What LCD Computer Monitor to Buy now?
 

I want a big one....

apparently they differ in resolution, tho since this is not a gaming machine I dunno if I need that

newegg.com shows monitors varying in price from ~$300 to ~$3,000 & it's not clear what more $$ gets you other than a name brand...

[I'm starting a new thread on this as it is a simple what to buy issue, not a how to connect stuff, set jumpers, etc. question]

FWIW, our Sharp brand monitor is still going strong since May of 2004.

How big do you want? I picked up a ~21" from buy.com for around $120 a few months ago. Not sure I see what the $300 version does that my 'cheap' one doesnt.

This is hands down the best 30" monitor for your buck:
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=224-9949

If you google "best 30 monitor" it consistently comes up.

$1,500 is too spendy.

absolute color accuracy is not needed - no graphics arts stuff planned, just looking at some digital photos once in a while (I need to spend less time sitting down at a desk, not more...)

Randy, We have an awesome Hp monitor here at work. They are wide screen. Let me go get a part #.

I have a 30" (2560x1600) Dell UltraSharp 3008WFP. The pixel count is awesome.

It looks like you can pick those up now for ~$1,100.

I've got a 26" widescreen Sanyo LCD TV with all the inputs. RCA, VGA, HDMI, USB, audio, and coax. It works great for a computer monitor and it was less than $300 at Wallyworld. A widescreen monitor takes some getting used to, but you'll never go back.;)

what do you really get (other than accurate absolute color) when you go from a $300 monitor to a $1,000 one?

BTW - I'd like to get a 27 or 30" if I can afford it... my current Dell Ultrasharp is 20"

one candidate for ~ $350 is the Samsung P2770FH Full HD Monitor - 27" - 1,920 x 1,080 resolution; introduced in Sept. 2010 (i.e. a recent design); 300 cd/m2 brightness, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 70000:1 DCR [must be the dynamic contrast ratio]
- it uses fl. backlighting, not LEDs

I dunno if different manf.s can fudge contrast on these things like they can on a DTV, but I'd bet they can.

hp recently introduced the 2711x - they sell it direct for $400; and the brightness is spec'd in [] of nits, which turns out to just be candelas/m2.

like I said, Pixel count.

A 1920x1080 monitor has (2.07Mpix) about Half the pixel count of a 2560x1600 (4.1Mpix). So, you can buy two $300 monitors and put them side by side (as long as your cmptr has dual out) ...and have a couple bezels between them. Or, have one big 30" 2560x1600 monitor. (as long as your computer has a graphics card to support the high pix count)

nuthin' but more pix & better color accuracy?

I may just get the new hp monitor...