I did go for vast SATA instead of a LCD. Dunno if I regret

LCD vs diskspace anyday. Why? Because how often do you change a monitor vs a hard drive? And how cheap do hard drives keep coming down in $/GB?

jcarle, Lunar Leaper meant dask not disk.

Definitely the LCD.

I shelled out the cash last year for a 200gb Maxtor SATA(US$200), but could only afford a 14" LCD(US$120).

The SATA drive performance is little better (if at all) than an el-cheapo PATA; but the monitor is so small...a regrettable decision, in retrospect.

SATA performance is NOT AT ALL better. At least, not YET. With NCQ (never heard of? google for it) there will be a difference. Still not very big.

If you can choose between SATA, PATA and the PATA version is cheaper, go for the PATA one!

I'd definetly go for the LCD! Unless you're still working with a 20 GB hard disk...

I'm working on a Hyundai Q17 17 inch flatscreen with 1280*1024 and..... it's marvellous!

Well, I seem to be the first _posting_ here, that I'll prefer the HUGE HD - never mind if its PATA or SATA, my MoBo can handle either.

Reason?

I have a good enough monitor (CRT, 17", can do 1400x1050@60Hz) which has sharp display - and there's still reasons why LCDs aren't as good as CRTs.

But I keep adding to the data on my HDD at the rate of, like probably 5 GB a week - and I can't keep all of that, nor burn to CDs. Now, your HUUUUUGE disk here will help me. Whaddya say?

Well, I seem to be the first _posting_ here, that I'll prefer the HUGE HD - never mind if its PATA or SATA, my MoBo can handle either.

Reason?

I have a good enough monitor (CRT, 17", can do 1400x1050@60Hz) which has sharp display - and there's still reasons why LCDs aren't as good as CRTs.

But I keep adding to the data on my HDD at the rate of, like probably 5 GB a week - and I can't keep all of that, nor burn to CDs. Now, your HUUUUUGE disk here will help me. Whaddya say?

OMG!

60Hz! I would stright up vomit if i sat infront of your screen!

IMHO The LCD is one of the best investments i have made in the past 4 years!

Not only do they look amazing, the save space, put out less heat and use less power!

The biggest thing for me is i can sit in front of a moniter for long times and not feel drowsy...helps me alot for all nighter essay and reports, which to this point has defined my college life....

So ya LCD all the way HDD space can be backed to cds or manilpulated and optimized while if u have a crap screen theres nothing u can do about it

|Drew|

jcarle, Lunar Leaper meant dask not disk.

The proper spelling is desk.

OMG!

60Hz! I would stright up vomit if i sat infront of your screen!

Ah sorry..... I only mentioned the max. it could go there - my normal res. is here.

BTW, all the points you make regarding the LCD:

I'd like to voted Birbal style - get both. While the facts are good, its not fully so to everyone. But it simply isn't cheap enough (in my country) to buy them, and high env. conditions. Given that a large LCD would be cost about 4 times the size of a lower-end version, and far more than a very big HDD. somethings are differently favoured by me.

right now i'm in the same boat, and I'm going to buy an lcd but couldn't decide whether to get a 17" or a 19"

The size shouldn't matter, what you should be concerned with is the refresh times... you want something as close to 16ms as possible.

right now i'm in the same boat, and I'm going to buy an lcd but couldn't decide whether to get a 17" or a 19"

What do you prefer? Larger or smaller characters?

first option > go 17inch

second option > go 19 inch

jcarle, Lunar Leaper meant dask not disk.

The proper spelling is desk.

Actually, I may have tried to type dusk...

for you guys and girls going with the lcd option look at this one

http://www.gamepc.com/labs/view_content.asp?id=vp912b&page=1

Diskspace! , there is allways room for more diskspace allthough like ppl said before SATA is pooh for the time being.