Good source for used computer monitors?

[Monkeyleg]

For about eleven years, I've been running two 21" monitors side-by-side: the one directly in front of me for whatever photograph or other file I'm working on, and the left monitor for all the toolbars.

The current left-side monitor is a Radius Precision View that I bought new in 1995. And it's starting to act like it may be going.

Much as I'd like one of the new 23" plasma photo-quality monitors, I just can't spend the money.

So, I'm wondering where I can find a monitor at a good price just for displaying the toolbars.

Chances are, I'll need a different video card as well as driver software to go with it.

I run a Mac G4.

Any suggestions?

[jake7457]

if you want to go the REALLY cheap route you can check freecycle.org

the local university has surplus equipment sales where used CRTs can be had for less than $20

[charby]

+1 for local universities.

[Guest]

the free section on Craigslist can sometimes offer such things. Especially if your area has banned the disposal of computer monitors in landfill sites (we have to pay to have them removed by a private "recycler").

[lee n. field]

Garage sales (a bit late in the season, I know).  I've piced up more than one perfectly good 17" CRT monitors for nothing or very cheap, just because the original owner moved to an LCD monitor.

[Perd Hapley]

You lazy liberals.  Always looking for a handout.  There's no free lunch, buddy!

[InfidelSerf]

what kind of price range are you looking at?

right now you can buy new 22" widescreen LCDs for under $300

As far as used I'd check with your local mom and pop computer parts store.  They often get deals with companies they sold new equipment for.
Mine would have 17" crt's for $40 and 19" for $75  

But you can buy new stuff for pretty close to that.

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

You lazy liberals.  Always looking for a handout.  There's no free lunch, buddy!

This, actually, is quite true.  (The no free lunch thing, not the lazy liberals thing.  Although...)

A few years ago I mail ordered a used IBM 21" monitor.  I bought it because it was cheap, and because the manufacturer and the reseller both had sound reputations.  

Well, you get what you pay for.  The monitor I received had problems with poor brightness, low contrast, and some color casts in the corners.  The image would go blurry after a few hours of on-time.  The stupid thing was simply worn out.  I suppose I could have returned it for a refund, but the shippings costs made that impractical.

I eventually had to replace that monitor with a new 17" monitor I bought from a local store.  I would have saved a lot of money if I'd ponied up for the new monitor first.

[Monkeyleg]

Thanks for the replies.

All I use the left monitor for is my toolbars in Photoshop and Dreamweaver. It don't use it for accurate color.

Maybe an inexpensive 21" CRT would be the way to go.

The photo studio I work for recently got rid of a bunch of monitors when they went to 23" LCD's. Maybe they still have one around I can buy.

I paid about $2000 for this Radius PrecisionView over eleven years ago. I guess I got my money's worth.

[Standing Wolf]

The current left-side monitor is a Radius Precision View that I bought new in 1995. And it's starting to act like it may be going.

I bought a few Radius monitors years ago. Most were pretty good, but not even the best was worth looking at longer than three or four years. If you like eye strain, keep your monitor forever and a Sunday afternoon.

[doczinn]

If your area has a 1-800-GOT-JUNK franchise, ask them. I work my way through college picking up junk, and I get so many monitors it isn't even funny.

[proud2deviate]

I got my current moniter (HP Pavilion M50) out of the alley on trash day. Brought it home, hit it with the hair dryer, and all was good.  


Three months with no internet after I beat my old sony to death with a dumbell. . . Learned not to do that again.

[Monkeyleg]

Hmmm. The monitor isn't acting up anymore. It had been flickering very slightly yesterday, but now it's fine.

Not having to spend money = good.

[trapperready]

Maybe your monitor is just getting its affairs in order.

[Gewehr98]

Two places I always look:

http://www.craigslist.org   (You'll want to go Wisconsin/Milwaukee in your search)

http://www.pcsurplusonline.com

The latter place is where I get my corporate lease turn-in workstations and servers, for pennies on the dollar.  I bought, reconfigured, and sold many of them to local businesses in the Melbourne, FL area before I left there.  I found the place to be considerably more reliable and trustworthy than eBay.