The big benefit of a small monitor is that in the long term is forces you to be uber productive with the keyboard. You'll probably get more short term value fro

The big benefit of a small monitor is that in the long term is forces you to be uber productive with the keyboard. You'll probably get more short term value from a 15" but more long term value from a 13". My keyboard mojo went through the roof when I switched from a 17" to a 13".