LCD monitor? LCD TV? Help!!

[confusednontechy]

I've been reading everything I can for the past week about building a MAME arcade but I'm still confused about what kind of screen to use. It's time to ask for some help! The authenticity of an old school monitor sounds cool but the simplicity of using a more modern LCD is more attractive to me.  Can anyone recommend a specific model they bought in the past year or so that they are happy with?  I'm open to either a computer monitor or LCD TV.  Size is flexible since I am still in the planning stages. 

[rCadeGaming]

Just be sure to get something with low input lag, that's critical:

http://forums.shoryuken.com/discussion/145141/sub-1-frame-hdtvmonitor-input-lag-database/p1

Read up if you're not sure what that is or why it's so important.

[rCadeGaming]

Okay I fixed the link above, check it out.

[Dcpmark]

Just be sure to get something with low input lag, that's critical:

Is there a point where IPS vs TN comes into consideration if the IPS has 8ms or less input lag? Or does a 2ms TN always beat out an 8ms IPS panel?

[rCadeGaming]

I wouldn't assume anything with a certain kind of panel has a certain amount of lag, a lot of the lag can come from the video processing before it gets that far.  Just compare on a model by model basis with known tested values.

If you're willing to spend the money on one, you could take a handheld lag tester to Best Buy and test for yourself.  They're expensive, but I won't be buying a new TV without testing one first.

http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=89&products_id=212

[MonMotha]

In general, TN panels will always have faster "response time" than other types.  This measures how long it takes the panel to transition from some state to another and generally reflects how much "ghosting" you'll get.  It does NOT directly reflect how "laggy" the display will be since many TN panels, especially those with ridiculously low response time numbers like 2ms, have to introduce delay to make that happen.

IPS panels will generally have the best viewing angles.  They also usually do not "lag", but they do have some of the slowest response times and hence can ghost a little on fast motion with high contrast.  VA panels are in-between.  They have usually the highest "lag" (even more than most TNs) but good response time and decent viewing angles, especially horizontal.

Sadly, to find a suitable LCD monitor for a specific application, you have to have either a known exact model - and even then, look up the "panel lottery" phenomenon - or examine them in person.