What is the best way to get a display for the laptop?

The best bang for buck. Where to purchase, ebay? Best Buy?

I'm thinking of getting 1-3 displays for increased productivity.

I am thinking of plugging it into my Toshiba laptop which doesn't have HDMI.

Should I get a new laptop that does have HDMI?

 

well first you need to figure it out whether your laptop's graphics card can actually support 3 external displays.

If it can, then at what resolution and are you sure you have three external display outlets to support 3 displays.

Now if you're all good so far, I'd recommend newegg. Sometimes they're a bit more expensive but it is the 'best bang for the buck' because you get the best customer service out there and you know that if it's doa or broken or you just don't like it, you can replace it free of charge.
Another place you can consider is craigslist or kijiji, I've gotten a lot of cheap stuff from there but you need to be able to see the product and test it out.
I bought a psu that was dead because I didn't test it out, otherwise my other purchases were great. Today I got a sata 3 corsair force 120 gb for 70 dollars ... that's 90 dollars cheaper than futureshop.

Hope this helps

 

Thanks. Which brand is the best?

 

well it really depends.
From my experience, Asus and HP have always been great.
Asus has amazing designs and is very innovative so if you're looking for looks and price, I'd recommend Asus VS228H-P. It's not very expensive and it's LED. I've recently bought one for a friend who had me built a rig for him.
Here it is ASUS - Displays- ASUS VS228H-P
He's very happy with it btw.

As for the hp, they're usually more expensive than asus, around the 200 dollars mark, but for multiple screens rig, it might be cool having their 90 degree pivoting screens
I've had the w2207h eversince 2008 and it's been amazing.

I also do currently own an P236H which is also pretty cheap, good looking and has a matte screen and full hd, but it's sorta like a bobblehead, it shakes if i touch the table lol. Otherwise it's pretty good.

Overall you should probably consider an Asus, I know I would if I were in your position. Checkout newegg, it's got great deals on asus monitors.
Take Care, and sorry for the late reply, I don't get notifications.

 

oh and about the laptop. If It has DVI then it should give you performance similar to hdmi.
I'd hate to tell you to buy a new laptop, because even the best gaming laptops don't have three external monitor connectors. I would recommend an external graphics card which is much cheaper than a new laptop and you won't suffer a reduction in performance since laptop graphic cards aren't designed to support multiple screen rigs.
You can make your own or buy a premade one, either ways, shouldn't cost you more than 200 dollars Crank Up Your Laptop's Gaming Power with an External Video Card Dock
Hope this helps

 

Here's a guy who has 3 external screens hooked up to a laptop via external graphics card
External Graphics Card 3 Monitors 1 Laptop - YouTube

 

Thanks for the suggestions. Amazon.com: LG IPS231P-BN 23-Inch Widescreen LED LCD Pivoting Monitor with IPS Panel: Computers & Accessories What about this LG IPS monitor? I was attracted to the IPS part but I guess IPS are very power consuming?

Hmm maybe I should just get a desktop? What would be best bang for the buck desktop? I'm not a gamer, but I do want to be able to record professionally with the computer.

 

Well tbh, most modern LEDs, LCDs incorporate VA or IPS so it's not really a big deal... Each company has their own version of it and they rename it to something else. But the pricing on that LG monitor is pretty high considering that its contrast ratio is 5,000,000:1, 10 times less than the Asus monitor I linked you to.
Plus only one is available, not three, and it is used. Also, I don't think it has hdmi ports, only DVI, which would be okay if it was around 60, 70 bucks cheaper but it's quite expensive.
From the technical specifications, it appears that this monitor is a few years old so I wouldn't go near it.
The final decision is of course yours.

 

Thank you.

 

Do these displays get out of order often for example due to undue shock? Should I get a warranty for them?

What about this LG display? http://www.amazon.com/LG-IPS231P-BN-23-Inch-Widescreen-Pivoting/dp/B004XW6V2C/ref=pd_sim_pc_2

 

Does IPS use significantly more energy? I'm guessing not because iMac IPS 27 inch uses only about $100 per year.