I 've got the pro lens kit, pro reflector, lamp/ballast, mirror, and UV screen all ordered via LL, now I'm looking for a donor monitor to start stripping while parts arrive.

I've got a relatively decent Acer AL1715 already, but it is only 4:3 1280x1024 and VGA 15 pin Dsub only. It works nicely till I replaced with a 19". Aslo this is free, but not easy to connect to a receiver

I'm also looking at a Gateway FPD2185W. It's Widescreen 1680x1050 and 21" with all the inputs possible. I've got this resolution on my laptop and it works great, bigger screen could only be better. $600, but easy to connect to almost any thing.

Here's another one I saw at the local Bset Buy, Westinghouse 19" LTV-19W3

Any recomendations for image quality (720p or better) along with ease of connection? Unfortuantely I'm leaning towards the Gateway, even with the heafty price tag, but it's options really make it easy to hook up.

EDIT: Any other options for a widescreen High-Res LCD would be welcome as well. I'd prefer not to have to us a component to vga converter if possible.

EDIT 2: I recieved the Westinghouse today, tomorrow I'm dropping it off at UPS to return it. Computer image sucks hard, the native resolution isn't available unless I create a custom profile in Powerstrip. It will do up to 1680x1050, but it all looks bad. RCA and Component look nice playing a DVD though.

21" Is too large

on the 17"
I use a very similiar acer model, and the AG was a breeze to remove. Its not bad ( i scored mine for 50$ so i was practically forced to use it)

Hehe, same here on the cheap, I got my Acer for $35, shipping from a friend. As for size it will be a vertical PJ built to throw an image striaght out horizontal. Any decently High-Res option with easy video inputs would be welcome.

I got bored while at work todayso I wandered over to Best Buy and looked at that Westinghouse. Looks nice, crisp with great contrast, plus that $499 is nice. There was even one that wasopen box at $469 so I could save a few bucks. It has 15 pin Dsub, DVI, RCA, Svideo, and component inputs, so getting either a PC or video feed from the receiver should be easy.

Anyone tried a 19" widescreen yet? Also would 1440x900 be worth buying?

PS. I found it at Crutchfield for $419 with free Shipping. $80 cheaper than Best Buy if the free shipping actually gets it to Alaska, they don't mention it anywhere that they don't.

Forget the larger monitor stick with the 17", PRO might work upto 21" but noone has tested yet, 19" is still 1280x1024 so all you get is a bigger box.

The largest panel the pro setup will use is 19in wide (1440x900) or a 20in regular (1600x1200). There aren't that many 20in LCDs on the market though. To figure out if a monitor is too big/too small, multiply the pixel pitch (where given) by the resolution. That's your rectangle, then compare with the lenses.

If you want wide, then go for it. If you want regular, stick with a good 17in panel, like pagercam said, all you get is a bigger box with a 19in. If you want the extra resolution, say for 1080 HD content, then you can use a 20in panel if you can find a good one.

I haven't built a PJ yet, so take what I say with a grain of salt...

There is always the 15.4" WUXGA (1920×1200). It's nice and small, so the light will be more even, and the enclosure can be smaller. A "Guru" on this forum (minoten) organizes group buys for them and a very nice looking contoller board. In the most recient group buy he was charging $715 + shipping (I imagine about $750 total). $150 more than the gateway (before tax), but with better resolution. The controller seems like it's really cool, it has VGA, DVI, s-video, and composit video. It's also got picture in picture and a bunch of other stuff. It seems very cool.

The monitor has a few things working against it though: it's got a relitively low contrast ratio (400:1), relitively slow refresh(?) speed of 25ms, and doesn't display as many colors (16.2 million instead of 16.7). Personally, I don't think I'll notice the colors at all. The refresh(?) speed is slower than most new monitors, but it aparrently isn't a problem. And for the contrast, I personally don't think I'll be able to tell the difference unless I have something to compare it to.

[edit]Oh yeah, here's some links:
Thread about the WUXGA kit started by minoten.
minoten's website about the monitor and controller[/edit]

Yeah, I have looked at Minoten's LCD, nice option but a bit spendy and the performance isn't there. I've got the Westinhouse 19" on the way from Crutchfield now. They actually ship 2nd day air to Alaska for FREE!!! That applies to all TV's over $30, really nice. It should be here Tuesday or Wednsday then. I like that one for the ease of usem with all the inputs I shouldn't need to use a component to vga conversion.

You'll probably be one of the first to do a 19in widescreen, so get that PLOG going so we can see how it goes. I'm planning on doing a 19in wide setup at some point with a viewsonic panel.