i dont use any special stands, they are too expensive for my tastes.

They are expensive.  But without them, i find my head slumping forward, and pretty soon, I'll have upper back problems and I'll end up looking like a hunchback.  I can already feel the pain.  The problem with me is that I'm somewhat tall and lanky.  I have long legs, an average torso, and long arms.  So the correct typing position for me is having a low desk so my arms can be relaxed, but that interferes with my long legs, so it has to be just high enough to let my legs underneath the desk.  But if I do that, the monitors are WAY too low, and I'm looking down.  So, that's why I need monitor arms to raise it up to my eye level.

I never used to care about ergo, but after getting the monitor arms, I've seen how it makes a lot of sense.  But the real culprit is my crappy mattress.  before that, I never ever had pain in my back.

i resisted LCDs for a long time.  i can't comment on image quality.  what i can say is that the benefit in terms of savings in desk space, especially when you have 2 to 4 monitors, is impossible to overestimate.  it is one reason i would never go back to CRTs at any price.

as above. i laughed at LCD technology for a few years and stuck with a CRT (quite decent for the time) monitor. i couldn't help but pass my opinion on to the owners of LCD screens when i sat in front of them - they were rubbish after all.

eventually, during a total system upgrade, i bit the bullet and went for an Eizo 24" (at the time over £1000), as it promised to be an amazing monitor.

is it? well, yes and no. it doesn't have the contrast of a decent CRT monitor - i don't believe anything with a backlight can be. BUT, like mouser, i'd never go back to using a CRT now. the pixel sharp image makes any CRT look daft - they just can't do it. and as f0dder says, looking at something that flickers - i can't believe we all had to sit in front of such torture machines. never again.

okay, this Eizo screen is still something above average - but i'd expect something about half the price to be as good now, well maybe 3/4 of the price. there's a clear difference between a decent LCD and a budget one, they still aren't absolutely fantastic - maybe LED is better, i don't know (i assume so if the backlight problem has been sorted out).

get a good LCD (or some improved technology) and i think you'll not be 100% satisfied with it - but it will still be more enjoyable to stare at than any CRT.

interesting. i did assume they'd be cheaper in the US. good luck with the HP screen then.

Isn't Eizo a Japanese company?

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Eizo

Oh, I wasn't sure....the only thing I know for sure about Eizo is that their monitors start around $1,300 which means I don't need to investigate them any farther.

cool. let us know what you think of the display - can't imagine it being a great deal different to the Eizo.

I just set up my dual monitor arms at work.  This is great stuff.  I very highly recommend monitor arms.  it frees up tons of desk space, it's super easy to move the monitors around based on what you are doing.  You can get heights, angles, tilts that are impossible with the default stands.  You can easily bring it closer or further from you.  Man, I love it!