Buying a new monitor

[#1]

I use my pc mainly for web browsing and word processing. I don't play high-tech games or watch videos. I have a 4x3 17" crt monitor and want to change to a flat screen. The screen shape and size I have now suit me ok, but I notice that some web pages are taking on a widescreen shape and I wonder if I should go with the majority and change to a widescreen monitor. I calculate that to get the same screen area I would need a 19" widescreen, and to get the same screen height I would need a 21" or 22". Any comments, observations, experiences, recommendations etc. will be gratefully read. Thanks.

[#2]

Did you really mean a 17" CRT, as that will be nearer 16" diagonal so a 19" flat panel will be much bigger (40% more!) in viewable area?
Personally I prefer non-widescreen aesthetically and at present pricing is such that you get more area for your money and it takes up less desk space. My 1280*1024 LCD (which is of course 5*4 not 4*3 so even squarer) cost about £100 from DABS and suits me fine.
Software like Outlook is using multiple panes horizontally, but that just conveniently leaves a bit of space above or below for "odds and sods".
And IE is filling up with toolbars (or can do) so again vertical space is under pressure.

[#3]

I bought a 22" widescreen and for normal word processing I find the big advantage is having two word  documents open side by side

[#4]

Quote from: Samson

I calculate that to get the same screen area I would need a 19" widescreen, and to get the same screen height I would need a 21" or 22". Any comments, observations, experiences, recommendations etc. will be gratefully read. Thanks.

Just by coincidence, I changed from a 17" CRT to a 19" Widescreen just a week ago. After just having done some measurements, I feel that your calculations are a bit out (if you don't mind me saying so).
17" CRT:
Diagonal = 15.75"
Width = 12.5"
Height = 9.5"
19" Widescreen:
Diagonal = 19"
Width = 16.25"
Height = 10"
For me, it's the extra width of the widescreen that I like most of all and, as you can see from the measurements, there's a slight gain in the physical height of the screen.
Hope this helps 
Regards .....

[#5]

I've got an "old" 17" CRT that is totally flat and measures:
16" diagonal, 13" wide, 9.5" high. That's the visible window with it on.
They'll all vary a bit of course.

[#6]

Like Road Runner, I upped to a 19" widescreen (from a Samsung 17" what seemed to be square rather than 5:4) a short while ago, mines fixed to the wall on a VESA mount, which frees up a surprising amount of desk space (highly recommended if you're desk layout allows it) You have to remember though not to it mount too high up -which I did- or you'll get a serious crick in the neck, about the same height it would have been on it's foot mount is good, this in my case allows room for a scanner where the monitor once stood. I think you need to experience a widescreen to appreciate it's advantages. 

[#7]

From my very limited experience with a widescreen monitor, I've already noticed that positioning is critical. I've found the best position is to have the top of the monitor in line with my eye-line and the monitor tilted back as far as it will go. Things just don't look right in any other position.
Regards .....

[#8]

Oh yes, the VESA mount allows a degree of tilt as well.

[#9]

I think the choice between widescreen and standard depends what you use the PC for. Watching films will be better on a widescreen, but, unless you have a big widescreen like Oldjim any work with documents will probably be easier on a standard one. Most documents are portrait format, so a widescreen leads to a lot of scrolling up and down.
I tend to think widescreens are often sold as a marketing ploy. To most people, 19" widescreen sounds bigger, but is. of course, smaller in area, and hence cheaper to make, than a 4:3.

[#10]

Quote from: Denzil

a widescreen leads to a lot of scrolling up and down

That's why I like my 19" 1280*1024, it's 12" tall visible, i.e. taller than A4.
(and 15" wide, which is 2 A4 page widths after removing the normal margins.)

[#11]

I got a 22 inch for Xmas and its great Vista sidebar has been a waste of time until now. I can have the sidebar open and still have a normal size screen for pc work and it only cost £120 which isnt much more expensive than a 19 inch

[#12]

As others have pointed out, it all depends on what you use the screen for. I have a big wide screen monitor, and for editing music scores I couldn't live without it - I can have about two and a half pages fully displayed without the need to zoom in to do any editing. Combined with the the fact my mouse can scroll sideways, it's a big productivity boost.

[#13]

At my last job the networks team had a laptop connected to a full size widescreen television.
It was used to run an aquarium screensaver 

[#14]

My dentist has an aquarium screensaver running on a monitor mounted on the ceiling facing down above the chair - at least it gives you something to look at I suppose!

[#15]

mind the water doesnt drip