Crave

The EQD Auria EQ2367 may be an off-brand monitor, but it's also an unbelievable deal.

(Credit: EQD)

Update: Looks like this is sold out. (When I say act fast, I mean it!) But try checking back later and even in a day or two. Sometimes vendors get replenished stock.

Update #2: One commenter was told by the vendor that additional stock is expected tomorrow, so do check back!

I was going to post this yesterday, but I really thought the $149 Kindle was the more exciting deal. Judging from its lackluster response, I was wrong. Now I'm just hoping this monitor doesn't sell out or expire.

TigerDirect has a loaded 24-inch EQD Auria EA2367 LCD monitor for $159.99, plus $1.99 for shipping. It's a new monitor, not a refurbished unit. This is, without a doubt, the lowest price I've seen for a monitor of this size.

Actually, it's a little more than a monitor. Because it has an HDMI input and speakers, you could connect it to a Blu-ray player or game console--perfect for bedrooms, dorm rooms, and other small spaces.

I've never heard of the EQD brand, and I haven't been able to find any reviews on this model. But, hey, don't all flat-panel screens come from one of three factories anyway?

In any case, its specs look solid: 1080p resolution (1,920x1,080-pixels), 5ms response time, HDMI, and speakers (2 watts each--stand back!).

The monitor comes with a one-year warranty.

If you happen to own an EQD monitor--especially this one--by all means, share your feedback in the comments.

If I were in the market for a big, big monitor, I'd snap this up fast. Lowest. Price. Ever!

According to VholdR, a waterproof case should be available for the ContourHD before the holidays.

(Credit: VholdR)

It figures that the day after we decide to give the VholdR ContourHD wearable camcorder our coveted Editors' Choice award, that VholdR would go and announce something better. This, dear readers, is what we like to call a "good problem."

The cleverly named ContourHD1080p takes the standard ContourHD's 720p HD resolution and bumps it up to--you guessed it--1080p. All of the features that we loved in the original will still be there in the new unit, including the rotating wide-angle lens assembly, the rechargeable lithium ion battery, and the dual frickin' laser beams.

What's new is a plethora of additional recording modes. In addition to the original 720p/30 frames per second HD and 480p/60fps SD modes, the ContourHD1080p adds:

• Full HD - 1080p (1,920x1,080 pixels) at 30fps
• Tall HD - 960p (1,280x960 pixels) at 30fps
• Action HD - 720p (1,280x720 pixels) at 60fps

Additionally, with the use of the included Easy Edit software, you can set the contrast (high, medium, or low), metering (center, average, or spot), and exposure (-4 to +4). Its microphone sensitivity can be adjusted as well, which should help to reduce some of the wind noise that we found when testing the standard ContourHD.

So, should you wait for this new model instead of picking up the current ContourHD?

Well, that depends. According to VholdR, the ContourHD1080p is aimed professional videographers, while the standard HD is for enthusiasts. Yet, the ContourHD1080p weighs in at an MSRP of $329.99, only $40 more than the 720p model. However, introducing more options for exposure and metering could confuse casual users and take away from the simple point and shoot nature that so endeared us to the standard ContourHD. We'll wait and see how the controls pan out before making final judgment.

In the meantime, check out a video of the ContourHD1080p in action after the jump.

Sleek style defines the Samsung PNB850/860 plasma.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

In the battle between plasma and LCD, the former generally comes out ahead in most areas of our picture quality tests, while the latter has dominated the less important, but somehow costlier, dimension of depth.

LCDs such as the Samsung and Sony edge-lit models and the Hitachi UT37X902 cost a hefty premium for manufacturers knocking an inch or two from the standard panel's thickness. Now plasma makers want in on that premium, and the PNB850 and PNB860 series represent Samsung's less-depth-for-more-money gambit.

Like the company's thicker, less expensive PNB650 series, the PNB850/860 series offers excellent picture quality with accurate color, deep black levels--albeit not as deep as the best plasmas and LCDs--and solid video processing. In fact, we awarded the two Samsung plasmas the same Performance score, although the PNB850/860 gets the nod in design. However, if you can stomach the higher price and like the thin profile, the PNB850/860 makes a compelling option.

Read the full review of the Samsung PNB850/860 series.

Samsung PNB850/860 series--photos

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.

For the unbelievable price of $169.99, you can get a new 24-inch LCD.

(Credit: Asus)

I know many of you were bummed about missing the dirt-cheap 24-inch LCD from the other day, which sold out soon after I posted it. Well, like I always say, there's usually a better deal just around the corner.

Case in point: ZipZoomfly has an Asus VH242H 24-inch LCD monitor for $169.99 shipped. That's after a mail-in rebate [PDF], but it's for only $10.

In other words, you can skip the rebate altogether and still get a 24-inch LCD for the same price as the ViewSonic posted Monday.

What's more, the Asus is new, not a refurb! That means you get a stellar three-year warranty on parts and labor.

On the spec front, the VH242H delivers with 1,920x1,080 resolution, a 5ms response time, and an impressive three inputs: VGA, DVI, and HDMI. (Need an HDMI cable to connect this to, say, an Xbox or PS3? Don't forget: You can get one for as little as $3.

