult for a crt monitor,lcd displays do not suffer from the magnetic forces that lead to imperfections in geometry. They use a fixed pixel format, with the geometry set at the time of manufacture. This also means that lcd displays are highly optimised for a particular resolution called the native resolution.it is very small (which makes it popular) and it is energy efficient.The colours displayed by crt monitors are more "real" since they can display thousands of colours more than an lcd monitor.There were even moments I saw lcd not displaying details which were visible on the crt monitor just standing next to it. BTW: Todays lcd displays don't have the smearing effect caused by the refresh rate you talked about, so that's not a problem you will get with a quality lcd monitor.At the end of the line I won't say you not to buy an lcd monitor,but if you have the space and you don't care about the look on the outside, you can have a crt monitor for that same price with better image quality. Guaranteed!!Success,-Michel :-wave:-wave

I seriously doubt even middle of the road response times are not good enough, since FS really doesn't move anything quick enough to generate response time problems. I think most LCDs would work just fine, almost irrespective of response times. Noel

Hi Michel,These are the specs for my monitor:Hyundai Q17A 17" LCD Colour Monitor Specifications:LCD...... 17"viewable, Diagonal, Pixel pitch 0.264 mm, A-Si TFTBrightness...... 250cd/m2Response Time...... 20msecDisplay area...... 337.92 x 270.336 mmNumber of colours...... 16.7 million colors 80.0KHz, Vertical : 56 to 75HzMaximum bandwidth...... 135 MHzMaximum resolution...... Analog RGB : 1280 x 1024@75Hz, Digital TMDS : 1280 x 1024@60HzRecommanded resolution...... 1280 x 1024@60HzInput voltage...... 100-240 VAC, 1.0APower consumption...... 45WPower management...... VESA DPMSPlug & Play...... VESA DDC 1/2BOSD menu...... BRIGHTNESS, CONTRAST, COLOR CONTROL, YUV COLOR,MISCELLANEOUS, AUTO ADJUST, LANGUAGE,H./V. POSITION, CLOCK-PHASE, INPUT SELECTAudio system...... 2ch x 2 watts / Ear Phone Jack USB...... 1up x 2down (Bus-Powered Hub)VESA FPMPMI...... 100 mm x 100 mm screw mountingErgonomics, Safety and EMC...... TCO, FCC Class B, CE, cULus, T

>I would appreciate any feedback from users of these screens.Hi David,I don't have an LCD monitor myself, it's still on the shopping list!The other guys who have replaied have said most things, so I'll add one more point. Tomshardware LCD review say that there are only four manufacturers out there that make screens with 20ms response times or less.The one that comes up trumps everytime is Hyundai's offering. They recently did a review of the Hercules Prophetview 17inch screen which uses Hyundai's technology. I got the impression that the guys at tomshardware nearly broke the monitor through too much drooling :-)Hope this helps