[NTLUG:Discuss] OT? Hardware question: monitor for GNU/Linux

[Stuart Johnston]

Lance Simmons wrote:
> My monitor finally died after 8 years, so perhaps it is time to get a
> new one.  It looks like you can hardly buy CRT's any more, so I guess
> it'll have to be an LCD.

There are certainly plenty of used CRTs out there if you want one.

> In looking around, I've seen that there are lots of monitors that say
> they are "Windows Vista Certified".  What does that mean?  Is it
> something I should avoid?

It probably means that it support the High-bandwidth Digital Content 
Protection (HDCP) enabled in Vista.  If you are running Linux, I doubt 
it would affect you.

> 
> Seeing that Windows Vista branding got me wondering: is there any
> hardware that is appropriate for people who exclusively use GNU/Linux?
>  Some monitor that works especially well with a video card for which
> there is free software, perhaps?

I've never heard of a monitor being more or less Linux compatible (video 
cards of course are a different story).  Get one with DVI and you should 
be fine.