Help with computer monitor decision?

[Pipe_Dream]

My old monitor (4:3) died, and I found myself looking at replacement monitors that are all widescreen versions. The only two stores in this area stock NO 4:3 monitors, so I picked out the least expensive one and brought it home. It's a Dell 19". When I hooked it up it didn't look great, of course, because the display resolution for my old monitor was set at 800x600 (I think).

Disclaimer: I'm computer stupid. I don't know about operating systems, I don't download newer versions of stuff. I only use it for internet surfing, work spreadsheets, and some simple photography stuff. My motto: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Okay, so I now notice that my new monitor's "Optimal" display resolution is 1440x900. My computer's graphics driver has 8 resolution options

800x600
1024x768
1152x864
1280x720
1280x768
1280x960
1280x1024
1360x768

and of course none of them are the recommended 1440x900. I did some reading and found that most 19" monitors operate on 1280x1024, so I set the resolution at that and it didn't look very good at all. I tried every setting, and the best is the 1360x768, but still I am not liking it. My monitor's paperwork tells me that if my computer doesn't have 1440x900 as an option, I may need to update my graphics driver. I've spent an hour looking at Dell's website and trying to see what that is going to take, and it doesn't look good for me to try doing it. There are like 8 different upgrades, and I can't tell which one would give me this resolution. Finally, here's my question:

Do I

1. Suck it up and go through whatever it takes to download and install the right driver to give me 1440x900? Or
2. Do I go to the other store and buy (I saw this after I brought the Dell home and hooked it up) a Samsung monitor whose optimal resolution is 1370x768, only off by 10 pixels (horizontal) from my computer's option of 1360x768, and return the Dell? I would think that the display should look pretty fine with the resolution that close.
3. Try hard and find an old-style 4:3 aspect monitor? I was perfectly happy with the old one until it died.

What do you think?