[ahecht]

Going from a 19" monitor to a 15" LCD will be a bit of a downgrade. In general, with an LCD, you get an extra inch or so (since a CRT's size is the tube size, which is larger than the screen), but 15" is still pretty small. You will also be disappointed by the resolution. I have a 15", but I use it as a second monitor only.

I'm a big fan of the 1280x1024 19" monitors that have a rotating stand. This allows you to view web pages and documents in portrait mode, even those programs and pages designed for 1024x768 monitors. I personally have a Dell 1905FP which I love (if you find coupons, you can get them for as low as $300).

Just be aware that you get what you pay for, and that $150 17" lcd you get from the bargain store may end up being very blurry and washed out. You screen is your primary method of interfacing with your computer, so it makes sense to spend a little more on it.