If you're going to use your laptop as main player (video and audio source)... I don't think you need an HDMI input from your future LCD. But if you're fiuture laptop will have an HDMI output, it doesn't hurt to buy your LCD with an HDMI input, besides it will be more neat to look at and easier to connect and disconnect the HDMI cable compared to a VGA and an audio headphone jack. By the way HDMI cables are now cheap.