How good is the old NEC Multisync 2180UX compared to todays panels? [closed]

"The NEC was IPS based, however I'd say its aged worse then a consumer grade TN panels from the same era - IPS is great, but an IPS with a contrast ratio of just 1:500 means that a lot of the color advantage is lost. Combined with todays higher quality TNs that can produce much better blacks then they could 5 years ago, I'd venture to say that an average consumer would rate a Best Buy 21"" TN as being the ""better"" monitor when it came to looks (though a synthetic test would show the NEC produced more accurate colors).

What all this means in terms of the monitors ""value"" is that you are stuck between todays cheap TNs (sub $200), which for the average consumer look a lot better then your IPS, and todays IPS and PVA panels, which have come down in price by a lot. If someone is interested in accurate color, they're likely going to be a lot more interested in a brand new IPS like this which costs what a consumer TN used to cost, then paying a premium for someones 5 year old, 500:1 screen. About the only market I see is for people who still want 4:3 aspect ratio on a large monitor - at that point you're competing with this (though at this time its known that Dell is playing a lottery with that one - you might get an S-IPS, you might get a S-PVA)."

"The display was at its time a super good display.

Here is a test:
http://www.prad.de/new/monitore/nec_2180ux.html

The display is an old display, but there is no real alternative available today. So if the price is right, you can definetely get it. The price should be compared to the HP LP 2065, which is still sold new today and has a S-IPS screen with the same resolution and same qualities, only slightly smaller and a little better contrast of 1:700. I think the HP is 350$, so this should go for 200$ or so. Check the menu of the display when you buy it. They might have a lamp-use timer like the Eizo's. That way you know if it is used much.

Special advantages

It is the biggest 4:3 screen ever
made (21.3 inch)
1600x1200 is a hellufalot pixels, and
a better resolution for most work
than todays FullHD panels (1200
pixels vertical is perfect).
It has a pivot function, so 1600
pixels vertical is also possible, and viewing angles are perfect.
The IPS panel has good colour
reproduction, still better than the
95% TN screens today, and the
response for games is very decent
too, better than 24inch+ TN panels so it's a nice gamer screen too. Only drawback is less contrast,
around 1:600 (TN is 1:1000, despite
many better/fake numbers in specs)
Its a great MAME display"