What is the difference
is a HD monitor just an HDTV with out a reciever?

 

Google is your friend!

http://tech.yahoo.com/blog/samiljan/3327

 

i saw that little article already
but why are HDTVs so much more than HD monitors

 

As you guessed, I'm sure it's because the TV has a receiver and such. The monitor is just a monitor, like for a computer. The burden of creating and sending the signal is on the cable box (or whatever). When I bought, I went with the Mitsubishi DLP. It's not as narrow as the LCDs/plasmas, but it's only about a foot deep and way less expensive. The picture is fantastic. I have the 65". There's a 73" and now an 85" which is a monster.

 

By the way, plasmas are really cheap now. My gf just got a 50" Panasonic (720p) from Costco for $840.

 

i only want something to watch bluray movies on
and i dont have or plan to get cable/sat

but i noticed though only 24in and below monitor are cheap
the 36+ one are almost the same price as HDTVs though

 

Word. we (I saw we cuz i have worked at Costco for nearly 7 years now) have an LG 50" plasma for $799.99. My buddy got it, it looks really good, even with out an upconverting dvd player, just a reg old dvd player with a set of component cables the tv looks amazing.

 

There is typically a threshhold at which the price jumps disproportionately. Every year the threshhold gets a little bigger.