Okay, I didn't do the math myself

It's still pretty darn close. Like I said, you can easily overdo it - 20" 1600x1200 is a common example of "too small" for me, so are some laptop screens.

This is the first reasonably priced monitor I can recommend from experience:

SAMSUNG F2380 23-Inch

At $333, it has a cPVA panel that gives excellent color gamut (100%), excellent off-angle view, and, despite the medium response time, I can't make it "blur" noticeably in a shooter test (where I really whipped the view around looking for "trouble"). After testing, my wife uses it as her primary display. She doesn't stress it game wise. She does photographic work and watches analog and HDTV shows on her computer.

Its our 4th LCD monitor, but the first one that meets all the requirements we have (including price).

Just another one to consider -- if one is looking for quality above the standard gamer's monitor -- but doesn't want to spend several hundred dollars.

Asus X243W (as in 24 inch). Cheaper than dirt. Top end performance. I've had mine now for over a year. It's just awesome for gaming.

Thanks all, I'm leaning toward a Dell 24" (like to stretch for the U model (16:10, 1920 x 1200) but at more than twice the price of the S (16:9, 1920x1080) it's a hard sell unless it comes up as a featured deal (which happens, from time to time). It's pretty much flight sims only so not too concerned about ultra-fast response times (I rarely fire up a first person shooter these days) and the reviews are great for color.

But seriously, you could get three 20" monitors in a triple-head array for the price of one 24"....

We shall see.

Cheers, Spinner

Dell are absolute suckers and need to be punched hard. The production cost of the U model is certainly not twice as high as the S model, but they can produce cheaper and make more profit per unit on the 16:9 so their pricing reflects a policy to push users onto inferior 16:9 widescreens. Why do they want to dictate us that we lose vertical estate and suddenly 24" screens barely show more vertical information than 19" screens?

Maybe look for a Samsung or LG. I can only compare Austrian prices in EUR, but I see Dell is asking 190EUR for the 16:9, 550EUR for the 16:10 (which is insane), jet LG and Samsung have a 24" 16:10 for about 200EUR, so at the price of the inferior Dell. Samsung makes decent displays and has good support, LG doesn't suck either.

Believe me, one of our CEOs has a 24" 16:9 Acer at the office here, and you will likely hate the format for gaming and serious work. Dell has really nice panels, no argument, but not worth twice as much or twice as good as the Samsung which may after all be a decent screen. Look for online reviews on them.

Cheers for the opinions chaps,

At least I've narrowed down what I'm looking for:

• 22-24in
• 1920x1200 16:10 (although the choice at 1920x1080 is far higher)
• Dual digital in (shared monitor, dual DVI preferable but DVI+HDMI Ok)
• USB hub would be a plus for shared peripherals but I guess I can buy a switch

Potential candidates thus far:

• Dell U2410
• Samsung 2493HM
• LG W2452V/T-TF
• NEC CD24WMCX/GX-BK
• NEC EA241WM-BK

I've been using my Sony GDM-FW900 for years. Absolutely great. And at 95+ lbs., I'm still recovering from hoisting it up onto my desk.

plug_nickel (Al)

Check the reviews for those particular Samsung and LG models and take the better one of the two. I haven't had NEC in years, they may not be bad but I've never heard anything particularly good about them either, in contrast to Samsung.

Very happy with my LG Flatron W2600HP, IPS panel, 1920x1200, almost no input lag, great colors and cheap for an IPS panel(500 euro), 1 drawback, may be hard to find in N-America. Europe plenty.
There is also a 30inch version (LG Flatron W3000H) with higher resolution 2560x1600. The apple 30inch uses the same panel inside.

Ok, if anyone is still interested I think I'm going to get an HP LP2475w.

Seems to be be one of better prices for a well-reviewed 1920x1200 S-IPS panel and it has all the USB hub and multiple digital-input goodness of an equivalent Dell but for somewhat less cash (still a chunky $600 outlay, mind). May be a little slower than some of the TN panels but shouldn't be a problem for flight sims and I do intend to be using it for development work also.

Cheers for your help.

Spinner