Jason over at TTZ goes into two of the most important specifications to look for when buying a new LCD (monitor or HDTV). Brightness & Contrast Ratio's have been on the rise in the LCD market lately... I just saw a 42" LCD with a 6000:1 contrast ratio the other day; something that I never thought I'd see...

"Currently, as of this article publication release, a 22" LCD monitor can be purchased for as little as $300. This was unheard of only a few years ago."