Don't want to go overboard on budget or features. Just want something better than a 17" monitor to work and play with.More interested in quality, performance, ease of use.

The answer to this question changes from day to day. Dell flatscreens have a good reputation. If you stay away from the very biggest screens (25" for example) you can save a lot of money.SharkeyExtreme (http://www.sharkeyextreme.com) recommends 17" LCDs for the most savings (~ $250). If you want something a little bigger, they suggest the Dell Ultrasharp 2005FPW 20.1" LCD. I got one of those myself and it's gorgeous. I checked http://www.shopper.com and found one for $518.