Got into a yelling match at a swap meet over whether to keep CRT monitors or toss them

I was at the Rose Bowl flea market last Saturday and this guy selling a Sony Trinitron was going back and forth with a buyer who insisted CRTs are useless for anything except retro gaming. The seller was saying they're still great for old security camera setups and even some medical equipment folks still use. It got me thinking about the debate between preserving these heavy old beasts versus just moving on to flat panels for everything. On one hand, the picture quality for certain vintage computers is unmatched, but on the other, they take up half a room and weigh a ton. What side do you all fall on for CRTs specifically... are they worth keeping around for practical use or just nostalgia?

2 comments

2 Comments

chen.jenny5d ago

Wait, someone actually uses CRTs for medical equipment still?

ward.fiona5d ago

Honestly "still" is kind of a strong word for this lol. Yeah some old medical monitors still use CRTs but it's not like they're the only option or anything. Most places have moved on to flat panels because they're lighter and don't have that annoying flicker. The only reason you'd still see a CRT in a hospital is if the equipment is ancient and nobody wants to spend the money to upgrade. It's not some big deal or safety thing, it's just budget cuts.