You said you heard bad reviews on ones with monitors...well let me give you a GOOD one...
I have the Summer Infant NIght and day Handheld monitor.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2265802
copy and paste that link into your browser and find the description and various other reviews.
As for MY review- there is nothing more relieving than clicking on the video in the middle of the night and seeing my daughter laying there sleeping. You can control the volume and turn the video either on or off--even in a pitch black room I can still see in her crib- it has night vision I guess- while at night the screen in not color like it is during the day, scientifically it is the reflection of light that makes color so naturally in the dark there IS no color to reflect.
I think this is worth every penny!!
@}~>~~