I have two PCs in my room right now. My Windows box has an 18.1" Sony LCD, and my Linux box has a 21" Sony flatscreen CRT (ya know, one of those CRTs with TrueFlat technology or whatever the hell they call it now.)

In any case, I would go for the CRT. My LCD is cool and everything, but let me just tell you that the only reason I have it is because a regular size monitor can't even possibly fit on my desk. (My 21" is on a smaller desk on the other side of the room.)

No matter who tries to tell you otherwise, the quality of LCDs doesn't even COMPARE to that of the good ol' regular monitor. The colors are always off and awkward, and the monitor's life expectancy is shorter too.

Plus, you could get such a better and bigger CRT monitor for one-third the price of a smaller LCD.

Also, LCDs always screw up DOS-mode. (e.g. the screen is always off-center). Also, years ago I used an ATI Rage 128 card, and I couldn't use video-out because each time I did, it screwed up the LCDs resolution.

Also, LCDs have what is called a native resolution. That means that they come "made" for a particular resolution, and any other resolution you choose will ALWAYS look like crap no matter what.

LCDs are much worse for gaming, too, because the refresh rate is always slower. Plus, cool DirectX games never look as realistic.

So far, I've worked off of a 15" CRT, a 15" LCD, and now my current 18" LCD and 21" CRT. I would definitely settle for the CRT.

Don't get me wrong ... I love my LCD ... but if I could use a CRT instead, I would!