Classic Amiga Monitors - To Use or Not to Use?

[AdelaideAmiga]

Recently I had an interesting discussion with an individual regarding the use of classic Amiga monitors, such as the 1081's etc.  Basically, it was put to me that we should not be running our classic systems using these old screens because eventually they will no longer operate and it is better to keep them preserved and working.  

What does everyone think of this?

Should we run our classic systems using original monitors or is it in the better interest to run our systems via modern monitors?

Looking forward to hearing your views

Regards,
George

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

I kind of think this topic has been debated to death.  Stubborn people are stubborn, and will only ever use CRT monitors, whether they are "purists", or think the CRT gives a better picture (better as in "the way Commodore intended it"), or just like keeping their retro machine retro.

Some people have had really bad experiences with poor quality LCD displays, and swear that all of them are prone to ghosting, or not smooth animation, or whatnot.  (I say "If they'd just buy a quality display...", but there's no convincing some folks)

Other people prefer that you're less likely to get a "pixelated, jaggy" image on a CRT, with some of the oddball resolutions the Amiga outputs.

And for the rest of us, thank god for things like the Indivision.  I personally own three of them (one for each of my Amiga's), and would never use anything else.  My old eyes can't deal with the eyestrain of a small screen, flickery, space-hogging CRT anymore.

Over the past couple years I've given away at least four 1084-series monitors after a couple bad experiences trying to sell others on ebay (and having them get damaged in shipment... no amount of packing material and bubble wrap is sufficient for these fragile things, it seems...).  Have one more still that's not much more than a doorstop or a dust collector.

But I will admit that it's cool to go to a vintage or retro computer show and see folks still using them.  So I guess I can kind of see it both ways.  They have their place, but not for everyday use, perhaps?  

[danbeaver]

I have two A1080's in storage, one is my original from 1986 I bought with my Amiga 1000, the other just showed up.  In the pasr 20 years I have only used them to test Toaster setups.

I would never go back to any CRT, even the A1764 I acquired with an A4000T I bought.  If I don't use my Dell ST2420 that syncs to 15 KHz, the I use some SCART-to-HDMI adapter, my recently bought FrameMeister, or an Indivision AGA.

This only one opinion, and it may not be similar to anyone elses, but connecting to my 32" Westinghouse TV (that has never been used as a TV) is a hell of an Amiga visual experience I won't get with any 13" CRT.

[Thorham]

I use a 17 inch SVGA CRT as my second peecee monitor (other one is a flat panel) and I use that for my A1200 as well. Having two monitors is great, and the CRT works well with my Amiga (only double scan, though).

Nothing wrong with CRTs, except that they're getting old.

[vince_6]

I use LCD and VGA CRT for WB use on my big Amiga and 1084 for gaming.
You cannot setup WB on 1084 and cannot play old games as it should be on LCD :-D

[TheBilgeRat]

I use 1084s because its what I have for my A4000.  I have an indivision ECS for my A500, so it goes on a modern monitor.

I hate the 1084s.  I have two of them.  Cooked one the other day.  The second one goes yellow/green if I don't spank it.  As soon as I get an indivision for the A4000 they're going away to someone who cares about those sorts of things.

[Iggy]

"Nothing wrong with CRTs..." - really?

Except that they take up a huge amount of real estate.
I haven't used one in years.

[Thorham]

"Nothing wrong with CRTs..." - really?

Yeah, really :p

Except that they take up a huge amount of real estate.

Obviously it depends on the size A 17 inch CRT doesn't take up a lot of space at all.

[danwood]

Yeah, really :p


Obviously it depends on the size A 17 inch CRT doesn't take up a lot of space at all.

I think they're worth the space, I tried about 5 different LCDs but was never happy with how the Amiga looked on them.  Often you forget how a CRT looked when you haven't used one for years, and you get surprised when you see them again just how nice they look for standard definition content.

