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Big Daddy Don Bodine's monitor, the bohemoth. Also, known as the Planar PX2611w.

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET)

Today, we're talking going big. And by "big" I mean, well, pretty big. 25.5-inches big. Yeah, yeah I know. Not 27-inches big like the HP 2709m and definitely not 30-inch big, but still larger than most.

Today we have two new reviews of 25.5-inch monitors, the HP w2558hc and the Planar PX2611w. Previously, I took a close look at the two, completely objectifying each in a physical way. Check out photos for the HP here and the Planar here.

You can see the official CNET reviews here for the HP and here for the Planar.

Reviewing monitors of this size gets me excited about getting in even larger displays. While last year I reviewed three 30-inch monitors, this year, nada. There just aren't that many on the market. If you guys know of any 30-inchers you'd like to see reviewed, drop me a line of leave a comment. I'll do my best to get any noteworthy units in.

In the meantime, keep checking here for new LCD computer monitor reviews.

The ViewSonic VX1962wm is currently the lowest priced monitor I've reviewed. Currently...

For some, finding the lowest price for a computer monitor trumps all other factors, including features, size, and brand. For those "some" of you, this is the blog you've been waiting for.

Here, I'll outline what I think are the best techniques for finding monitors that are priced the lowest.

Go small
The smaller your monitor's screen size, the less work it takes to illuminate. Thus, the less expensive it is. Simple math, really. Obviously, you'll buy per your needs, but if funds are an issue, go as small as you can stand. I recommend bottoming out at 17 inches, however.

Buy off-brand
Name brands have a premium attached to them, but off brands don't bear the same burden. While a mainstream 21.5-incher like the Dell SX2210 or Lenovo 215p will cost you at least $250, you can find the lesser-known brand HannsG 221HPB from Newegg for $180. Keep in mind though that you get what you pay for and you should not expect the quality level on off-brands to match those of name brands. A brand name may save you on peace of mind, but it usually won't save you cash.

Skimp on features
Like everyone else, if you want two HDMI ports, DVI, component, DisplayPort, built-in speakers, a beer holder, a mini pizza oven, a holographic projector that projects an image of Megan Fox in a bikini that says you're the strangest boy she's ever met attached to your monitor, you're gonna have to pay for it.

Think about exactly what you'll need from your monitor. What exactly you'll be using it for. Then, when it comes time to choose your monitor, stick to your needs and remember that any extra frills will be, well, extra.

Seasonal discounts
After Christmas, late winter/early spring is the best time to take advantage of sales, as stores try to sell off their previous season's stock. Also, most retailers--especially e-tailers--have big promotions on Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Memorial Day weekends. If you're looking to buy and it's approaching one of those weekends, it may pay off to wait a few days to see what deals you can get.

Shop around
If finding the lowest possible price is paramount, then you'll need to put in the time to do so. Check all the majors like Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy. Then check out some of the price aggregators like Google Product Search and Nextag. Those will point you to lesser-known e-tailers, so use caution when choosing who to buy from.

Buy used
Craigslist and eBay are great resources for finding used monitors in good condition. Just be sure that the eBay users have lots of positive feedback and that you actually try before you buy when using Craigslist.

That about covers all your legal choices. I'll be back next week to focus the best illegal ways to find the cheapest monitor (I won't actually be doing this).

Check out our low-price LCD monitors comparison to get an idea of lowest prices for LCDs that got at least 3.5 stars in our reviews. Then take a look at our comparison of budget LCDs, regardless of rating comparison. There would have been some overlap between the two lists, but the criteria for the two comparisons was that a monitor that appears in one list couldn't appear in the other.

Enjoy, happy hunting, keep your eyes peeled, and stay frosty. And like that, (whoosh!) he's gone.

The Dell G2210...is getting plenty of mileage in my blogs as of late.

(Credit: CNET)

Make no mistake, the monitors featured in this comparison are cheap! Now, I've been told not to use that word, as it carries with it the connotation that something is "cheaply made."

According to the Free Dictionary, cheap means "relatively low in cost; inexpensive or comparatively inexpensive." That's the most accurate way to describe five "low-priced" monitors I've gathered. Each comes in under $300, with a couple breaking the $200 barrier.

Check out the comparisons.

(Credit: CNET)

I've posted quite a few monitor reviews lately, which got me thinking that I should probably update the three Monitor Buying Guide lists.

So here are my picks (of monitors I've reviewed) for the best LCD computer monitors for playing games, the best for work, and the best for movie watching.

Leave a comment if you think there are better choices out there or if there are other monitors you'd like to see reviewed.

