Return the new LCD monitor?

Kinda stupid question. I think I know what I should do but wanted to see if there are other points of view.
When I bought my new Dell PC, the sales person said my six year old 17" CRT monitor (ViewSonic G773) would not work (too old). So I bought the 17" analog Dell LCD (model E172FPB). I was told I could return it for a full refund within 21 days.
It turns out the ViewSonic seems to work fine. The screen is a little smaller than the Dell, but I can see things fine (at 1024X768, 32 bit Color for both). If anything, the ViewSonic is crisper, especially when scrolling. (I do no gaming, so normally have few moving images.) The smaller footprint has no real advantage where my monitor is located.
Of course, the Dell is prettier.
So I think I should return the Dell. I will net about $375 after the surprising low shipping cost of only $13. I figure the prices for LCD's will likely go lower in the future and perhaps there will be technological advantages, so I can always buy whatever is the better monitor when the ViewSonic gives out.
Anybody see anything wrong with that analysis?
P.S. This part really needs to be answered only if it is meaningful. (Shows how little I know about monitors.
Is there any reason to think the ViewSonic will not take running at 1024X768, 32 bit Color for an extended period? I ran it only at 800X600, 16bit color with Win98. Not sure why, now. Looked OK. But 800X600 on the ViewSonic with the new PC requires a lot of scrolling since almost no webpage fits. ( I have/had IE Tools|Internet Options|Advanced tab| "Enable Automatic Image Resizing" checked in both cases.)

 

Hi Jim...

Do you have "Cleartype" turned on? If not maybe turn it on and try the LCD again. I turned it on with my 21" Dell P1110 (Sony Trinitron) and it helped.

Give it a try...couldn't hurt.

 

Popped my Bubble this morning - here I thought my 21" Nokia Multigraph 445Xpro's were untouchable, now 2 monitors in one thread appear to knock my socks off.

Welshjim - LCD's are only going to come down in price, I think you'd be making a smart move. I've got a couple of NEC Mitsubishi LCD1712's and they don't compare with my Nokia CRT's.

Nice links dobhar.

 

hi Welshjim,

I like my 17" LCD (my old 17" CRT died), but I now have to have 2 monitors on my desk, one for me and one for visiting computers I work on. I bought a monitor with both vga and dvi cables, fortunately, because after working well for a month or so with my switch, a computer came in that blew the vga connection. Now I run my computer on the DVI cable and have an old 13" monitor for the visitors.
I hadn't realized how delicate the LCDs can be.
I vote for returning the monitor, if for no other reason than to avoid rewarding dishonest salesmanship.

 

Thanks, Rockster2U

The nice thing is I didn't pay full price for my Dell monitor...got it "Off Lease ".

Dell Canada - Off lease
Dell USA - Off lease

It can't hurt to look...

As a matter of fact they are selling my Dell P1110 (Sony Trinitron) for $265.00 Cdn right now at Dell Canada - Off lease. Not a bad price. They had a couple of the P1130's (Black) but their gone already.

 

Thanks for all the help.
I will send the LCD back. It is already packed and I have been using the old ViewSonic for the past three days.
I therefore did not try ClearType, but it is good to know about.
I am really surprised to see the G773 is still being sold. Mine is over six years old, and has no USB ports. Do not have the specs to compare with the latest, but I suspect the Dot Pitch on mine is more like .25mm.
The refresh rate is presently set at 75 Hz (perhaps automatically set by the NVidia FX 5200 video card??). I am not aware of flicker. Is there any downside to going to 85 Hz? (I have that option.) As mentioned resolution is 1024X764.

 

I guess I have a different view. The trade press suggests that LCDs are not going to drop much more in price, and in fact may go up as customers demand higher reliability/manufacturing quality. Secondly, a 6 yr old ViewSonic could collapse any day. If you're happy with the Dell, keep it and use the ViewSonic as backup (monitors tend to blow out on Xmas day when you can't get a new one).

 

chrisw

Maybe you've been reading something I haven't, but here's a little research report that you may find of interest. Everything I've read lately references LCD prices coming down because of consumer "price resistance ". Most major OEM's have already locked in futures with longer term supply contracts and LCD manufacturers are looking to maintain ambitious growth targets, thus the forecast. I sure could be wrong (won't be the first or last time) but I'm reading the wrong stuff if LCD prices are headed north.



edit after chrisw post (see below): Yes it is a year old and still right on the money.

 

That Texas report is over a year old....an eternity in today's technology. And I didn't say prices were headed north, I just said they may be near their minimum now. My ViewSonic gave way at the 6 year point, I had to scramble to find a replacement.