What size replacing standard CRT

[JR]

I am looking to replace a monitor in my house. Current one is a
Viewsonic 19" CRT. I am looking at a Samsung 204BW wide screen 20"
monitor. Is this adequate to replace the current one? Monitor display
seems kind of small at the store compared to the standard CRT 19"
counterparts. Guessing due to the wide screen, the vertical size is
actually smaller than the current monitor I'm trying to replace which
concerns me. Don't want to loose usable space in a replacement
monitor. Is this the case or just seems that way? Was looking at a
21" or 22" wide screen monitor but those really kick up the price.
Wondering if I should end up getting a standard or wide screen LCD to
replace this current one. Is there somewhere that documents the pros
and cons to both?

Thanks.

JR

 

[JR]

Thanks for the reply. Graphic card will definitely support the wide
screen display rates. The applications run on this computer are:

- Word
- Excel
- Various Greeting Card creation programs.
- Email

Just general desktop app use. Also a lot of movies are played off this
computer, however always on the TV using the S-Video connector out to
the TV, not on the actual monitor itself.

From this I'm guessing I should stick with a regular 4:3 dispaly. If

I'm wrong, let me know.

One thing I see with this, is the same monitor in a 4:3 aspect is a lot
more expensive then the same monitor in a 16:9 aspect. For example.

Samsung monitor I mentione before, 204BW is $274 at buy.com. The
non-wide screen monitor is $347.37 and for some reason the same monitor
in silver is even more at $426.31. Why is the 4:3 so much more?

Thanks.

JR

 

[me]

I am looking to replace a monitor in my house. Current one is a
Viewsonic 19" CRT. I am looking at a Samsung 204BW wide screen 20"
monitor. Is this adequate to replace the current one? Monitor display
seems kind of small at the store compared to the standard CRT 19"
counterparts. Guessing due to the wide screen, the vertical size is
actually smaller than the current monitor I'm trying to replace which
concerns me. Don't want to loose usable space in a replacement
monitor. Is this the case or just seems that way? Was looking at a
21" or 22" wide screen monitor but those really kick up the price.
Wondering if I should end up getting a standard or wide screen LCD to
replace this current one. Is there somewhere that documents the pros
and cons to both?

Your CRT is almost certainly 4:3 aspect ratio, while the norm for LCD is 16:9 or
more. So comparable width will be shorter height.

As for pros and cons, it depends enormously on your application, and the
resolution(s) that you normally use. Is 16:9 going to suit your application(s)
better/worse than your current 4:3? Will you benefit from higher resolution?
Does your video card support the higher resolutions and aspect ratio of the LCD?

You are the best-placed person to answer these questions.