Get a 25-inch, 1080p LCD monitor for $199.99
HDMI! Speakers! No rebates! This 25-inch monitor has it all.
(Credit: TigerDirect)Riddle me this: What gets bigger while simultaneously getting smaller? Why, monitor sizes and monitor prices, of course. (Wow, what a terrible riddle. Now you know why I'm a blogger and not one of Batman's arch-enemies.)
Witness the 25-inch I-Inc iF251HPB LCD, on sale at TigerDirect for $199.99. It's a new monitor, not a refurb, and it requires zero rebate forms. Alas, shipping will run you about $22.
I-Inc may not be a household name (indeed, it sounds like some Apple spin-off), but the monitor has some seriously good specs.
For starters, it delivers 1,920x1,080 resolution, or 1080p in HDTV parlance. It also sports an HDMI input and built-in speakers, meaning this would pair very nicely with an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.
Alternately, if your PC has a TV tuner and/or Blu-ray drive, you could use the iF251HPB as an HDTV. (Just make sure to get some decent speakers, like the recently featured Logitech Z Cinema--which is still available for $79.99.)
Of course, it's a perfectly cromulent monitor as well, though I wish its secondary input was DVI instead of VGA. You may need an adapter (here's one for just $1.68) if your system has only DVI outputs.
Speaking of which, the monitor comes with a VGA cable. If you're making an HDMI connection, remember that you can get an HDMI cable for as little as $3.19. Don't overpay!
CNET hasn't reviewed this model, which includes a 12-month warranty, but TigerDirect's product page shows nearly 200 user reviews with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5. Impressive.
So, the new rules of monitor pricing: Don't pay more than $130 for a 22-inch LCD, $170 for a 24-inch LCD, or $200 for a 25-incher. Do start shopping for a bigger desk.
Rick Broida, a technology writer for nearly 20 years, is the author of more than a dozen books. In addition to writing CNET's The Cheapskate blog, he oversees BNET's Business Hacks. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers. Follow Rick on Twitter at cheapskateblog. 
- by peterwhite July 21, 2009 8:39 AM PDT
- It's a nice deal for anyone who needs a new monitor and/or gaming display but it's not so great that I would look to replace any existing hardware. On the otherhand, it is cheap enough that one could consider replacing both side-by-side displays. My hunch is that most users are a lot like me in that the dual display was an after-the-fact upgrade and not by design. In my case the odd mix is an Apple WIDE 26" LCD and cheesy Viewsonic 22" LCD. Odd that the two options are HDMI and VGA; fortunately there is a DVI-D to HDMI cable readily available from CDW.com
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(15 Comments)As the article points out, this is the trend and not so much an isolated offer. One of my suppliers is currently offering a Philips 24" WIDE LCD for $321, if that moves to $200ish - I'll buy two. For now, even if it's a great price I would prefer to stick with my ol' familiar brands. Just my two cents ...