The Asus also has built-in speakers, though as with all speaker-equipped monitors, don't expect theater-quality sound. Expect sound somewhere between AM and FM radio.

CNET hasn't reviewed this particular LCD, but if you bop over to Newegg (where it's selling for $187.99 after rebate, incidentally), you'll find hundreds of overwhelmingly positive user reviews.

A few readers have pointed out that ZipZoomfly doesn't cover return-shipping charges on defective products, so if you happen to get a bum unit, you'll have to pay to send it back. I don't consider that a deal-breaker, but it's something to keep in mind.

Even if you skip the rebate, this is a better deal than the one I posted Monday. Consequently, it may sell out, too, so hurry up and get clicking!

This spacious 24-inch LCD features an HDMI interface and built-in speakers.

(Credit: ViewSonic)

Still squinting at a 17- or 19-inch monitor? Heck, if you're using a laptop as your primary PC, you might be looking at a mere 15-incher. The horror!

Fortunately, loads of extra screen estate await you: PC Connection has a refurbished ViewSonic VX2433WM 24-inch LCD monitor for $179.95 shipped. (You may have to pay sales tax, which in my neck of the woods comes to about $11.)

It wasn't too long ago that a 22-inch LCD for under $200 was something to crow about, so a 24-incher for even less is mighty impressive. Based on my calculations, that extra two inches works out to about 900 percent more display area. (Why, yes, I was an English major, why do you ask?)

The VX2433WM has all the specs you're likely to want from a big LCD, including 1,920x1,080 resolution (that's 1080p if you're talking in HDTV terms), DVI and HDMI interfaces, a 5ms response time, and built-in speakers.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Sure, this would be a great match for a desktop or laptop, but it would also work nicely with a game console or media-center PC.

Because it's a refurb, the warranty expires after 90 days, which is normal (and, to me, acceptable). The couple dozen users reviews on PC Connection average 4.2 stars out of 5, with the main complaint being the mediocre speakers (big surprise).

This is the best price I've seen to date on a 24-inch LCD, so if you want to seriously expand your available workspace (something you'll never regret, trust me), I'd jump on this.

Update: Well, this didn't last long. Looks like PC Connection is already sold out. Sorry for the late post and short-lived deal!

Samsung's PNB650 series comes close to the best plasmas on the market.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

With the exit of heavy-hitter Pioneer from the plasma racket, just three major makers remain: Panasonic, Samsung, and LG. The latter two offer significantly more models of LCD TVs than of plasma, however, and seem more focused on LCD technology. Nonetheless, Samsung's 2009 plasmas, if the PNB650 series is any indication, are nearly the match of Panasonic's best.

The model we tested delivered superb black-level performance--significantly better than past Samsung plasmas--and the company's traditional accurate color. Samsung has also kept up with Panasonic on the feature front and delivers more picture adjustments, although we prefer Panasonic's VieraCast to Samsung's sluggish Yahoo Widgets when it comes to interactive features. Regardless, the superb overall package delivered by the PNB650 series once again poses a difficult decision for plasma HDTV buyers.

Read the full review of the Samsung PNB650 series.

Samsung PNB650 series photos

The Panasonic TC-PV10 series delivers the best picture quality of any flat-panel TV we've tested this year.

(Credit: Sarah Tew)

In our review of Panasonic's G10 plasma we discussed how it competed for picture quality supremacy against Pioneer's now-discontinued Kuro PRO-111FD--still the best HDTV ever--and how ultimately it couldn't quite match the Kuro.

The same basic story stays true for the TC-PV10 series, but it's even better than the G10.

This Panasonic plasma has the same deep blacks that grace its less-expensive little brother, and adds a couple of key improvements: better video processing to handle 1080p/24 sources and more picture adjustments that allow it to transcend the limitations of THX mode. Its picture should satisfy all but the pickiest of videophiles, and it also outperforms any LCD-based display, LED or otherwise, we've ever tested. Beyond image quality, the V10 delivers plenty of features and an eye-catching one-sheet-of-glass design, for a combination that deserves serious consideration from buyers willing to pay for it.

Read the full review of the Panasonic TC-PV10 series.

Panasonic TC-PV10 series photos

Westinghouse's 42-inch LCD delivers 1080p, but only a 90-day warranty.

(Credit: OnSale)

This is one of those good news/bad news deals. The good news: OnSale has the refurbished Westinghouse VK-42F240S-R 42-inch LCD TV for $499.99 (plus about $53 for shipping). That's one of the lowest prices I've seen on a 42-inch HDTV, particularly one that supports 1080p.

The bad news: Because it's a refurb, you get a 90-day warranty--and Westinghouse has a pretty poor reputation when it comes to customer service.

Now, that being said, I've owned a 46-inch Westinghouse LCD for years, and it's been a champ. The VK-42F240S-R (just rolls off the tongue, eh?) features 1,920x1,080 resolution, 2 HDMI inputs, 2 component inputs, and an ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM tuner. It also has auto source detection, which I've always liked on my Westy.

I haven't found any reviews of this particular model, other than the single five-star user review on the product page. If you happen to own this LCD, share your thoughts about it in the comments.

Ultimately, the good news here is quite good--sweet price on a big TV--while the bad news isn't all that bad. You're not likely to find a better deal on a 42-inch 1080p TV.