It is not clear who would want to trade easy-to-read cathode ray tube displays for still far from adequate liquid crystal diode displays, but Keycorp Pty Ltd of Sydney, Australia, in partnership with Hitachi Data Systems announced plans to produce what they claim is the first flat-panel computer screen operating as a free-standing monitor. The newly developed monitors will sell in Australia for the equivalent of about $960 for the monochrome version to about $1,920 for the lower-range color model and some $4,800 for the top colour model, Associated Press reports. Hitachi has been working with Keycorp for 18 months and will have invested $400,000 in its research and development by year-end.
