I guess that's true for monitors also, because that's what mine just did a few minutes ago. Everything started going dark, I couldn't even see anything unless I hiked up brightness, contrast and gamma to the max.
I was a bit worried that it was my vidcard that was dying - even though I know that normally, when something like that happens, it's the monitor, well, I'm a pessimist... so I went and stole my father's flatscreen monitor, and discovered that it was indeed my monitor drawing its last breaths. So now, until my father demands his monitor back, I can see again! \o/ ...kinda. You see, this monitor demanded, as soon as I connected it to my computer, that I set the resolution to 1280x1024 Or Else. So I did (or it wouldn't stop whining)... and well, it's quite a step up from 1024x768. So I kinda have to squint. But ah well... at least I can see.
Tomorrow I'll likely steal the (new) monitor off the (old) computer... so I can at least see until I get a new monitor for myself, since my father will likely demand this monitor back. Which is a pity, it fits quite nicely on my desk, and doesn't take up much space. Oh well.