Help Buying LCD Monitor < $250

[1Time]

Please comment / post link(s) showing suggestions for my new monitor. Thank you!

Upgrading soon from 21" CRT to 24" to 28" LCD, preferrably < $250 out the door.

Only for my use - viewed from 2' to 4' - PC reading, youtube, movies, no gaming.
Later may want to run satellite TV to it, but more likely will use a 2nd TV for that.

* * * Now considering...

Walmart 1: $198 - Emerson LC260EM2 - 26" LCD - 720p - 1366 x 768 - 16x9 - 800:1
Link: http://www.emersonaudiovideo.com/products/product.php?id=26
Good: Saw it today when shopping. Amazing picture (2 displays side by side).
Really stood out from the crowd. Good size. Wanted to buy on the spot.
Bad: Specs don't impress. Not sure how to connect to PC (don't have HDMI).

Walmart 2: $169 - HANNspree ST285MUB - 27.5" LCD - 1080p - 16:10 - 1920x1200 - 800:1 - 5ms
Link: http://www.hannspree.com/HSPV3Web/US/EN/Product/Televisions/NoveltyTVs/ST285MUB/Downloads.aspx
Good: Specs, bigger size, better price.
Bad: Basketball appearance. Can't view before ordering.

Walmart 3: $179 - Acer V243H AJBD 24" LCD 1080p - 16:9 - 1920 x 1080 - 2ms
Link: http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acer-V243HAJBD/14575833#Product+Reviews
Good: Specs and online reviews.
Bad: Smaller screen. Can't view before ordering.

 

[illli]

curious, why are you limiting to walmart?
i know for a fact theres a frys and best buy in las vegas

ps. the first two i would immediately disqualify. those are tvs. the last is.. a TN panel.

 

[1Time]

No Walmart limit. Online or local is OK - I've bought from many retailers of each.

Thanks for identifying which display is TN - I didn't know. I've read TN is better for graphics or detailed work on a computer, which doesn't really describe my uses. Mostly I will be watching DVDs or lower resolution videos and reading online at a 4' viewing distance ( reclined ). So I'm leaning more to a 26" to 28" display over 24" - bigger than my current 21" CRT.

Any suggestions to link me to? Thank you.

curious, why are you limiting to walmart?
i know for a fact theres a frys and best buy in las vegas

ps. the first two i would immediately disqualify. those are tvs. the last is.. a TN panel.

 

[illli]

do you have a preference between matte or glossy display?

 

[1Time]

No preference. Mostly concerned with the quality of the viewing experience - like what I saw with that Emerson model at Walmart. No lights in the room to reflect or affect the screen.

do you have a preference between matte or glossy display?

 

[illli]

what resolution do you currently run your crt at?

 

[1Time]

1280 x 768, 4 x 3, 21" CRT

what resolution do you currently run your crt at?

 

[1Time]

Update (after reading more):

no anti-glare coating
glossy
19" to 24" to view within 2' (not 4' away)
IPS
16:10 (preferably)

Still shopping.

 

[illli]

glossy and ips is a rare combination. you have few options. one is http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/dell_st2220t.htm

another is apple cinema display, which would be way over budget.

or one of those korean monitors, which runs less than $400 but you would be out of luck if it ever broke down.
if you want to read up on them this is the place http://www.overclock.net/f/44/monitors-and-displays
there is a lot of information there to go through. here is a pretty good synopsis of them though http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/news_archive/26.htm#korean_ips27



those are the only ones i can think of off the top of my head

 

[jazon1]

i have a HP that i gave to my wife that was 1080 bright view(glossy) has HDMI be good so you can hook up that satellite later.
i found one similar except its better its LED back lit and 21.5 inch with dvi/hdmi/D-sub
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824176222