I recall toward the end of the amber monitor period, that "white" monitors came into vogue. These were similar to the amber monitors but used white phosphors instead of the amber ones. We sold a lot of them made by Wyse. They looked cleaner and more "modern" compared to the older green and amber monitors. They could do graphics but were mainly used as text terminals.
Not long after that, larger grayscale monitors became popular for desktop publishing. they were often used in a portrait orientation and had higher resolution than the older terminal-style monitors.
By the early 90's full color monitors were cheap enough that they started to replace all of the monochrome and grayscale monitors.
Funny. Back in the day, early 80s, all of the terminals and displays I encountered were black and white. Early monitor for an IMSAI, the Pet, the TRS-80. ADM-3A, VT-100, Telerays.
Apple monitors started coming out in green. First non-B&W actual terminal I saw was a VT-220.
Wasn’t really until late 80s, early 90s the green and amber really started showing up everywhere. HP terminals liked amber.
There was a company that was trying to sell amber monitor for Macintoshes. This was around the same time folks were selling head mounted mice. I didn’t feel either was a particularly good idea.
The ADM-3A you mentioned predated the rest and was available in amber, green or white. I remember a few of the amber ones in my middle-school library, as well as white. I also miss the pastel case colors.
The monitor on the TRS-80 was a cannibalized black and white television. Cost was probably a big factor in using white for many of those systems.
Not long after that, larger grayscale monitors became popular for desktop publishing. they were often used in a portrait orientation and had higher resolution than the older terminal-style monitors.
By the early 90's full color monitors were cheap enough that they started to replace all of the monochrome and grayscale monitors.