so the difference between my new acer monitor and that is a sticker? WOW that is so worth it, damn...that will increase resale value.

Actually it has a lot to do with DRM (digital rights management) scheme they are planning. These monitors should be HDCP capable. Now all you need is a HDCP video card and HD-DVD/BR-DVD player (for your pc) and you should finally be able to watch HD movies at their intended resolution (using a smaller monitor which IMO makes for an oxymoron). Some people actually use their computer to watch DVDs and want to use their computer to watch HD. Problem is, they now have to buy a smaller monitor (instead of their HDTV that they used before to watch DVD). So they are not happy campers. Although DVD players are cheap, it was no need to buy one since they had their computer hooked up to the HDTV. In a nutshell HDCP supported Monitors allow for high-resolution playback of HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs on your PC.

It still makes no sense why a person cannot use their regular HDTV to which HD DVD without the need of buying a separate HD/BR player.

I was beginning to think all of these manufacturers were on crack charging abnormally high prices just for a sticker saying VISTA Certified.

I'm going to sell "Vista Ready" stickers on ebay for 5$ :banghead: