Most are powered only by an AC adapter, but I've heard there are a few that also have battery power,. Check the specs on any frame you are interested in: many of them can handle 100-240V AC input, which means you would not need to buy a special transformer to make it work in England, just a couple dollar adapter plug to allow the U.S.-style plug to mate with a British receptacle. (See the link below for a kit with several adapters; this would handle whatever you encountered in England.) The most important thing to me is the screen resolution: some of the less expensive ones have pretty low resolution and the pictures look grainy. If it were me, I'd pick one with the best resolution I could afford, and just get a plug adapter. Here is a link that might be useful: Plug adapter kit

* Product Description: Acer B193 Bbdmh, LCD display, TFT, 19" * Device Type: LCD display / TFT active matrix * Color: Black * Built-in Devices: Stereo speakers * Diagonal Size: 19" * Max Resolution: 1280 x 1024 / 75 Hz * Display Positions Adjustments: Height, swivel, tilt * Color Support: 24-bit (16.7 million colors) * Response Time: 5 ms * Image Brightness: 250 cd/m2 * Image Contrast Ratio: 10000:1 (dynamic) * Digital Video Standard: Digital Visual Interface (DVI) * Audio Output: Speaker(s), stereo, integrated * Signal Input: DVI, VGA * Compliant Standards: TCO '03, MPR II, TCO '99 * Environmental Standards: EPA Energy Star * Manufacturer Warranty: 3 years warranty those are the specs for that monitor, I agree Acer makes a very good LCD. that one does have both inputs and has nice specs. That one does have the built in speakers, mine does not but I use stand alone speakers anyway. In the 19" monitors yes you can still find the non widescreen models but I have not seen any in the larger size monitors which are non widescreen. If you have not set up and used a buy.com account before there are some codes available that will save you some money on that purchase for first time buyer. I use buy.com quite often. first time Buy.com customers only don't worry about expiration dates they are always available just google buy.com promo codes and you can find them.

For those looking for a "router" for sharing data over cell services, there are additional alternatives to using a USB dongle with a portable router: - A "mobile hotspot", a combined cellular "modem" and router in one small package. Offered by the major carriers. Cost- wise, it's like having another phone, you pay to buy the device and have a (usually 2 year)contract with monthly access and data usage charges. - Most smart phones can operate as a mobile hotspot. Also called "tethering". The advantage with this is that there's nothing additional to buy and (at least with some carriers) no contract is necessary. You can turn it off and on as you wish, and apply usage to the phone plan you already have. The disadvantage is if you're not plugged in, the steady stream of cell data and wifi usage will eat through your battery life. I don't know if a tethered connection can be encrypted. It's convenient for occasional use, with my carrier, it's $ 20 per month prorated for the days it's turned on, so it's like 70 cents per day.

I'd get a TV, as most new ones today will accept a computer output. They'll have better resolution and compatibility for TV as that sounds like what you do most. Some have a USB slot and ethernet ports so you can hook up to the network. An HDMI cable will allow you get High Def content there too. You'll need a switch of some type if you want to use one DVD player on both TV's. Usually cheaper to just get a dedicated DVD player. Best to enlist a local company or someone like Geek Squad to plot out a course of action for you based on your needs a specific equipment and access to run wires.