newegg.com has a lot of good deals for monitors. 20in+ Wide screen monitors run for around 200-230 there usually.

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Sup

$400 for a LCD is HUGE
i have a sic 19" that ive been using all year for $200ish and i cant complain. Color is a huge issue for LCDs so i wouldnt suggest them for work. Best spend it on a massive CRT imo. It might not be as small and portable but you wont regret it for work later on, its jus a better investment. LCDs are more for fun.

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"they looked to the heavens for salvation
...the sky answered them with fire"

its not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dog

If you don't mind reading... heres all you need to know to pick the right one...

[link]

I bought a Samsung 226CW (22 inch widescreen, wide color gamut) SyncMaster and I do not recommend it for color work. Its awesome for games and movies though.

I have a Dell UltraSharp 2007WFPb (20 inch widescreen) and its great for everything. Its a little older so I don't think you can find this exact model at retail though.

Read that link though... it will educate you on LCDs and they even list specific models by task.

My next LCD will be a S-PVA or IPS panel type, as photo editing and artwork is important to me. I just hope to spend 400 or less, like you.

The two biggest benefits ... which should make you go out and get an LCD ... uhm... NOW... are:

1. widescreen gives you more real estate if you do not already have a dual monitor setup. And a widescreen plus a regular screen... or two widescreens... mmmm. More workspace = scientifically proven productivity gains.

2. LCD monitors (not plasma kind) use FAR LESS energy than CRT monitors, generate FAR LESS heat, and generate FAR LESS radiation.

Ah thank you very much! I heard LCDs are much better for your eyes too.

Thats what I have now, a 19" CRT but it's heavy as hell and if I have to move it's not coming with me.

Thanks~ I know there are tons of monitors out there 20"+ around the $300 range, but most of them are not usable in terms of for painting and color work.

Yes, because LCDs are side-illuminated, its not like staring into a light bulb for hours. You can still develop eye strain by staring too close at an LCD screen... but in general, most GOOD LCD screens allow you to adjust brightness and contrast and they remain pixel perfect at native resolution (highest resolution setting) so that there are no corner distortions or drift like you get with a CRT over time. You can get dead pixels on an LCD... but thats not as annoying as having 1/3 of your screen blurry because you've adjusted the settings on your CRT so that the other 2/3 are in focus. hehe.

It sounds like I'm anti-CRT, and I am not. I have an LCD and a CRT on my desk at work. And for the price and color-calibration, CRT is still easier/cheaper.

But today (2007-2008) I really believe that LCDs ($300+) you can get actually good color accurate screens.

Good luck in your search and have fun. You'll enjoy the LCD more, knowing exactly what you are getting!!! And with this info you can learn how to tell a bad LCD from a good one.