Eizo Flexscan SX3031W

February 2009. Reviews say the pricey Eizo Flexscan SX3031W performs extremely well, but is not an especially versatile 30-inch LCD computer monitor. With just two USB ports, you're not going to have as many connection options as most screens offer. But the display is great -- one review said even 6.8-point type was extremely readable -- and you can connect to two computers and split the screen to work on both simultaneously. It also boasts solid build quality and a five-year warranty. That's still a lot of money to pay, and one review notes that the color calibration might not be good enough for graphics pros. The same review recommends the Samsung 305T (*est. $1,000) or Dell 3008WFP (*est. $2,000) as cheaper options if you really want a 30-inch LCD monitor.

Generally, extremely high-priced electronics get fewer reviews because there is a smaller market for them, and owner reviews become practically non-existent. Consumer Reports, for example, doesn't review any 30-inch monitors. We found the best reviews at Government Computer News, which is obviously geared to office users. Reviews there are brief but based on exhaustive testing. The U.K.'s PC Pro and Germany's Prad also do solid evaluations of the Eizo Flexscan SX3031W (the latter offers a version in English, although the translation is awkward).