Finally, usable travel monitors but OMG the price

As some of you know, I am often flying with an AOC e2351f wrapped in a Geargrip LCD Wide in my hardside suitcase. This makes it near impossible to go carry on only. Not totally impossible: I did find a bag that is often accepted as carry on and fits the monitor, the Magma Rolltop II. This is a very ugly bag and some of the stiches are coming apart after a relatively short period of time (about 1.5 years) -- that the single inner pocket liner came off is a minor nuisance but the main closing velcro is becoming to separate from the bag too. Not to mention how unwieldy this thing is with the velcro and roll top. Nothing else fits, not even something as huge as the Rush 72 which is really pushing carry on limits.

So, something better is needed: as I have posted here some four years ago, http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/1080p-travel-monitor.603212/ 1080p is a must and I am not really satisfied with the 15" solutions and DisplayLink for USB 3.0 is not working for Linux anyways, and while DisplayLink for USB 2.0 does have Linux drivers it's... not well supported, to say the least.

So, I was stuck here for the longest while, wishing for an 1080p non DisplayLink monitor at a decent size but less than the 23" (I think 21.5" really but I'm not arguing much on this). I found finally two: Sharp LL-S201A and the ASUS PT201Q. These are 18" monitors in all but name, I purchased a 18" laptop sleeve for my Sharp and it amply fits. Also the whole width of both is barely more than 18" and of course there's the bezel -- so don't fall for these being 20". Alas, these are super expensive touch monitors but finally, slowly the price is beginning to descend from $800-1000 to $4-500. The touch is not something I wanted but what can one do? If you really need a monitor in your carry on, well, now you can.

Another disadvantage compared to the AOC is the lack of a decent travel stand. The AOC stand is a dream for travel. For now, I have replaced the Sharp stand with LEGO (don't laugh) following http://instructables.com/id/Lego-Folding-Tablet-Stand/

Also note while Sharp does not publish the charger plug size, it's a very standard 5.5mm x 2.5mm and there are / were tons of netbooks with 19V and this plug so it is easy to replace the factory one and save more weight. I am using an universal one from Rocketfish.