Help me pick an LCD monitor

Samsung makes a great monitor. I recommend them. NEC is also good. There are no non-TFT LCD monitors anymore. If possible, get one with LED backlighting. This may not be possible at your price point, but in ordinary LCDs, the backlights dim with age and eventually go out. LEDs don't do that.

Our Russian friends at Xbitlabs have just come out with a http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/monitors/display/lcd-monitor-buyers-guide-spring2010_6.html#sect0. Usually, when I see people recommend Dell, they're talking about the UltraSharp IPS model: the $699 http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/Displays/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=320-8277 would be your 24" option.

I've been using a Samsung LCD for a couple of years now and have had no complaints. I got it at Staples where they have a very simple easy extended warranty deal. Something to bear in mind when reading product reviews is that most of the time satisfied customers don't write a product review. Not saying it doesn't happen but alot of reviews are initiated because the product in question didn't perform as expected and the customer is peeved. I've seen 22" Samsung monitors recently for as little as $180. I keep an eye on sites like DealNews and Woot has been posting monitors with some regularity lately.

Here's what's on sale right now according to DealMac, looks like some pretty excellent deals to me. http://dealmac.com/Dell-LCD-Display-Price-Check-24-1080-p-LCD-for-189-free-shipping-more/349980.html. Of particular note is the 24" 1080p LCD from Dell for an excellent $189 and free shipping. And some listed models have an extra 10% off.

I currently have both a ViewSonic VX922 19" 2ms and a ASUS VW224U 22" 2ms both from Newegg. My boyfriend has a Hanns·G JW-197DPB 19" 5ms also from Newegg. We've been satisfied with all of these monitors, and I don't think I ever paid more than $250 for either of mine. The ASUS is well under $200. As much as I like reviews, you must keep in mind that with reviews that there is some self-selection going on -- people are more likely to review when they've had a bad experience.

http://www.tftcentral.co.uk/ may be of some use: their reviews are very thorough.

I have a couple of Hanns.G LCDs. I've had them about three years and they've been excellent. I think they're a German company, quite well-known in Europe, probably not so well-known in the US. http://www.tomsguide.com/us/LCD-Samsung-Hanns-G,review-1463.html of one of their newer 25" models. Looks like they're only $199, which is a bargain. I found their support service to be very very good. When one of my monitors developed a fault (within the first week) they delivered a replacement the next day.

I just bought http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002N8A1HO/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/. It arrived yesterday. I am already HEAD-OVER-HEELS. My only problem was turning the damn thing on (*grumblesabouttouchsensorsinsteadofbuttons*) It's in your price range and looks spectacular.

The differences between the panel technologies don't matter all that much if it's of the size you're talking about, your use is going to be sitting straight in front of it, and you're not a photographer or graphic artist who cares about how to configure colors so they'll reproduce truly. Kindall's right that LED has advantages over fluorescent backlights, but as for TN vs. IPS, etc., don't worry about it. I've never had anything but TN, and I have no complaints. (One thing that does differ is how well the picture holds up when viewed at an angle, which is why it matters with a really huge screen, when you're automatically looking at the edges of the picture at an angle, or if you're not sitting right in front of it.)