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I'm looking for not just a flatscreen LCD monitor. Not just looking for a specific monitor recommendation, either, though I'll certainly take those. But also what are tips to consider when figuring out whether a flat screen is good or bad? We're looking to replace our more conventional rounded screen.

Space. Definately space is something you should consider...
If you don't have much space in your table, then definately go for flat...

Also, if you have to move your screen a lot, then flat one is better since those tend to weight less... but if you have no need to move it, then flat is screen is as good as any...

Price is also something you should think about. At least here flat screen tends to cost more, but then again their quality is (usually) better...

It's been a while since I looked up on LCD monitors so I may or may not be correct here. I have an LCD monitor myself and if I recall correctly, the response time (measured in ms) is quite important if you don't want to see any tearing in image quality especially when watching movies or playing games. The lower the ms, the better.

Another thing to consider is the video input. If you are the type of person who wants crisp and sharp images, then get an LCD monitor that includes a DVI port (aside from the usual VGA port).

I would agree that response time is important, but it's a really tricky thing to read out - screens in the region of 4 ms count the change between grey and another shade of very similar grey, while the ones with values around 20 ms generally show change between dark grey and light grey. Change between black and white is generally even slower.

DVI is nice, but if you use very high resolution on a single-link DVI, screen update frequency will suffer. This doesn't really matter as much as on a CRT screen, since there is no flicker, but for highpaced gaming it might be an issue. Even so, 1600x1200 screen real estate is great if you're a window-holic.

Check the dead pixel policy of the manufacturer. Some of them allow up to 16 dead pixels on the screen before replacing it under warranty.

Personally, I like to see the screen and get the feel for sharpness, color and brigtness before I buy - it's an very subjective thing, and something you can't always quantify in numbers. The new screens with coated glass improves the quality of video and images, but I find them annoying to work on since they tend to glare earlier whenever you have a lightsource behind you.

Yikes. How did I miss that you're discussing PC monitors. Sheeesh, sorry.

Can only mirror what others have said.

Response time (2-8ms max), contrast (higher the better) and dead pixel warranty (some companies have none, others have white and/or black, warranty is better then none) are the three main.
Most screens nowadays have DVI exits, but be sure to check up on that as well.
If you have the chance - see one running in the store both using movies, games and ordinary text scrolling as well.

Other then that it is purely academic and personal preference. 19" or 21", USB hub in the screen or not and so on.... but one thing is certain.

I don't do high-paced gaming, so that's not an issue. But I definitely want a larger viewing screen than a 17", and a monitor that sits much further from me. My current CRT monitor is literally pushed back against the wall, and still seems to invade my personal space. I also want greater visual definition. I've admired the definition on my wife's laptop LCD screen, and we both think that's the way to go...so keep the ideas coming.

Your comments have been a big help. At the moment, I'm strong considering the Viewsonic VX2025WM 20" LCD. Any thoughts?

I am not an expert, but since I have the 19" monitor of the same serie, I think I can give you an amateur comment. It was recommended to me by my friend who is a computer science engineer. Like you, I had a monstruous screen before and I am very happy about the space I gained even though the image is not as good as what my old monitor gave me because I see all the pixels (or whatever you call those little cubes) when in text screen. My only complaint is that my games still get slow when too much things happen at the same time. I thought the 2ms response time would fix that but it looks like it is done by something else. You probably already know that Viewsonic makes very good monitors, so I'd say like Silur, go see it, and do not hesitate if you like what you see.

Hey Fable, happened to be passing through SYM, so what the hell? I've heard a little bit about the ViewSonic series' new monitors coming out, but it's been down the grapevine from another site that I now frequent. From what I hear, the graphics are excellent and the monitor itself looks excellent, with much of the wiring covered nicely with easy to lift covers (no really, they feel like nice butter clasps) and little room for error. Since you don't strike me as the guy who needs fifty peripherals or headphones, I doubt you'll cry over the lack of a jack for much more than the basics.

When it comes to the monitor, I recommend you get an adjustable chair. It's easy to lift, so I wouldn't worry about it swiveling (it doesn't do that, you'll have to pull and drag) but does allow for a small amount of tilting, but you have to push a little hard for it to work and it doesn't move far (hence the chair). Unlike the computer LCD monitor I have, it has a square based without as much as an upper ridge, so it's extremely stable, but try and keep your temper when listening to the "selfless" ramblings of Anomen and don't hit the thing, it'll probably tip over with less force than mine. The base is heavy, though, and it'll take more than your teeth to knock it even into a shudder.

Currently, the cheapest monitor price I know of is about 475 for that sort of screen, the average hitting the 500 mark, and I'm fairly certain that it's in American. It's got excellent energy conservation when compared to some of the older monitors you might have gotten used to. Aprrox 8 ms, I'd guess? I'm just going by your gaming needs and what you probably researched yourself. Oh, and from the picture I saw, there was an easy control panel for the monitor, including some volume settings, but the speakers are pretty pathetic when compared to any set you can hook up to the tower. Oh, and apparently, from what I read in the specs, it has some nice anti-glare stuff set up on it to.

Oh, and in my opinion, the upgrade they might in graphics quality is excellent. It will probably have a long lifetime too, and I hear a lot of 'em are backed by a three year warranty. Extremely nice choice. I think it's definitely worth the buy Fable.

Nice recommendations, all. Hill-Shatar, good to hear from you, again. You'll be happy to hear that I've gone ahead and purchased the Viewsonic VX2025WM 20" LCD. I've got the swivel chair already. We found it for $350 including shipping, so in a week or so it should be here. The old Dell 17" Trinitron CRT I'm using has been here seemingly since Helen's face burnt the topless towers of Ilium. Definitely long overdue for a private burial.

Once again, thanks to all. Your help has been invaluable.

You even read it through my obvious grammar errors! Mexican Food and lack of sleep combine to form one nice mess. =D Good on you for getting it, hope it lasts you two a while, and nice deal you got for yours. Amazon said they had American prices, must have noticed I was Canadian and tried to hose me.

Personally, I would smash it and send the pieces to the corners of the earth. My discarded hardware tends to fester.

I'll keep that in mind. The monitor just arrived, but I'm waiting on installing it until my wife arrives back from Boston, later tonight. Hopefully the native resolution won't be too small, but then, it is possible to easily increase the size of WinXP fonts.

Viewsonic is my favourite brand of displays, so I can only congratulate you on your excellent taste