Need advice for 24" monitor used for everything

    I'm looking into getting a new monitor having used CRT's all my life. Despite all the information provided here, I'm having a tremendous amount of difficulty deciding on what kind of monitor to get. First off, here are a couple parameters:


    -Looking for a 24" monitor
    -Looking to spend in the neighborhood of $500-600 USD
    -I watch ALL movies on my monitor
    -I play a LOT of games and am very sensitive to ghosting
    -I do a LOT of video editing work where I need good color
    -only need a DVI input


    -will not be using a hardware calibrator


    My usage is the biggest problem in deciding. It feels like everything I do is at odds with something else. One thing I know I don't want is poor brightness or color uniformity across the screen, even when looking directly at it. From what I can tell, this can be a big issue with TN monitors, so I probably want to avoid them, even if those are the best choices for response time. Any advice people could offer me would be appreciated.

    The HP LP2475W (extended color gamut) or the NEC 24WMGX3 (standart gamut) should do :)
    I will however recomend a calibrator if you do video editing, the difference between a calibrated and an uncalibrated monitor is huge, specially if you do video or photo editing.
    They are also reviewed here and

    Thanks for your recommendations, I'll look them over. I'm not keen on using a calibrator as it would drive up the total cost substantially. Can software settings approximate making up the needed difference? Also I did some more research and thought the Belinea 2485 S1W sounded like just what I wanted, but couldn't find it for sale anywhere.

    Calibration via software is impossible, without a calibrator, usually those software's only make things worse, like the samsung's, it might looks good but the colors are all off.
    Some photography shops sell paper color charts, they are usually very cheap, with one of them, you could try to calibrate manually, but is it really hard to do, and if your monitor has extended color gamut, forget it, the people I know who tried it, all bought a calibrator. You could buy a calibrator and resell it for about 80% of the original price, it should be really easy since it will still have warranty.
    About the Belinea 2485, I have read very mixed opinions about the quality of the screen, I think Prad.de got lucky with their sample, Belinea is not usually known for quality, I would take the HP or Nec any given time, just the trouble with returning the screen if you don't like it, is a pain in the a.. ;)