Don't get me wrong, I use my modern systems on LCDs, but for 8/16-bit machines, they look so much more authentic and how I remember on a CRT.  If I was going to use an LCD I may as well just use an emulator, as the display is one of the biggest parts of the "real hardware" experience.

[Iggy]

I think they're worth the space, I tried about 5 different LCDs but was never happy with how the Amiga looked on them.  Often you forget how a CRT looked when you haven't used one for years, and you get surprised when you see them again just how nice they look for standard definition content.

Don't get me wrong, I use my modern systems on LCDs, but for 8/16-bit machines, they look so much more authentic and how I remember on a CRT.  If I was going to use an LCD I may as well just use an emulator, as the display is one of the biggest parts of the "real hardware" experience.

While I can appreciate your point of view, I threw out the CRTs a few years ago and even with 8 bit systems I stick with LCDs.
Must be my poor eyesight, but I can't see any real difference, except for a great savings in space.

Real hardware experience?
Obviously, as my current Amiga focus is on NG, this is not an issue with me.
If it runs better, thebthen I couldn't care less what it run on.

[danwood]

While I can appreciate your point of view, I threw out the CRTs a few years ago and even with 8 bit systems I stick with LCDs.
Must be my poor eyesight, but I can't see any real difference, except for a great savings in space.

Real hardware experience?
Obviously, as my current Amiga focus is on NG, this is not an issue with me.
If it runs better, thebthen I couldn't care less what it run on.

Ah yeah for "NG" systems then LCD all the way, I use a 22" LCD on my MorphOS G5 system, makes sense as I'm running much higher screenmodes that match the monitor's native resolution.  But for my Amiga 4000 and CD32 it's CRT all the way.  A 19" Mitsubishi Diamondtron (based on Trinitron technology) on the 4000 via Picasso IV, and a Philips CM8833-II for my CD32/Mega Drive/3DO and other retro consoles.

[Iggy]

I remember that particular Phillips monitor.
It had more than a few uses.

If I had the desk space, I could see holding on to one (at least for the oldest hardware).
On an Amiga, which can support pretty high resolutions, I still can not see the point.

[Thorham]

they look so much more authentic and how I remember on a CRT.

Sure, but I use an SVGA monitor with VGA dongle on my A1200. This looks nothing like a 1084. It also doesn't sync below 30khz.

On an Amiga, which can support pretty high resolutions, I still can not see the point.

Cash. I'm a little short on money right now, so replacing the CRT I use is simply not an option at all.

[danbeaver]

Along with a CRT's weight, glass tube, and large size, add in the voltage used and watts consumed plus the possible damage of burning in a permanent image into the phosphorous screen if left on too long without a screen saver.

[Tenacious]

I kind of think this topic has been debated to death.  Stubborn people are stubborn, and will only ever use CRT monitors, whether they are "purists", or think the CRT gives a better picture (better as in "the way Commodore intended it"), or just like keeping their retro machine retro.

Some people have had really bad experiences with poor quality LCD displays, and swear that all of them are prone to ghosting, or not smooth animation, or whatnot.  (I say "If they'd just buy a quality display...", but there's no convincing some folks)

Other people prefer that you're less likely to get a "pixelated, jaggy" image on a CRT, with some of the oddball resolutions the Amiga outputs.

And for the rest of us, thank god for things like the Indivision.  I personally own three of them (one for each of my Amiga's), and would never use anything else.  My old eyes can't deal with the eyestrain of a small screen, flickery, space-hogging CRT anymore.

Over the past couple years I've given away at least four 1084-series monitors after a couple bad experiences trying to sell others on ebay (and having them get damaged in shipment... no amount of packing material and bubble wrap is sufficient for these fragile things, it seems...).  Have one more still that's not much more than a doorstop or a dust collector.

But I will admit that it's cool to go to a vintage or retro computer show and see folks still using them.  So I guess I can kind of see it both ways.  They have their place, but not for everyday use, perhaps?  

It's probably been asked before.  What monitor are you using in the pics you posted in this thread?  It appears that you have a surplus.  Do you have your hands on a stockpile that you sale?