AppleVision Longevity

[LCARS]

Every now and then I look at my beloved computer equipment and think, "I couldn't possibly live without you."

Well, I expressed that sentiment about two new AppleVision displays: a monster 850AV and a 1710. When Trinitron CRTs were a dime a dozen I didn't worry about much. Now I'm perhaps a bit paranoid, especially about these. I bought them to use and I want to make sure I am doing the right things to maximize their life.

When I'm writing, it is typically an all day affair with hour(+) breaks here and there. If I'm away from my desk for three hours, what is best for longevity? Leave monitor on (with flying toasters) or turn it off? Do these typically suffer flyback transformer failures?

These monitors are look wonderful. I have only used them so far to test and they worked flawlessly. The 1710 took some abuse from UPS in the form of a smashed bottom plate. This is after FedEX smashed my Laserjet 6MP. Next time, I'm using the Transporter....

Ah, to be in front of a CRT again. Nice crisp text and 4:3 aspect ratio.

 

[Unknown_K]

Text is better on an LCD.

I keep a bunch of vintage CRT's around for that retro look and feel. Mostly Trinitrons for newer stuff and a few commodore, Atari, Tandy, variety of CGA etc for vintage machines. I also have an old Sony 13"? pro monitor for video.

 

[beachycove]

They have a characteristic failure that is repairable. I had a couple with the symptoms, the details for repairing which I forget, but I never had the guts to delve into their innards far enough to attempt a repair (I am curiously attached to being able to breathe and pump blood around my frame). They got tossed.

These days (I am now bi-focally challenged) I find that I prefer small monitors for actual text composition. To be honest I find the 9" screens of the Compacts perfect for that task.

 

[Hotdog Zanzibar]

I had a 1710AV that I felt the same way about. Still my favorite monitor to this day. One day, I turned it on and heard a "pop." It never worked again. 

The longevity question is similar to the same question about the Macs themselves -- shut them off, or keep them on? With Macs, I'm pretty firmly in the "leave them on" category, if you use them regularly. I suppose it'd be the same with CRTs. The initial surge of electricity when they turn on is probably harder on the components over time than just sitting idle. 

But I don't really know. I still have several CRTs left, small and large, but I haven't turned any of them on in years.

 

[techknight]

Well, parts wear out regardless. In high voltage/current and high frequency devices like monitors and power supplies, they wear out a whole lot faster because the transient currents eventually cause micro cracks/fissures in the silicon die itself, then failure occurs when it gets too bad. 

If its not continuous run then failure, its the start-up surge that kills them. 

Leaving them on is typically worse because it wears out the CRT, and the CRT for a fact isnt replaceable or obtainable. 

All the other jellybean parts minus the proprietary transformers/microcontrollers, is obtainable. 

 

[CC_333]

There must be some place in this world still producing CRTs?

c

 

[CelGen]

I keep a whole shed out back full of CRT's. There's just simply too many machines that do not function properly on LCD panels.

 

[Unknown_K]

Are those apple cinema LCD displays in the rafters facing down with no protection on wood?

 

[techknight]

There must be some place in this world still producing CRTs?

c

I dont think so. I think the last plant that was open was in Singapore and they closed their doors a couple years back.
the last CRT rebuilder here in the country was Hawkeye and they closed their doors several years ago.

so once the CRT is gone, it's gone... no coming back for it.

this is a huge problem we are encountering in the vintage TV restoration world. if the CRT is a dud or has weak emissions you can't replace unless you find a used one somewhere which is getting worse and worse each day.

these computer monitors aren't quite old enough to have this problem but another 10 to 15 years in the future it's going to start happening. especially if they are still used a lot today as a tinkering machine.

they will start getting weak in emissions and on a color CRT you can tell this by looking at the colors if they are bleeding like sideways fire.

usually the first thing that happens though, is you start to lose focus on the corners, that cant be adjusted. and then the color starts to bleed like fire. when it happens to this point that means the CRT electron gun is weak in emissions and that the CRT has to be replaced.

 

[Charlieman]

these computer monitors aren't quite old enough to have this problem but another 10 to 15 years in the future it's going to start happening. especially if they are still used a lot today as a tinkering machine.

Thanks, techknight, for the background info. But returning to the OP's question, what is the best way to run a CRT monitor?

My understanding are that there are two failure modes: the CRT itself (requiring a CRT swap) and the associated circuitry (which is fixable, at a cost of time and parts). Manually switching on and off will increase wear and tear; but don't the AV monitors have a basic power saving function that will cause similar problems? Assuming the OP can find somebody locally to repair boards (ie replacing components subject to cycling), switching on/off would extend CRT life?

 

[ScutBoy]

Celgen,

I call "covet" on  your Pivot

 

[techknight]

it boils back to this one phrase: Your damned if you do, your damned if you dont. 

My guess, just leave it in standby. The power cycles sure are going to wear components out, but so will heat when they are powered on all the time, and the CRT too... 

 

[LCARS]

I'm sorry to be late to my own party! Thank you all for replying.

Beachycove- Oh yes, the first time I saw a naked TV set the electron gun and capacitors looked down right sinister. It would be very easy to bump into that prior to discharging. I quite like the smaller screens as well, but I hate scrolling endlessly through large documents. The Color Classic for that reason has never been too appealing. Now the larger screen on my Performa 550 is excellent.

Techknight- After reading these posts and similar discussions elsewhere, I agree: Damned if you, damned if you don't.

Hotdog Zanzibar: What a terrible experience that must have been. I agree, the 1710AV is quite a monitor. I had been doing that that for a while, leaving regularly used Macs on. Steady daily distractions saw my beige G3 being on and untouched for a month. 9.1 didn't freeze!

The 850AV had not been powered on since (presumably) being on the assembly line in '95. It started up just fine with a reassuring ZZZTTT and the imagine warmed up into perfection. I imagine the CRTs in your collection will be the same.

After reading all the comments, it sounds like my best bet is to use them and take care of them. The power in my office is surge suppressed and conditioned and the air temp. can be regulated so they won't swelter. As new old stock, I am almost scared to even touch them but then again, I didn't buy them to encase in lucite and admire from afar.

I think it sounds best to leave them on with screen savers during my work hours and then let them to go into standby when the computer does. I used to be scared to use my mint PB 3400c for fear of damaging the newness. Ridiculous fears but one that I'm sure others here have shared from time to time.

I have "vintage" CRT TVs that are used daily have been just wonderful: 1996 Sony Trintitron XBR, Bang & Olufsen BeoVision Avant (1999). I went a bit batty last year, keeping them in steady temperatures and using them for set periods of time (i.e no quick 20 mins of TV then off). I have never had a CRT go bad on me. My fancy schmancy aluminium Apple LCD Cinema panel did go bad and they refused to stand behind it (told me it was "obsolete").

It'll be a sad, dark, and very chilly day when I have a LCD or plasma TV above the fireplace.