Compaq 7020/5030?

If you want to do gaming and watch DVDs on your TFT screen, you will need to spend a little extra $$$ to get the fastest response time you can. A slow rs ( greater than 40ms )will make both look bad. The Compaq monitors you're considering are not the cheapest on the market, but to get better quality and specs, you're going to have to pay more.

If you can't afford a good one, I would recommend staying with a CRT for a couple years.

If you can afford it, get on of these. I have the 7020 and love it! If you can swing it, do it (I've never known ANYONE who thought an LCD monitor was too big or too advanced, and didn't love it a year later). Also, if you have and friends in Education, Compaq gives great institutional discounts (I got my 7020 for $645 in Illinois). See if a friend can hook you up.

Save the children

I got the discount as an employee, but students were also eligible. Basically, the University store buys it at the discount and then sells it to students or staff at cost (plus tax). I only really know how we do it here, so you'll have to check out your situation. I had to request that my store order the monitor and get a quote, so you may have to do a little legwork, but it's totally worth it!

Save the children

Never been to Curcuit City, but if they carry Compaq's then I just may be taking a trip there to buy it. I guess it's time I stopped waiting b/c teh 911 incident. Anyways, if teh ask teh Wiz very politely, they may put it into their stock- u have to contact this guy- ask an employee there.

If it's working...overclock it!