While on my way home from the post office today, I found a relatively new-looking ViewSonic LCD sitting out on the road, so I picked it up and carried it home with me. I plugged it in and, surprisingly enough: "No Signal" flashes on the screen for half a second, then the entire thing shuts off. With a computer attached: "No Signal", and again shuts off half a second later.
I find it interesting that, of the six or seven CRTs I've found in this manner, only one hasn't worked. By contrast, the three LCDs I've found, this one included, have simply refused to work, despite being much newer. Adding to that: Mark and I both use a set of three Dell Trinitron monitors, all six of which are still in like-new condition despite being ten years old. But as far as LCDs go?
- 1994 laptop LCD: Backlight shuts off intermittently.
- 1997 laptop LCD: Red line down the side as of 2007.
- 1998 laptop LCD: Flickers uncontrollably as of 2006.
- 2000 laptop LCD: Backlight is turning red as of 2007.
- 2002 desktop LCD: Died in 2005.
- 2003 laptop LCD: Let's not even go there.
- 2006 laptop LCD: I just had it replaced last week.
Just yesterday, I helped install a DTV converter box for my friend's mum, who thought her 23-year-old Hitachi CRT had finally seen its day. Not only does it still work, but it has vastly better color quality than their 2000s Toshiba CRT downstairs. A real testament to how well TVs and monitors used to be built.
UPDATE: I took apart the monitor and was able to get it to work. Apparently somebody spilled Sprite or some other clear, sticky liquid inside - how is beyond me. It looks like something that would have cleared itself out given a few days, so I think whoever threw it out jumped the gun a bit. Of course, being impatient, I cleared it out with a hairdryer instead. Not sure what I'll do with it just yet.