How much of a difference is there between a shadow mask monitor and an aperture grill monitor? I’ve heard that text on aperture grill monitors isn’t as sharp as on their shadow mask equivalents, but all the places I’ve heard that haven’t been updated in years, so I’m thinking that things have changed since then. I’m looking to spend about $500.
I’m a Trinitron user myself. I tend to set them for the maximum resolution my computer can drive them at, and I’m on a Mac (which tends to display the same fonts smaller than you see them on Windows because of the 72 versus 96 “dpi” disparity), and I even use an older version of Netscape as my primary browser (which tends to result in REALLY tiny fonts compares to, say, Internet Explorer under Windows. For example, SDMB primary posting text renders as Times 9 point–approx size of Times New Roman 7 point on a PC; subscript and superscript render as Times 8 point, approx size of Times New Roman 6 point on a PC).
You can’t get much sharper without going to the high-end flat-screens like the Apple Studio Monitor.
I’m no expert on monitor technology, but I fail to see why you started a new thread instead of adding to the last thread you started on this subject http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=88710
Sorry, bibliophage, but I thought it was a different subject matter - one thread was about a flaw in a monitor I bought, and this one is a question about monitor technology in general.
Like I said, I’m no expert on monitor technology. Carry on.
There is basically one factor to consider when deciding between Aperture Grille and Shadow Mask: Can you handle black lines running accross your screen?
The color on AG monitors is superior, BUT they have two thin black lines (about one pixel wide, it basically goes between two pixels and covers half of each) running accross the screen. Most people don’t notice them. Some people, like me, spend all their time staring at them when using an AG monitor, and this becomes VERY unpleasant:P
It was for this reason that I purchased a shadow mask monitor (Futura LP995. Cheap and decent.) when technically superior AG monitors were available at a similar price.
Aperture Grille monitors also “shimmer” if bumped.
Short Primer on monitor tech:
Shadow Mask uses a metal screen with holes punched in it. Electrons shoot through holes in the screen.
AG uses a buttload of wires running vertically, electron beams shoot between the wires. The dark lines are horizontal wires used to steady the vertical wires.
Anyway, Go find a store selling monitors and look at the AG ones and see if you can see the dark lines, and if so, if they are annoying. Use something with a white background.
FDISK