A slim wallet doesn't necessarily mean a cheap netbook PC for the gadget lover; it could mean a cheap desktop PC plus a surprisingly big display. The last couple of weeks have seen a lot of new entrants in the low-cost display market. A noteable handful (all links to Japanese pages):

GREEN HOUSE has introduced the 26-inch, 1920x1200 GH-JEF263SHB with selectable aspect ratios of 4:3 or 16:10, 5W stereo speakers, and HDMI, HDCP-capable DVI-D, and analog connectors. JPY54,800.
http://www.green-house.co.jp/products/lcd/jef263shb/

Yokohama-based DION has rolled out the TEW260SHR that's only 25.5 inches, but otherwise shares the specs noted above. JPY52,800.
http://www.candela.co.jp/news/n20081001-1.html

I-O Data's 21.5-inch, 1920x1080 LCD-MF221X has 16:9 aspect ratio and 2.5W stereo speakers, plus the same connectors as the above displays. JPY34,800.
http://www.iodata.jp/product/lcd/wide/lcd-mf221x/

And going a bit smaller, but a lot cheaper, the Japan branch of Taiwan's BenQ has announced the 18.5-inch, 1366x768 E900HD, with 16:9 aspect ratio and 1W stereo speakers. There are HDCP-enabled DVI-D and analog connectors, but no HDMI. The selling point: a price tag of JPY19,800.
http://www.benq.co.jp/products/LCD/?product=1375