(Credit: OWC)

Having a second monitor doesn't just make your office space look more serious, it also helps you boost your productivity. Unfortunately, most computers don't come with a video card that can handle more than one display at a time. This is when you need to resort to one of the USB ports for the second display.

Other World Computing announced on Tuesday its USB 2.0 display adapter that helps you easily add additional monitors to your computer. The adapter is basically a bus-powered USB external video card. All you need to do is plug it into an available USB 2.0 port and then plug a monitor (not included) to it, just like you would to the regular built-in display output of the computer.

The adapter comes with software drivers for both Windows and Mac computers. You can add up to six additional monitors to a Windows machine and up to four to a Mac. Once done, you can use all these displays, plus the main one simultaneously.

The OWC USB 2.0 display adapter supports all HDMI-, DVI-, and VGA-equipped displays, be them LCDs, plasmas, projectors, or legacy CRTs. It can display full 32-bit color at the max resolution of 1,600x1,200. It's unclear but you probably won't be able to play 3D games with it.

The device comes with all you need out of the box, including: USB to DVI adapter, DVI to VGA adapter, DVI to HDMI swivel adapter, a 4-foot USB 2.0 cable, and a software CD.

It also comes with a one-year warranty and a reasonable price tag of $99. Unfortunately, it doesn't ship with any LCDs. If you want something like that, look for the Mimo 740, which is a lot more expensive and only works with Windows.

Dell S1909WX: 19-inch LCD for $199.

(Credit: Dell)

My LCD died two weeks ago, so I rushed out to Best Buy and grabbed the cheapest 19-inch model on the shelf, which turned out to be the $179 eMachines E19T6W. Had Dell released the Dell S1909WX in mid-September instead of today, I may have spent an extra $20 for it with its higher contrast ratio and arguably better styling.

Like my new eMachines purchase, the 19-inch Dell S1909WX is a wide-screen display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 1440x900-pixel native resolution, 5ms pixel response time, and 300-nit brightness. It trumps the eMachines LCD's 700:1 contrast ratio, however, delivering a 1,000:1 ratio. Like nearly any recent 19-inch display, it provides an HDCP-compliant DVI port and an analog VGA port.

Dell also released the 17-inch Dell S1709W today, which provides the same native resolution, a 8ms response time, a 600:1 contrast ration, and 250-nit brightness, and only a VGA port for $179.

Both new Dell displays don't have Webcams, an increasingly common feature on LCD monitors. I've liked the look of HP's LCDs of late, like last year's HP W2007, so I'm pleased to see Dell borrow design elements--black bezel and rounded corners--of its chief competitor.

Source | Via

(Credit: Crave Asia)

BenQ has introduced its new range of LCD monitors, among them one that it claims is the first 21.5-inch full high-definition panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio.

That would make its E2200HDA monitor the smallest LCD with a native full-HD (1080p) resolution in the market. Current full-HD panels start at 24-inch or larger. Additionally, the E2200HDA sports a 16:9 aspect ratio (1,920 x 1,080-pixel) display which is a better fit for full-HD content than the conventional 16:10 (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) found in most LCD monitors today.

To complement the panel's full-HD capabilities, BenQ has included HDMI and DVI-D connectivity as well as HDCP support, on top the traditional VGA display option. Also onboard the BenQ LCD monitor are integrated speakers, headphone jack, 5ms response time, and a dynamic contrast ratio of 10,000:1. The E2200HDA is expected to be available selected markets in Europe, Asia, and Latin America in the third quarter of this year. Pricing details have yet to be announced.

(Source: Crave Asia)

(Credit: Asus)

Sharp may brag about its 108-inch display, but Asus is seeking a different claim to fame: The company says it is releasing "the world's slimmest 22-inch widescreen LCD monitor."

Regardless of whether the claim is true--we've made our opinion known about "world's first" statements in general--there's no denying that this monitor is anorexically thin. Despite an apparent typo in the press release, as Engadget points out, this TV measures less than an inch deep--0.97 inches, to be exact. That would be more than a third slimmer than Hitachi's 1.5-inch model announced barely a month ago. (Granted, the latter includes a TV tuner, but still.)

To highlight its svelte figure even more, Asus has adorned the lower half of the LS221H with leather trim. It also has a scratch-resistant screen, which may come in handy for the fellow in the photo if his proposal is rejected.

(Credit: LG)

No, your screen doesn't need adjusting. This photo you see here depicts LG's new 38-inch "stretched" LCD monitor.

It's one of two elongated models, the other being 29 inches, for situations where extra-wide displays are needed, such as commercial signage. That must be why its resolution--1,366 x 480--is relatively low, as it's probably not ideal for close-up reading.

The company says these monitors, which are destined for the U.K. market, work equally well either vertically or horizontally. Just keep your distance.