Flat Panel Monitors - need suggestions!

[Scamp]

Here's one for the techies out there:

My current computer monitor works fine but is ancient and about the size of the Titanic, and various things make it a good idea for me to finally cave in and buy a fancy-schmancy flat-panel monitor sometime soon.

I'd like to spend only about $200 if I can get something decent for that (saw a 19" HP something-or-other with 10000-1 contrast something for about that, on sale, at one place, but had no idea if this was a good product or not.  Can you tell I'm really tech-savvy?!).  That one did have lots of positive reviews, except for being slightly prone to a 'stuck pixel' problem, which seemed to be solvable on-line somehow.

Anybody have suggestions for particular products in that price area?  Or advice on what I want to look for that makes a good-quality monitor?  I'm completely clueless, so any info would be a big help.

Thanks!!!

[MidnightVoice]

We have used a range of them at work and have come to the conclusion that you more or less get what you pay for 

I have used LaCie at home with  zero problems, and a dell at work with zero problems, both for more than 2 years.  You can get a 19" Dell at best buy for $200

[Anonymous]

http://www.salescircular.com/

I bought the DW a 22" Widescreen for under $200

Also Costco-

[Anonymous]

I recommend getting it  at Costco.

I had a good experience with them. I bought a kitchen faucet (sorry, off topic). 2 weeks later Costco sent me a letter warning me that I may have purchased a faulty faucet and offered a toll free number to call for replacement.

It was only a $100 kitchen faucet but it was the extra care by sending out notices to people had bought it. That's good customer service.

[Scamp]

Thanks for the input so far, everyone.

I'm not a Costco member, so that's out - I mostly shop and buy on-line.

Any brands I should avoid altogether?

Anything in particular I should look for in the specifications that would help me gauge quality/value for the price...?

[Anonymous]

I'm fairly tech savvy. I have a 20.1" sceptre that cost me under 200 when I bought it. Try newegg.com or tigerdirect.com. My recommendation is don't buy an hp or dell monitor. Overpriced.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely love love love my 17-in mac. My husband has a Dell laptop downstairs, and even with all its bells and whistles and top-o-the-line rating, it still doesn't compare to my mac, performance-wise or resolution/image quality-wise.

[Junejer]

Very useful thread, as I was in the market for a flat panel. As a result of the link that Timothy posted, I went to OM and got the Sceptre 20.1". I love it. Now, when I lay on the floor of my home office (gave my desk to my children--can't come to a conclusion on a new one yet) typing away, the screen is very nice and easy to read. $179.99. Thanks Timothy and OP for starting the thread.

[haulingthescoreup]

Wow, I miss my Mac! A 17-inch, wow, that must run pretty high...

Wish they'd make a more affordable MacBook with a decent-sized display!

[Anonymous]

hauling - they discontinued the 17-in about a month after I got mine last summer. Now it's just the 20-in and 22-in.

I'm so happy with it. It was def more than DH's HP Pavilion (think I said Dell earlier by accident) but SO worth it.