betty wrote:
> i am thinking i would like a flat panel monitor for my computer, less 
> desk space. i don't use this computer for photo work so that part 
> doesn't matter much, but am wondering if a cheap flat panel from fry's 
> will work, or do i need something special or to know something special 
> b4 i buy one? i don't want to spend more than $200, and the less the 
> better. i only read email and do some occ. spreadsheet work on this.

Honestly, if you're not playing "twitch" games or watching lots of 
video, then pretty much any LCD will work.  Size does matter a bit.  I 
wouldn't consider a monitor smaller than 17" and would try for a 19" or 
20".  Remember that unlike CRTs, the bigger LCD monitors aren't 
necessarily thicker than the smaller ones.  You could argue that 20" is 
overkill for email work but over the years, I've *never* wished for a 
smaller monitor (in normal use) but I've often wished for a bigger one.

One huge factor in choosing an LCD is their dead pixel warranty.  LCDs 
have a habit of getting stuck or dead pixels where you will see a "dot" 
on the screen that is always the same color (black or white).  That can 
get fantastically irritating if there are a lot of them or if they are 
in prominent locations.  All LCD manufacturers have warranties against 
that but they vary wildly.  Given a chance, I prefer to disregard all of 
that and just buy my LCDs from Costco.  Costco has an unbeatable return 
policy: If you don't like it anytime after buying it, just return it for 
a full refund.  This doesn't apply to desktop or notebook computers but 
it does apply to monitors.  So rather than fight the LCD maker since 
they require 20 stuck pixels and you only have 19, you can just bring it 
back and get a new one.

Honestly, I only buy things from Fry's that I am nearly 100% sure I will 
never have to return.  An LCD doesn't fit into that category.

Kurt
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