OT: Monitor Death, Help with a dying monitor Options

[John]

My monitor has been good to me for the past 6.5 years or so since I received it as a gift.

It is/was an NEC FP1370 display (20/21" CRT display).

Over the past couple months, it has sometimes emitted a high pitched squeal that seemed to go away once it warmed up 2-3 minutes after turning it on. Recently it stopped doing that and seemed to act normal.

Today, it emitted an arcid odor as if an electronic component had let out the magic genie (smoke) inside. The monitor did not stop working or appear to have changed display qualities other than the left hand side top was VERY hot to the touch and smelled of the same arcid odor that the monitor had emitted. We did not notice any smoke, just the odor. It took some time maybe 5 minutes to figure out that the odor source was indeed the monitor.

I unplugged the unit and am not using it as I am afraid it may cause a fire.

My main questions are:

1. Should I junk the monitor or should I search out some sort of repair facility. I have done no research on this.

2. Has anyone ever had a monitor repaired? Was it worth it?

3. How much is a 20-21" LCD monitor?

4. Any guesses as to what may have burned up, yet allow the unit to continue to function?

I know this was not an inexpensive monitor, and I already miss it. It was much larger than the 19" unit I am currently using. I hate to see it go, but if a replacement is to be made, I will replace it with an LCD display (less energy, less space, sharper image).

I use my display for CAD and graphic applications as well as surfing the web, so I opt for the larger displays.

Advice is always welcome.

[John]

I'm currently using an old 19" CRT I had laying in a closet for just such an emergency. It is sharper and better colors than my old one, but what I really can't stand is that it is so much smaller.

I priced out some 21 - 22" LCD screens and it presently looks like I am looking at between $280 - $700 for something that I want. I'll have to go visit some of these in person before committing to anything as I agree that the display is one of the most critical components of a PC. (The other(s) being the output device(s)).

I want a FAST display. I have had laptops with nice displays, but they were not even close in speed to a good old CRT. They were without a doubt sharper, but were most definitely slower.

I also play games in addition to CAD/graphics and sometimes watch movies in the back round. (all work and no play makes john a dull boy)

Thanks for your feedback and your input. I will make an attempt to locate some sort of repair facility and try to feel them out for a ballpark figure to repair. I will miss it, but do look forward to regaining my desktop.

BTW, this 19" takes almost exactly the same space as my 21" did.

I nearly popped a nut lifting that old sucker. I'll have to drive my van if I'm taking that thing anywhere.

Disposal is another issue. What would one do with something such as this to ecologically dispose of it properly?

[cooltimes]

Junk it. I had my NEC 21" repaired and it went out in about 4 months. $135 down the tube. Using a 19" now but is not a LCD. Neither was the 21".
LCD prices nationally so some of the vendors will be near you.
http://www.pricewatch.com/monitors/
Big bucks for the 24" and 22" but CAD needs the high res.


Not to hijack. Just a quickie question. Picture size and aspect info needed.
Anyone do any DVD movies? What is the picture size? 720 x 480 seems too small on my TV and makes the picture very hard to see, especially any writing such as credits.