12/7    I am thinking of buying my own 20" LCD screen and use it at work
        (I currently have a 19" CRT). I spend 8+ hours a day looking
        at the computer screen at work and very little at home. The
        LCD at work would do me more good than one at home. But are
        there any reasons that I shouldn't? I mean political reasons?
        Will it give people bad impression? That I am too rich? Paid
        too high? (not). I am in a medium sized company with my own
        cubicles. Has anyone done anything similar?
        \_ I did this before.  I bought two 17" ones instead though since
           2x 1280x1024 is more pixels than 1x 1600x1200 and costs less,
           too.  Now the company switched over to LCD, so I threatened them
           that if I don't have company provided LCD monitors on my desk
           tomorrow, I won't be working tomorrow since I'm taking mine home.
           Just asking wasn't working, but above method worked like charm.
           Make sure to fill out "personal property" forms.  Now I have 3
           LCD monitors at home :p
        \_ Don't forget to liberally engrave it with "Personal Property of
           $OP".  Seriously.  People will get used to seeing it on your
           desk and when you leave the company you want to make damned
           sure they don't appropriate it.
        \_ I can see the Dilbert cartoons already, where people are ranked
           by the size of their LCD screens. "Dogbert got the 25" Apple
           Media Display! I'm so mad!"
           \_ "My LCD is larger and lasts longer than yours."
        \_ Engineers drive BMWs to work.  Why do you worry about a false
           impression of showing off just because of a 20" LCD?
           \_ I drive a beat-up '89 Ranger and I might just beat op up for
              bringing in the monitor just for being a gear geek.
              \_ gear geek for having a nice screen in a computer job? come on.
                 maybe op will use his superior eyesight to kick your ass
                 in 25 years.
        \_ Instead of enlarging your LCD screen you should enlarge your penis,
           if you have one. I have a whole bunch of email that claims that it
           works.
        \_ I heard of one company that went bankrupt because some guy decided
           to get an LCD screen. When that happened all the other engineers
           needed to one-up him and started demanding better and larger
           screens. This had a cascading effect which led to things like
           ergonomically stylized wireless keyboards, really expensive
           wireless optical mice, corinthian leather chairs, venice marbletop
           desks, and Le Blanc pens as standard issue. Don't do it, for the sake
           of the company!
           \_ The OP says he's thinking about buying his own, not asking the
              company to buy it.
              \_ It's called humor. Might want to look into it. Maybe you're
                 like Data, need to buy yourself a humor chip and install it.
                 I heard Best Buy will do the install for a nominal fee.
                 \_ Yes, but this rather assumes that your comment was funny
                    to non-retards.
                    \_ Touche, Mon Crapitan!
                 \_ no no no.  FIRST make sure you have the DRM crack on
                    hand so you can make jokes about copyrighted material,
                    THEN get the chip install.
           \_ I can totally see that happening.  At my last university lab
              job, I got one of the first 20" dell LCDs and suddenly
              everyone was stopping in the doorway saying, "wow neat". In
              a few months, the entire floor had LCDs galore, in both our
              research group and the IT group down the hall.
        \_ There is nothing wrong with bringing your own stuff like this,
           and anyone who has a problem with it should get a life.  I brought
           in my own UPS because I was sick of the power outages, so now
           my Sun has an uptime of > 400 days.  The biggest worry I would
           have is having it stolen.  Things like laptops and nice LCD screens
           are prime targets if you have a problem with stolen stuff at work.
        \_ Lots of people bring in their own laptops, but I personally
           think doing this would be seen as eccentric.
        \_ Did you ask work if they would buy you one?
        \_ Just bring it, but I think you shouldn't have more important
           personal crap at work (unless you're self-employed and it's in
           your own office) than you can quickly shove into a cardboard box
           and carry out the door.  Shit happens.  -John
           \_ keep an expandable backpack in the office!  that's how I used
              to borrow a DLP projector for movie night instead of doing
              paperwork. ;-)
              \_ By now I just don't take any more stuff to work than I can
                 drop into my laptop bag in 2 minutes.  It's never happened
                 to me, but I've seen people walked out pretty quickly and
                 ruthlessly for the stupidest of reasons.  -John
                 \_ wouldn't fluff the boss under his desk?
                    \_ No, violated the company handbook section prohibiting
                       execution style murders of people asking stupid
                       questions.
                 \_ I had a concealed carry permit and everything. Just
                    because I took my Desert Eagle .50 magnum out and started
                    stroking it lovingly was no reason for them to call
                    security and have me thrown out like that!
                    \_ That wasn't your DE you were stroking.
                    \_ Well DUUUH, it was a CONCEALED permit.  They couldn't
                       see it.  -John
        \_ I've done it.  Just make sure you'll be able to get it out easily
           if you need to.  Check with your manager if you need to fill out
           any personal equipment forms, etc.  Keep your receipt. --jameslin