Most ppl (including me) will argue that CRT is still better than LCD in color reproduction, resolution and response time. CRTs are also cheaper, in that, you can buy an awesome 19inch crt for the price of a 17" LCD.
But if your desk space is at a premium and any extra desk space equals extra productivity (like in office), get an lcd.
If going for a CRT, get the Samsung 997MB. Based on my xperience and a few review sites, it's a great monitor for a good price in the 19inches category. It's max recommended res is 1600x1200 @ 75Hz. The viewsonic one mentioned here also has a similar spec, so choose based on relative availablity, support and cost.
If going for an lcd monitor, insist on <8ms response time. I think Samsung, Benq and NEC are the top lcd companies. And check for dead pixels and stuck pixels before you buy.
[Hi digitians]