Getting yet Another 21/22" CRT

[BuddMan]

Well I guess since no one responded there probably isn't any stores that would have Cornerstone displayed. Well does anyone have either of the monitors (the Cornerstone or the Mitsubishi)? Disregarding price, which one would you choose over the other?

[brocken]

BuddMan
I've been researching 21" CRT's in the $500-$700 range and this is my short list:

- Mitsubishi DP2070-SB (Diamondtron Super Bright aperture grille)
- Cornerstone p1650 (Hitachi Ergo Flat shadow mask)
- Cornerstone p1750 successor - p1850? (moving up from Diamondtron Natural Flat to Super Bright - should be available by this summer)

I've seen the NEC version of the 2070 but have not seen any recent Cornerstone CRT's - however, I would risk buying sight unseen due to: their excellent reputation on this forum for image quality; the 30-day no-restock-fee return policy of monitorsdirect.com; the 5-year warranty (vs. 3-year of most others); good impression of Cornerstone image quality from a documents-digitization project done years ago at an insurance company; and good specs backed up by Jim W's participation on this forum.

The computer stores in my area have no ideal way to audition a high-quality monitor - if they carry 21" CRT's, they're sharing a splitter box signal from who knows what vid card. I would want to get both monitors side by side, then attach my Wintel box, adjust room lighting to 30~40Lux @5000K, set 1600x1200 @85Hz, adjust geometry, then calibrate/profile both monitors with Spyder+OptiCAL - and then finally run a bunch of reference images through both monitors. Not knowing any local store that would allow this, I'm OK going with mail order places that have good return policies - yeah, it's $50 to ship a monitor back if I don't like it, but I just think of it as rental cost.

The NEC version of the 2070 that I saw was on the bottom shelf of a wall of CRT's: splitter box signal, dusty grimy screen glass, etc. I did manage to see how well the OSD controls worked and there definitely were substantial differences with Superbright-1 and Superbright-2 on. Convergence, geometry, focus, moire, and purity looked good - good enough that even factoring QC variances, I'd probably be able to get a good 2070.

2070 vs. p1750: 2070 can do 2048x1536 @86Hz vs. p1750 2048x1536 @80Hz. 2070 has the Diamondtron Super Bright screen (the 3 levels are approx 90 cd/m^2, 140 cd/m^2, and 300 cd/m^2). 2070 uses DDC/CI communication for software-based (Win only?) geometry, etc. adjustment - Mits calls it "NaviSet" - this is very intriguing as you wouldn't have the OSD menu obscuring a portion of your display. Mits has some USB convenience, but this is a minor point as you've mentioned. p1750 has that 5-year Cornerstone/Hitachi warranty. 2070 is about $600; p1750, about $650.

I'm sure that both monitors are very good, and Cornerstone should be coming out with a Diamondtron Super Bright 21" CRT by this summer - one more quality choice. I'm not considering the Eizo's or high-end Sony's b/c of price - unless Cornerstone comes up with a really impressive Diamondtron Super Bright 21", my choice will be the 2070 for all the advantages listed above, and I'd just live w/the 3-year warranty.

[az]

BuddMan, I guess one not so minor point for you would be the design, and here the NEC-Mistubishi wins hands down. All other points being equal, I'd choose this one. Especially if you can get it cheap, and can use its USB hub.

AZ

[BuddMan]

Ok, well I guess I'll go for the 2070 then. I'll let yall know how it goes. Thanks for the help.