I just bought a new monitor last year.  I went to all the stores in town and LOOKED at them.  Most of the monitors on the shelf were hooked up to the inernet, so I opened my gallery on RR and looked at my own work on the monitors I was considering.  That was a really good idea, since I knew exactly what the images I was viewing were supposed to look like!  (I didn't like the Acer at ANY price, btw.  The angle of viewing was too narrow, and the colors weren't right.)  I don't know jack about specs ... for me, seeing was believing.  I love the monitor I got (A 22" Samsung SyncMaster).  It was WAY worth the time and effort.  I paid more than what you're looking at with those on-line offers, but I use it every day, and it's been worth every penny. 

"If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough."  ...  Robert Capa