Low priced LCD's heading in the right direction in price and features

The above link takes you to a 17" LCD Target was selling two weeks ago for $249, we reduced that price 10% further by using our monthly Target Card rewards 10% discount coupon.

At it's current price of $299, it's a bit over priced, but for what we paid for it and given it's features, it was the right deal at the right time. Daughter #1 has a laptop now, so her desktop went into Daughter #2's room which previously contained a stand-alone DVD player, a Gamecube, assorted stand alone video games and a 13" combo TV/VCR set (Tube). I need a way to combine all this functionality in a smaller package.
On the desktop I did have a switchbox that could swap two VGA's/one composite video/audio and 1 SVHS to a single monitor and speakers on the desktop. This box is powered and doubles the amount of cables required which adds to the clutter on a very small computer cart.

This monitor solved multiple problems at once. 1st, it gave us a decent stand alone DVD/CD player (I've tested it, it also plays VCD's), that doesn't require you to turn on the computer (yes, the computer can be used to play CD's/DVD's, but as many of you may know, DVD playback can be flaky even on newer computers). It has a VGA/audio input for the computer (so no more external speakers), it has inputs for composite and component video in, as well as composite video out, and NTSC/ATSC tuners built in (HD digital and analog).
I'm typically leery of integrated speakers in a monitor, but since this a TV first and also just happens to be a computer monitor, the audio amp is more hefty than on most integrated speakers you see (hear?) on LCD's; sound is full and clear even at the highest levels, which are too loud in her room anyways. The DVD player is a bit of a throwback. it has a mechanical eject (spring-loaded, that pops out the tray) mounted sideways on the right side of the unit. You click the CD/DVD on the hub (like a laptop drive) and physically push the drive back in. Due to the clear blue plastic cover of the drive (you see 1/3 of the DVD sticking out the side spinning during playback), it takes a bit of finesse to install a disk without scratching the bottom (data side) of the disk on the clunky cover. I think that reflects the low cost of this monitor more than anything, and is it's only real weakness. We've informed Daughter #2 to call us when she wants to put in a CD or DVD so we can make sure our discs last a few years. The device also comes with a remote, that is very simple and direct which lets you access the controls better than the buttons on the left side intended for the same functions.
Since the printer on the cart stayed in Daughter #1's room, this really freed up space on the cart. Computer, monitor (no more speakers YEA!), and gamecube are all simply and peacefully connected with lots of storage space left on the cart and only one small power strip inside the cart to feed them all...and it's still expandable!

If you don't have an LCD at home on your computer, and you'd like to upgrade your monitor and add a TV/CD/DVD to your computer room, this is a great and inexpensive way to do it.
Wait for the sale price to come back, it's rumored that Target will reduce the price to $199 for the Thanksgiving weekend sale.