17 18 19 inch LCD monitors have a native resolution of 1280 x 1024 and using anything else will give less than an optimal viewing experience

CRT’s are scalable, and you can raise or lower the resolution settings. LCD’s however, are different. Any settings lower than the native resolution results in either letter boxing, which maintains image quality by shrinking the image to a compatible size, or keeps the full screen image, but adjusts for missing pixels, sacrificing image quality.

CRT's, must refresh every pixel on the screen. Screen flicker with an LCD is not an issue since the monitor does not refresh like a CRT monitor, so a refresh rate of 60 Hz should be just fine for an LCD monitor.

A few new owners of LCD’s often find that the size of the fonts are too small for them, failing to realize that LCD’s have a native resolution for each size monitor for best viewing experience. IE : A 15 inch LCD has a native resolution of 1024x768, and a 17 / 18 / 19 inch LCD has a 1280x1024 resolution. A 20 inch LCD has a native of 1600x1200. The higher the resolution, the smaller the fonts. What you get is more information on the ( So you don't have to scroll, left/right or up/down that much ) larger screen with the native resolution of 1280x1024 over the 1024x768 resolution. If you purchased a 17 /18 /19 inch screen, but are uncomfortable with the smaller fonts, lowering the resolution to 1024x768, as some have done, now gets you less information on the screen, wasting the extra money you paid for the larger monitor in the first place, not to mention sacrificing image quality. Just should have gone to a smaller LCD instead, or perhaps a CRT screen, and saved big bucks for the same real estate. Some with bad eye sight to begin with may not notice the image quality being less than optimal by lowering the resolution, but others will.

It is best to look at some monitors at the local computer store first prior to any purchase to see if you are one of those that have eye sight problems.

http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/4520-3174_7-5136369.html?part=ecoustics-cnet   Analog compared to Digital ( DVI ) article

As far as the stand goes, can you push in on the release button, and raise it by hand  ?

Message Edited by SR45 on 08-27-200603:18 PM

We are talking about the rectangular (silver ?) button and not a circular (black) button; correct ? :-)

If you're afraid of damaging the Monitor, use the circular button to remove the Monitor display panel from the stand itself, THEN perform the aformentioned procedure. If that doesn't release the locking mechanism and breaks the Stand - don't worry - it was already broken. lol

Call "fix this Dell"  and get a replacement. '-)